The little kids start the school year a couple days after the bigger kids.  So, Audio’s first day was Thursday.  And, it went well.  She didn’t show any sign of nerves about it.  She seemed to understand that she would be at school the whole day, like Dee Dee.  And, we’d been going over cafeteria and bathroom etiquette for some time. 

One of the teachers was outside when we arrived at the school holding a sign that read, “High Five.”  The Hi5 teachers go outside when the morning bell rings.  Parents drop their kids off with them.  Then, the teachers lead the kids to the Hi-5 room, so all the kids get to the right place.  After Dee Dee went in the building, we said some goodbyes to Audio and took a couple pictures.  And, soon the other Hi5 teacher arrived from a different collection area with another group of kids and asked all the kids if they could get into a line.  After an explanation, some encouragement, many (but mostly similar) hand gestures, and the hint, “Like a train!” the kids were all standing in a line and they disappeared into the school. 

After we got home from dropping off the girls, my wife and I were alone with each other for the first time in over seven years.  We didn’t do anything other than sit and talk about how long it had been since we had had that much time together without any sort of interruption. Both of us kept our phones close by, half-expecting a call from the school.  Eventually, we could stop doing that because it was time to pick up the girls.  After some walkie-talkie flutter and fuzz, Audio came out of the building, smiling. 

Dee Dee came out of school smiling, too.  She saw us, started towards us, and sneezed.  By the end of the day, Friday, we were all sneezing.