Kids are tyrants, or why I love the Tisdale Afterschool Program.

So, this past weekend in DC was remarkable. It was amazing to see everyone and just be in the city again. Hopefully I'll make it back there sometime soon, maybe semi-permanently, but who knows. There are other places to explore right now, and adventure is calling.

Speaking of Adventure, today was my first day at the After School Program at Tisdale. One thought: Wow.

So I get there early, around 2:15 so I can get a parking spot before all the soccer mom's come to pick up the rugrats. Get a nice spot, right outside the main door. I'm psyched. I walk right in and get assaulted by a teacher, saying Who are You? And I go, I'm Matt Shiel bitches. But without the bitches. I then get big smiles, and ohhhhh Matt Shiel! ohhhhhh....That leads me to being brought into the office (under good terms, weird) and seeing Mrs. Scarfi who tells me a little bit about Ali Scarfi (good job Ali, getting into Educational Psychology, gotta keep the weirdo's out of education). The other lady, don't remember her name, I should though, tells stories about my appendicitis experience in third grade in Mrs. Dunn's class and now how she has to take stomach pain seriously as she thought I was a big faker. Me, Fake, Never.

BBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!

School's out bitches, and the kids come running in. I'm still setting up dunkaroos, juice and granola bars, which they devour.

The cast and crew of Tisdale:
William aka $ Bill.
Frank, the tank.
Jess, Nick and Dylan's little sister (AWESOME!!!!)
Pooper Cooper (He walked around with dunkaroo chocolate on his face for most of the day)
Shy Jack
Christopher [insert Japanese last name here], kick-ass kindergartner.
Melanie - who was faking stomach pains...I don't know why I know a faker, I just do. She wasn't pregnant either, she's only 9!
Mrs. Nena, head chief who smiles and does the yelling. I don't yell.
Mike, a 9th grader who helps out.
Misc. people I don't know their names of.

First thing that happens when $ Bill walks in...he' sees me and goes WE GOT A NEW GUY!!! This is when I should be worried, but I'm not. I sit down at a table and a whole crew of boys rush around and start pelting me with questions. What's my favorite baseball team, what does the Espana t-shirt I'm wearing mean, Favorite football (american/european), have I ever beat someone up, do I have a girlfriend, have I ever made out, Have I ever kissed a dog, what grade I'm in, wait, did someone ask have I ever kissed a dog? I look at Frank, who asked the question, and turn it right back at him. He says why? I say do ya think I have kissed a dog, with a bit of menace in my voice. He squawks no, and I say, thought so. It's fun abusing authority. JKLJ.

Anyway, I get accepted into the social group and we start playing with interconnected blocks for an hour or so. Interconnected blocks? Who the hell comes up with these lame ass names. They are basically little pieces of colored cubes, sort of like legos, but not as big. Not that much fun, but you can make them flex and bend which is sort of cool. Little Chris made a kick ass american flag with lightning bolts in them. He rocks for a little dude.

Then, across the way, who should catch my eye? It's Jessica! Nick's little sister! Awesome. I talk to her for a little bit about what she's drawing, she tells me that Nick busted up his jaw in England, and that she likes his dog Sadie. I tell her, the dog kicks butt and tell her I say hi to her mom. However, her mom picks her up! Awesome, it's Kim. Shoot the breeze for a little bit, and then Kim asks me where else I have applied. I tell her the American Museum of Natural History. She says' she knows a guy who has worked there for ever, and would love to forward my resume on to him. I'm like KICK ASS! A new contact at the AMNH??? SWEET.

The day ends with no spilt milk or cookies, but I get a dunkaroos for the road. Pretty awesome first day of hanging out with kids.

Off to go relax with scotch and hopefully the Chief, Sean, his gal Katie, and maybe the rest of the crew later. Oh yeah, my name is Mister Matt. It's got a nice ring to it, don't it?