The Readers

Kids dressed in togas for last night's Captain's Dinner and were promptly escorted back to their rooms to change.  Such rebels we have.  It was not sanctioned by the chaperones, so we just shrugged, smiled and ate our lamb rack and linguini fruiti de mare, pretending not to be associated with them.  They made it back for The Baked Alaskan, at least. Siobhan Steel took it the hardest.  "It took me 90 minutes to wrap mine!" she declared.  The Captain did not care. But Siobhan has had a great trip, and we would take one like her every year.  A while back I mentioned that two kids elevated their trip with hang-gliding heroics in the Alps.  I left out their names in case their parents did not approve. Siobhan, it turns out, wanted to be named. She likes to see her name in print.  In large letters, I assume.  So here it is.  SIOBHAN.  Can't remember if that's how you spell it.  I am the English teacher who can't spell.  (I even use contractions and write in fragments--because the best writing follows its own rules, no?) Anyway, Michael Aston was the Icarus, but when he fell he landed on his feet.  He could care less if he sees his name in print. I doubt he's reading this blog.

Speaking of reading, not many kids brought books this year.  (It's Ipod city, and I'm sure next year will be Iphone alone.)   This group likes to do, not be.  Their thinking is done.  We have men and women of action.  Still, the bus rides used to be ideal periods for either light summer reading or deep philosophical musings.  But unless they are listing to a book-on-ipod, they have left a little grey matter in the classroom.  Last bus trip I passed around a sheet of paper with the question "What are you reading?"  Here are the responses.

Hall--"A Confederacy of Duncies: by John Kennedy Toole

Hoeger-- "The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz (best book I've ever read, but be forewarned: lots of swearing and carnal knowledge)

Aston--"Hearts for Dummies"

Cummins--The Bible, the abridged version

Dunbar--"Nothing" by Nobody

Goldberg--"The Enormous Room" by e.e. cummings

Kinney--"I'm Illiterate" by Drew Heller

Kurt--"Iron Angel" by Alan Campbell

Overstreet--"Survivor" by Chuck P. and ""American Psycho by B.E. Ellis

Rees--"When You are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris

Springer--"The Wolf of Wall Street" by Jordan Belford

So the actual tally for the boys--6 readers out of 19

Borzi--"Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs

Dadashi--"Dress Your Family in Cordoroy & Denim" by Sedaris

Davidson--"Every Gul's Got One" by Meg Cabot

Deakers--"A Brief History of the Smile" by Angus somebody

Guttman--"A Room with a View" by E.M. Forester

Hsu--"The Know it All" by A.J. Jacobs

LaMonte--"I Don't Read, I Figure" by Sudoku

Moine--"House of Leaves" by Mark Danielewski

Nishimoto--"The Time Travelors's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

Resnick--"None for Now" by The Party Queen

STEEL--"The Summer of Lese" ??? (Can't read her handwriting)

Uruguchi --"Naked Swim Parties" by Jessica Any Blau (I think Katie is on the wrong trip:))

Yazdi--"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by Sedaris

Young--"Roots" by Alex Haley

Girls --12 readers, they win

The boys beat the girls in Hearts, however.  In the finals, to the surprise of only LV and Hall, are Aston, Kurt, Skophammer and Springer.   Helen and Devon were the last girls standing. 

The finals are tonight.  Should be a big crowd.  

I'm blogging from Crete. Old white-haired men with Greek fisherman's caps are fingering yellow beaded necklaces at the Bembos Fountain Cafe. A headless and armless statue looms over me. Most kids, if not all, have slept in after a night a wild toga dancing--so I was told.  This afternoon we land at Santorini, then back to Athens and then home.

This is my last blog.  You will notice a change in you child. Redoubtable maturity, more sophistication, new friends.  This group really came together--especially on the dancefloor. Nice moves, Matt Overstreet! The flight number is DL 951 from Atlanta, due to arrive at 8:30 p.m.

Sincerely,

LV

Congratulations to 12 year old Jake Hoeger, who, in playing in his first 14-and-under tennis tournament--The South End Junior Open--defeated the number one seed yesterday in the quarter-finals 7-5, 6-1.  Good luck today Jake.