- Here is a short story ,Mom and I wrote during vacation, one hot day on Lake Winnipesaukee a few years ago. The proposed picture book was based on Diane’s son’s experience with the fears of his first day of school. Diane also used this idea many times in her first grade classes when she had a little one upset about leaving his/her mom. Magical! It works!
The Calico Heart
By Diane Krentel Hodge and Mildred Krentel
Benji stared at his alarm clock waiting for the buzzer to go off. The first day of school! His new clothes lay ready on the chair next to his spiffy light-up sneakers. He made a mental checklist …..pencils, scissors, crayons, rulers and his new shining lunchbox! All ready! But slowly a great big frown crept across his face.
Benji inched out of bed, one leg at a time, and slowly dressed for school. He lumbered down each stair towards the warm kitchen where Mother, in her soft fuzzy bathrobe, bustled around in preparation for the big day!
Mother leaned over to give him his regular "good morning" hug. Benji held on a little longer than usual.
He climbed up at the kitchen table, and began poking at the chunks of banana floating in a milky pool around his cereal. Mother busily spread huge globs of mayo on his baloney sandwich and carefully wrapped it in foil.
Resting his head on his hand, Benji thought about the school bus ride and meeting his new classmates and teacher. The more he thought, the more he wanted to stay right where he was. At home, with Mom!
"Benji, the school bus will be here soon." Mother's voice was cheery and upbeat.
"Finish your cereal. Lunch time will be a long time from now."
"I'm not hungry, Mom “ Benji looked as scared as a forlorn puppy. " I - - I have a stomachache. I don't want to go to school."
Mother moved closer to Benji and said. "Honey, you know what? I remember my first day of school and I felt the same way you do. “Oh....as a matter of fact, I almost forgot about something that you really could use today! .You wait right here!"
Benji didn’t move an inch.
Mother walked over to her sewing box and rummaged around until she found some red calico cloth and her funny scissors with the zigzag teeth. Then she carefully cut around the material, making the shape of a little heart. Grabbing a shiny safety pin, she hurried over to Benji who was watching her with a quizzical look.
Stooping down beside him, she said, "Now, Benji, this is a very special calico heart. It's works like magic. You can wear it right on top of your new shirt, near your own heart. Whenever you feel afraid, put your hand over it, and as quick as a wink, it will help you feel brave! You know something? My mother made me a calico heart for my first day of school and whenever I touched it, I thought of her and didn’t feel so afraid.”
Benji's eyes were round as full moons.
Talking really fast now, Mother took the little calico heart and the tiny gold safety pin and fastened it to his shirt, right on the front pocket. Benji smiled for the first time all morning.
Then Mom helped Benji slip on his heavy backpack.
Out the front door and down the steps, Benji made his way to the street corner where he joined the kids waiting for the big yellow school bus. A huge lump caught in his throat as the bus snorted loudly to a stop.
As the big doors squeaked open, Benji felt his right hand creep up his shirt, landing right on top of the calico heart. The giant steps loomed in front of him but Benji kept his hand firmly over the little calico heart. One stair, two stairs, three stairs…his little legs stretched and climbed up each one. All the way to the top!
Benji smiled and looked for a seat near the front by the bus driver.
"Why! It’s magic!" Benji thought, "My calico heart makes me feel I can do it!"
Straining to see Mother who stood waving on the front porch of his house, Benji hoped she would know the calico heart was beginning to work. He felt happy all the way down to his new sneakers.
The bumpy bus ride was soon over and Benji arrived at his new school. All the teachers were waiting outside waving big bright balloons, marking the place each class was to meet.. “ I can do this”, he reminded himself bravely.
And do you know? All day long, as easy as one, two, three…. whenever he missed Mom or thought he couldn’t do something, his hand would race up and cover the little calico heart. Quick as a wink, he felt that magical “can do” feeling. And, all by himself, Benji was able to find his shiny new desk and cubby, sit with a brand new friend at morning Story Time, share his vacation picture at Show and Tell Time, and even open up his shiny new thermos! His brave little calico heart worked all day, just like magic!
Before Benji knew it, the after school bell rang loudly. Time to go home. As he carefully gathered his papers and put on his backpack for the ride home, he had a surprising idea.
“I’m beginning to think that I don’t need the little calico heart quite as much anymore! How magical is that?” he thought.
Benji quickly grabbed his coat in the cubby and practically skipped down the hall to line up for his bus ride home.
Soon the big yellow bus screeched to a long stop. Benji jumped down each big step. He skipped along the walk in front of his home and leaped over the porch stairs and ran right into the kitchen!
Mom was sitting at the table looking ever so happy to see him.
"Guess what, Mom? You were right! I had such a brave day! Every time I missed you or was afraid, the calico heart worked. Like magic!” Benji blurted out.
Mother listened closely as he chatted on and on about each detail of the day. The words just tumbled out of his mouth! But Benji stopped talking when he noticed a small tear rolling down Mother’s rosy cheek.
He climbed up on her lap and slowly wiped the tear away with his chubby hand. "Why Mom, what ever is the matter?"
"Well you see Benji, after you left, I walked all around the empty house. It was oh-so quiet. All day there were no sounds of you playing, no endless chatter at lunchtime, no trips to the park. I really missed you."
Benji scratched his tousled hair and hesitated. Then he reached down and slowly unfastened the little calico heart from his shirt. Carefully, he pinned it right on to Mother's apron.
"Here, Mom I don't need this anymore. I think this might help you now," he said, throwing his arms around her.
The wrinkled calico heart had a new home. Mother's face lit up with a warm smile.
"Calico hearts work even for big people!" Benji said as he touched the little calico heart.
The End
