The Traces of Destiny
Second Grade Teacher Mother

...👞Being a father is a thing for men....

...And being a father is a man's job to build relationships as a father in the here and now.💦...

...•—°°°°oo0oo°°—•...

"So...," she said, "Do I have to call you Miss or Ms Saraswati?"

"Without addition, Saras alone, I used to be called by that name."

"Okay, Saras.. ." He stopped, and a moment later Saras continued for him.

"You're wondering why I need to talk to you?"

"That crossed my mind."

Saras glanced at the map in front of him, then looked up again. "Well, let me start by telling you how much I enjoyed Raka's presence in class. He's an amazing boy - he's always the first to volunteer if I need anything, and he's also very kind to other students. He was also polite and spoke very well to a child his age."

Garin looked at him carefully. "Why am I under the impression that you're headed for some bad news?"

"Am I that clear?"

"Well that's it," Garin admitted, and Saras laughed shyly.

"I'm sorry, but I want you to know that it's not all bad. Try telling me—does Raka tell you something about what happened?"

"Neither, until breakfast this morning. When I asked why you wanted to see me, he just said there was a problem with some of his schoolwork."

"So that's it." He paused for a moment, as if trying to gather his thoughts.

"You're making me a little nervous here" Garin finally said. "You don't think there's a serious problem, do you?"

"Good breed . .umm..," He hesitated. "I hate to have to tell you this, but I don't think Raka's just having trouble with some school work. But, Raka is having trouble with all her work."

Garin frowned. "Everything?"

"Raka..," he said flatly, "staying behind in reading, writing, spelling, and mathsall of them. To be honest, I feel like he's not ready for second grade."

Garin just looked at him, not knowing what to say.

Saras. "I know this is hard for you to hear. Believe me, I don't want to hear it either, if it's my son. That's why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. Here. . ."

Saras opens the folder and hands Garin a stack of papers. Garin looked at his pages—two math replicas without a single correct answer, several pages where his job was to write one paragraph (Raka managed to make a few words with an illegible streak), which was a simple task, and three short reading exams that Raka failed to do, as well as other results sheets. After a while, Saras shifted the folder to Garin.

"You can keep all this. I already have a copy."

"I'm not sure I want it" she said, still in shock.

Saras leaned forward slightly. "Did any of the previous teachers ever tell you that he was having trouble?"

"Neither, never."

"Not exist at all?"

Garin threw away his face. Across the courtyard, she could see Raka descending the slide on the playground, Aira right behind her.

Garin put his hands together.

"Have you checked the work he brought home from school?"

"He never had any. Except for the project he's making."

Now, of course, it sounds ridiculous, even to him. Then why didn't he realize it before? A little too busy with your own life, huh? a voice inside her answered.

Garin sighed, angry at himself, angry at the school. Saras seemed to be reading his mind.

"I know you're wondering how this happened, and you deserve to be angry. Raka's teachers had a responsibility to teach him, but they didn't. I'm sure it wasn't done for the reason of the malice—–maybe it started because no one wanted to push Raka too hard."

Garin considered it for a long time. "It's great, '" he murmured.

"Look," said Saras, "I didn't bring you here just to deliver the bad news. If that's all I do, then I'll shirk my responsibilities. I want to talk to you about the best way to help Raka. I didn't want to keep him in the same class this year, and with a little extra effort, I don't think I should. He can still catch up."

It took him a while to absorb it, and when he looked up, Saras nodded.

"Raka is very smart. Once he learns something, he will remember it. She just needs more work than I can give her in class."

"So what does that mean?"

"He needs help after school."

"Like tutor?"

Saras tidied up her long skirt.

"Getting a tutor is one idea, but it can get expensive, especially if you consider that Raka needs help in learning the basics. We're not talking about algebra here - right now we're doing single-digit summations, like three plus two. And as far as reading was concerned, he only needed to take the time to practice. As with writing, he just has to do it. Unless you have money to burn. I thought it might be better if you guided him. "

"Me?"

"Ngga is too hard. You read with him, tell him to read to you, help him do his chores, stuff like that. I don't think you're gonna have a problem with anything I've assigned."

"You didn't see my report card when I was a kid."

Saras smiled before continuing.

"A "set schedule may also help. I have learned that children remember things best when there is a routine involved. And besides, routines usually make sure you're consistent, and that's what Raka needs the most."

Garin adjusted himself in his chair. "That's not as easy as it sounds. My schedule varies. Sometimes I come home at four, sometimes I don't go home until Raka's asleep."

"Who's watching him after school?"

"Mbok Win—our neighbor. He's great, but I don't know if he's going to do schoolwork with him every day. He's in his eighties."

"What about other people? Grandpa, grandma or someone like that?"

Garin shook his head. "Maudy's parents moved out of the island after he died, so they weren't in this town. My mom died when I finished high school, and as soon as I went to college, my dad traveled more. I don't even know where he is. Raka and I have been pretty much alone for the past few years. Don't get me wrong.—he's a great kid, and sometimes I feel lucky to have him to myself. But other times, I don't want to think it'd be easier if Maudy's parents stayed in town, or if my dad had more free time."

"For something like this, you mean?"

"Exactly" he answered, and Saras laughed again.

Garin likes his voice. There was a plain ring in it, the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that this world was not just a fun and a game.