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<< Previous   of   Next >> Kevin Nortz / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Savannah Caffrey, 5, waits to leave for her first day of school at Silver Lake Elementary School in south Everett on Wednesday. Kevin Nortz / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Nikki Caffrey, 5, hops onto the couch to put on her socks and shoes before her first day of kindergarten at Silver Lake Elementary.  Photo Gallery: First Day of School   ADVERTISEMENT   School life This is the first in an occasional series of 300-word essays about school life. If you have a suggestion for the series, contact reporter Kaitlin Manry at 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 A few butterflies for Everett kindergartners' first day of school By Kaitlin Manry Herald Writer EVERETT -- Savannah Caffrey jumps on her bed. Her sister, Nikki, lies curled on the carpet, scowling at the mirror. Sleepy-eyed in blue pajamas, they know what's ahead. Mom does too. Her girls are leaving her, going to kindergarten. She sets out new Hannah Montana shirts. When Nikki protests -- "It's too big!" -- she picks a smaller shirt for her blond fashionista. She cooks oatmeal with brown sugar, and toast. She sniffs inside their mouths. Savannah must brush again. She combs their waist-long locks. A mother senses tears. "What's wrong? Are you nervous?" Nikki nods, frowning. Mom fills two new backpacks with glue and tissues. She confiscates a football action figure Savannah, her tomboy, wanted to smuggle in. For five years, they've been her life. At her in-home preschool, she taught them to sing the ABCs, not to lick water fountains and to wash their hands after going potty. There's so much left. She looks at the clock, then at her girls. "It's getting closer and Mommy's starting to get a little worried … Where am I going to meet you?" "Home," Nikki whispers. "No! At the bike rack." Turning to Savannah. "Where am I going to meet you?" "At the 'crack." "No!" Mom asks again. "At the 'crack," Savannah repeats, still blending words. At 9 o'clock, Mom reaches for little hands, to walk outside and cross the street to Silver Lake Elementary. Savannah skips ahead. "I'm walking myself." Mom winces. Nikki holds on. At the gate, Mom pulls her close. "I love you. Be very good. Listen. Mommy's so proud of you. You're getting so big." She finds Savannah already inside her classroom, sitting in front of her name tag. Mom puckers. They kiss goodbye. Savannah wipes her lips. Finished, Serena Caffrey walks away, holding her tears. "I've got to let them go." READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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