Today begins a new chapter as I begin writing my second episodic content story on the site. After taking a vote, it appears as though some wished to see me write about a child starting school and the years that ensued. Today, you will meet James Clark Kent and he will begin his first year of school at Ridgefield Elementary.

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A runt of a boy runs in a panic across a field of dandelions. “Mom! Mom! Mom!” The boy shouts at the top of his lungs but to no avail. As he runs up the front porch steps, they creak and groan with every step. “Mom! Mom!” “Dear God child, what is it?” His mother stands tall and obviously unimpressed by his incessant yelling. “Well, spit it out James!” James looks up at his Mother, tears sliding down his freckled cheeks from his chestnut coloured eyes. “It’s Willow…”

As the two rush out, James leads the way, tugging at his mother’s arm the whole way. As they approach, he points to their fourteen year old golden retriever. The dog lays motionless beneath the large weeping willow where they originally found her. James hugs his mother’s leg as the two approach Willow. “She’s really tired today James.” She glances only briefly at James with a tear in her eye. “Go get your father, but please don’t run there screaming. He’s had a long day.”

As James rushes back to his home, he races up the stairs to his mother and father’s room. As he peeks in, he notices his father is upright in bed reading a book. Glancing up from his book, his father focuses through his glasses. “James? Is everything all right?” James quietly shakes his head and tears begin sliding down his cheeks. “Willow’s really tired today.” His father’s eyes widen and he leaps into action. He rests the book gently on the bedside table along with his glasses. “Run along to your room now son. I’ll go check her out.” As his father leaves James already knows the outcome. He won’t see Willow again. Just like he didn’t see Grandpa any more.

The next day James woke up and was surprised to find Willow waiting for him on the front porch. As he played with her ears he felt like she stuck around long enough to see him start school. “Thanks Willow, you’ve been the best friend I could have ever asked for. I hope the kids at school are as great as you.” Willow nuzzled her head into his lap and looked up at him. James smiled at her, but he knew she probably wouldn’t get to hear about his first day at school. Then he had a wonderful idea! He leapt up, startling the poor dog and ran inside. Willow laid her head back down once he disappeared from sight, and then looked back up when he stumbled into view. He was wearing his backpack and new school jacket. “Bye Willow! I’m going to school now!” As he ran down the steps and across the yard the dog stared at him with her head cocked to the side.

After about an hour James ran back across the yard and up to Willow. “Willow! Willow school is great! I have so many friends already and my teacher is really nice. I can totally understand why you went to school when you were a puppy. They taught me to roll over too!” As he ditched his backpack into the dirt, he laid beside Willow and rolled away from her. To his surprise she rolled with him, together they rolled back and forth until finally his mother called him in for supper. He hugged Willow as tight as he could and kissed her on the head. “I love you Willow, I’ll… I’ll see you tomorrow.” As he ran into the house Willow rolled over one last time and snuggled into her stuffed bear on the deck.

“James Clark Kent! Get out of bed this instant!” James jumped to his mother’s voice faster than he ever would for his alarm. “I’m up… I don’t feel well…” His mother laughed. “You’re not getting out of school that easy, now come on, we don’t want you to be late!” As the two walked down the front walkway James turned and waved to Willow and his father. Willow barked in response and his father waved back. As they arrived at the bus stop James looked to his mother. “Mom, I really don’t feel well.” She glanced down at him and then down the road. “It’s just nerves dear, you’ll be fine.” As she looked back to James, she saw he was as white as a ghost. “It’ll be fine my dear boy, you’ll meet lots of great people and-” James interrupted his mother’s pep talk by throwing up on the ground. “I know Mom, I know.” As the bus pulled up James looked back to his mother in hopes he could just go home. She quietly loaded him onto the bus and waved her goodbyes. This was it, James was alone on a bus full of strangers.

As James made his way down the bus aisle, some people moved their bags to take up their seats, while others simply shook their head no. Finally James returned to the front of the bus and sat right behind the bus driver. This was not the good start he had hoped for. The bus picked up some more kids on the way to school, yet all of them bypassed James. He sat alone the entire ride to school and waited until all the other kids got off the bus to leave. The bus driver stopped him on his way out. “The first day is always the hardest son.” James looked at him confused. “You’re not my Dad…” The bus driver laughed, “No, I most certainly am not. What’s your name boy?” James scrunched up his nose. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers sir. Thank you for driving me to school.” As James ran off the bus driver laughed to himself. “Silly kid, I won’t be a stranger when I’ve driven you to school for the next few years!”

James head spun as the shrill call of the school bell sounded. He had to remember that he was in Miss Delilah’s class, so as he walked the halls he kept repeating it to himself. “Miss Delilah, Miss Delilah, Miss Delilah…” Suddenly a lovely lady in a suit walked up to him, and looked him right in the eye. “Where are you headed young man?” James looked around in a panic. “Am I in trouble already?” The lady laughed, “Not at all, I’m the principal here, Mrs Stein. I’m just trying to help as many students as I can find their classrooms, so where were you headed?” James looked her up and down and the put out his hand. “I’m James Kent, it’s nice to meet you Mrs Stein.” He stopped for a moment. “I don’t remember who my teacher is…” Mrs Stein smiled and took his hand. “Well Mister Kent, follow me and we will find your class.”

As they walked down the halls for what seemed like eternity, James looked up at the lovely Mrs Stein. She seems really nice, He thought, maybe today won’t be so bad. As they entered classroom after classroom, James was just about to give up when they were passing a door marked “Miss Delilah”. James tugged at Mrs Stein’s hand. “That’s her! That’s my teacher!” As James walked in they had just begun doing roll call. Mrs Stein bent to wish young James well and headed off. Only one desk was left, and it was right in front of the teacher and closest to the window. James made his long walk from the door to the desk and took off his backpack. As he sat down he heard the teacher call his name. “James Kent?” He looked up and held up his hand. “Here!” Miss Delilah smiled. “James you’re the second James on my list which has five James total, would you mind if I called you by your middle name?” James smiled politely. “You can Miss.” She smiled back. “Clark Kent. Here.” Suddenly one rather big student at the back jumped up and yelled, “Superman?!” James turned to look at the boy, he didn’t understand the reference. “The kid’s no superhero, more like a… super zero!” As all the kids laughed James turned to face the front. This was about to be the longest day in all of his five years total.