Ding! Ding! Ding!  Do you hear that?  It is the sound of school bells.  To modernize it, I suppose it is now, “BREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.”

Yes, today is the big day.  First day of school.  One in tenth, one in eighth and one in second.  We have a graduation this school year as well as a first Penance and (gulp) First Communion.  It will be a year of highs and lows, from cheers to forgotten lunches and never-ending viruses.  Tears will be included, mostly from me.  But we will prevail.

Walking to the first grade line with my daughter today reminded me of many previous first days of school.  The new book bags, squeaky clean plaid uniforms and the worried email from the teacher.  Yes, that was a first day event that will never be forgotten.  “The year that Michael freaked out the teacher on the first day of school.”

Michael was entering fourth grade that fateful year. It was the first day of school, and I assumed everything was running smoothly.  That is, until I received a very concerned email from his sweet and on the ball new teacher.  The class had been instructed to draw a self portrait.  Michael’s was D-I-S-T-U-R-B-I-N-G.  So much so that the teacher felt she needed to call me.

Is Michael OK?  How does he feel about himself?  Is everything alright at home?

“Yes, good and yes,” I replied.  What was the portrait?  Michael had drawn himself with a pitchfork in one hand, a gun in the other and a knife through his head.  The stunning portrait also portrayed a good amount of blood.  Yup, that’s my boy.  First day of fourth grade in a religious school, and he throws the teacher off just a tiny bit.  “Always keep ‘em guessing,” my son says.  This child is going to BE somebody someday, have no doubt.

I don’t have the original handy.  It is a keeper and has been stored in a VERY safe place.  But I do have a reproduction created by my older brother (also named Michael) upon hearing my son’s story.  It is his own self portrait, penned in the style of Michael’s – and it is NOT very far off from the original.  Enjoy!