Cathy Hofherr

Falling into the bucket

Walking down the street, she kicked at the fall leaves. This usually sparked at least a tiny amount of joy. The smell of autumn, the crunch of the leaves, the change of the season after a hot, sticky summer. Even going back to school was usually at least a little exciting; it meant seeing friends every day and, of course, new school supplies. But this year just didn’t feel the same. Walking along with her mask pressed against her face, occasionally fogging up her glasses, she didn’t feel the same excitement. The weather was changing but school wasn’t going to be the same. She wasn’t going to see half of her friends because they would be in person on different days. And even those she would see, would be from a distance. No lunches together. No free periods together. No activities after school. No waiting together for the bus. It just wouldn’t be the same. What’s the point? Might as well keep hanging out through their online games – at least then they could talk and joke around live and in the moment. She just felt….blah.