The mermaid

This year the summer school program I worked for had "water day." It's supposed to be full of fun and frolic -- all with a water theme. In truth, I think it was water balloon tosses and sponge relays.

In any case, one of my students was apparently a big fan of water. On three separate occasions I found her trying to hide plastic ziploc bags full of water. I also caught her filling Tic Tac containers with water. She made fish faces at her classmates who complained, "Why are you so weird?"

I actually knew I was in for trouble on orientation day. She ran up to me and had a million questions. Her little sister, on the other hand, ran up to my white board and busily started scrawling away with my markers. I have a real pet peeve about kids writing on my board, mostly because they don't cap pens, but I bit my tongue this time. I figured eventually the parents would intervene, but they didn't.

Fast forward to water day. During nutrition break I found my student who was absolutely drenched. She wasn't just a little wet. She wasn't slightly moist. She was wet to the core, hair dripping, and giggling hysterically. I took her to the office and then she was in a panic.

"Please don't tell my parents."

Why are you so wet?

"It's water day."

At the end of the day.

"But it's water day."

How did you get this wet?

"In the bathroom."

Holy crap...the girl's clothes were totally wet. The counselor called home and Mom came to give her dry clothes. I ran into her in the parking lot.

"She is totally grounded," Mom said, obviously annoyed that she had to come to campus.

"I've never heard of anything so stupid," she continued. "What was she thinking?"

Who grounds an eight year old? And from what activity would you be depriving her?

I told Mom that her daughter was a little water obsessed, but that the girl was just confused about what water day actually entailed. I told her that she should lighten up and not punish her daugher. I don't think she liked hearing that from me since she stomped off in a huff.

After that we gave the girl a new nickname: The Mermaid.