The Bell
Till now, my days have been punctuated
by the bell over the P.A. system,
announcing beginnings and endings,
marking the changes of the day
(there is a comfort in the rhythm of it,
the syncopated schedule of transitions and lunch).
These days, the closest I have to it
is at 7pm, when the muffled sounds
of pots and pans, cheers and applause
filter into the living room
reminding me to join them.
This is the self-imposed bell of this season -
to bang our pan with the spatula by the window,
joining in the chorus of our neighbourhood ragtag cheerleaders,
each standing on their balconies
or sticking their hands out of windows.
For a few brief minutes we are united
in this symphony of banging and hollering and whooping
and the cacophony gives me a moment to
stand and remember
those in the brick building just a block away
strapping on their PPE
as if going into battle
Mr. Clarence Tan
Grade 7 Teacher
