Out of the blue a former Aqua Roomer popped in to visit.  It was Lizzie.

Lizzie visiting in 2018

My goodness, it was so good to see her.  Lizzie is now Hadrian, a they, but with the same smile and bright eyes.  Hadrian is in college studying mathematics and engineering.

After a gigantic hug, I put both hands on their cheeks and smiled like I was catching up on nearly 10 years of lost smiles.  Well, I was.

They cried and laughed.  I did, too.

Hadrian and I are with Terri,
the other teacher he remembers well.

We reminisced.  Hadrian wanted to talk about summer camp and the playground.  So many thing kept coming up, and the more they talked the more they remembered.  Of course I kept those fires burning.

Hadrian needed this.  I could tell.

Hadrian remembered Gloria and asked if she was still around.  The conversation went something like this:

“Jennie, is Gloria still around?”

“Yes!  Are you ready for this?  She has just come back from England!”

“No way!”

“Yes.  She’s as wonderful today as she was with you.”

Long pause…

“Hadrian, would you like to take Gloria home for the weekend?”

They didn’t know what to say, but their eyes and smile said it all.  So, we went to the classroom to greet Gloria.  Hadrian was fascinated with her journal and asked, “Where are her first two journals?”  I said they’re at my house.  “Can I read them?”  I said, “Of course.  I’ll bring them to school on Monday.”

So Hadrian, a former Aqua Roomer as Lizzie, has anxiety and issues.  They wanted to spend the weekend with Gloria.  Somehow I think she will bring much needed comfort.

Everyone has anxiety.  Everyone needs comfort.  Gloria can help.

Jennie