The Young and the Uneducated

When we last left off, The May Queen's teacher had suggested that perhaps Painted Maypole and The Big Guy take MQ out of her private school and put her back into Kindergarten at a public school... not because she's not smart, but because she plays with the younger children. After much sighing, staring off into space, advice from the internets (you!!) and heated discussion with badly written dialogue, PM and The Big Guy decided to forge ahead with First Grade as planned. Ashley and Victor were remarried on a tropical island... wait... wrong soap opera....

In the most recent episode The Big Guy raised the question of would the small church school still be open next year. With dwindling enrollment, the decision not to open a 4th grade classroom as planned, and cuts all over the church staff, this was a legitimate question. The Big Guy put forth the theory that there was a hidden message in the teacher's suggestion: that the school may not be around next year. Public school is not an option because of The May Queen's status of being born THREE MEASLY DAYS AFTER THE CUTOFF, so The Big Guy and Painted Maypole set off on a quest to research other private schools in the area, sneaking behind the back of their current school, and their daughter. The first school they look into has no art or music classes, or recess. Painted Maypole is appalled, and goes into several rants about the importance of art in education, different learning styles, and creating well rounded individuals. It was love at first sight at the second school, however, her dance card was full, and PM and the Big Guy kept looking. At school number three they were entranced by the bright artwork in the hallway, the welcoming and encouraging staff, the friendliness and comfort level of the students, and many recommendations of friends and acquaintances. The school is closer to home, but more expensive. They decide it is worth it. A testing time is set up.

Painted Maypole and The Big Guy explain to The May Queen that she will be going to a different school for some "learning games" to figure out how best to teach her next year. Since The May Queen did a similar thing last year this does not strike her as odd. She happily goes. Meanwhile, The May Queen's current principal receives a request for The May Queen's records and confronts The Painted Maypole about her cheating ways. PM stammers something about checking out her other options, but please keep us enrolled.

The Big Guy and Painted Maypole wait anxiously for a week and a half for the phone call. Will their love be returned? Is this the start of a new educational partnership? There is much nail biting, reassuring of each other, and exclamations that elementary education should not be so stressful.

Finally, the phone call comes and The May Queen has been offered a spot in their first grade. Painted Maypole and the Big Guy celebrate by flying off for the weekend to an exotic island oops... wrong soap opera... PM and the Big Guy give each other a high five.

Join us next week as Painted Maypole and the Big Guy explain to The May Queen that she will be switching schools, and break the news to the current principal.

*****This has been another edition of Monday Mission. This week's mission is to write a post in the style of a soap opera update, starting with the words "When we last left off..." (idea thanks to No Mother Earth) Write your own post and leave a link in the comments, and I'll get it into the post as I am able (I still have not resolved the Mr. Linky problem)

other soap opera updates:
-Helen's Lawn Saga includes lying, sneaking around, broken property and an overgrown yard
-Melissa is on the verge of homeland warfare in The Lives of the Bold, Restless Children in the Hospital have the Light of the World
-Dragonfly emerges from the edge of death (or a really bad flu) to let us know that The World Still Turns
-De gives us a final update in When We Last Left Off.... (stop by her place and bid her a fond farewell, will you?)

upcoming missions, should you choose to accept them, are to write posts in the style of:
5/12: a personality test (idea thanks to Emily, inspired by Alpha Dogma)
5/19: a list of rules
5/26: a warning label