An interview with Margaret (Grade 3)

Sunday, Bill, Margaret and I were out cruising our bikes around the neighborhood when we found ourselves at the bottom of the steps for the new Chipeta Elementary School. I think the sun reflected off Bill's new chrome cruiser and blinded the principal, Patrick Buckley, as he came outside and offered us a quick tour of the "green" school. Margaret was beside herself. She got a sneak-peak of her brand new "green" school. We were all impressed with the building — but no one more than Margaret. She could. Not. Wait for school to start Monday. After her first day of the 3rd grade, I asked her if I could interview her for this blog. She agreed. Perhaps it was because I was typing my questions and her answers while I was asking her questions, but she was VERY careful about her answers and I have transcribed them here just as she said them. (Believe me, I couldn't make this stuff up.) Me: How was your first day at Chipeta Elementary? Mar: OK. Now ask me about my lunch. Me (dutiful): How was your lunch? (As I was typing this, Mar says, "Oh yeah, and when you're done with this copy it and put it on Twitter.) Mar: It was good. But you had to wait in line. We had chicken nuggets and the cafeteria was really big. You also got big grapes in your fruit cups. (From her tone, I could tell that she was quite pleased with the "big grapes" because they were all big and grapey). Me: How was your classroom? Mar: It was medium. The size was medium and it had green chairs and a tan wall. Me: What is your favorite part of your school day? Mar: Sitting and doing worksheets. I love doing worksheets. (Like I said, I typed what she said. My kid loves worksheets. I wonder how one develops such an affection.) Me: What's your favorite part of new school building? Mar: Um. Let me think about that ... It has to be the new playground that they are building and how they are recycling rubber instead of wood chips. It's really bouncy. Me: OK. How did you like meeting the Columbine students? Mar: It was kinda of awkward because a lot of people were different. Me: How do you like the new building? Mar: Uh. It's OK. It'll do for the rest of the years that I'm going to be at Chipeta. (I'm so pleased that she finds the state-of-the-art, green building up to her standards enough to be sufficient for the next three years. Man, kids these days are hard to please.) Per her demands, I am to include the following: Margaret was interviewed by her mother, Robin. (She also insisted on underlining our names.)