The Calm Before

Chris and I are enjoying a quiet evening at home. The cats are on our laps, Sasha is dozing by our feet, and a steaming mug of tea sits within reach.

In about half an hour, a dozen or so ninth graders will descend upon the house. We’ll turn on the outdoor heater for the first time since last winter, start a fire in the fire ring, and set out the snacks. We’ve set a stop time for 11:30. My eyelids are already drooping. I’d better get my second wind.

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joannemann

I teach reading to six graders at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia. I love to read, travel, cook, and spend time outside. I am married to a math teacher, and I have two teenage children and two cats.

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