y MicHAeL

* Professional instructions
* Classes for all skill levels -
beginner to expert
* Special program for the younger
skiers (ages 6-9)
* Small classes
* Adult classes too!
* Charter buses Saturday & Sunday

(248) 583-1300

fax: (24a) 583-1305

31051 stephenson hwy
madison heights, mi 48071

under new ownership

, „idler fitan- ever/

for band and dj booking information
call Leslye Sklar at (248) 788-3880

The uitimate In
Quality Bands

Rumplestiltskin

I-CAOROSS

on7044//wir

RoyalOak • (248)398-9711

10/9

1998

►

ww.lorioross.com

U. Detroit Jewish News

Murray

&

Marc

Classic

photography

248-350-2420

www.ciaggiepotography.com

e First Day

hand. In silence, we walked the
y son Mikey, who was
:
final
few feet together. Once
diagnosed autistic one
inside, we found his teacher and
year ago, will not attend
fished
his nametag from a bowl it
a special school for the learning
the classroom. Suddenly, in des-
disabled. There were only three
peration, Mikey grabbed
places available, and the
my shirt. I grabbed him
education department
back
and neither wanted
gave them to the children
to let go. We hung on to
most delayed in develop-
each
other for a second,
! ment.
then the teacher came.
So it was with an anx-
I realized I would
ious heart that I
have to go and let Mikey
approached the village
start
fending for himself
school on Mikey's first
went out the door and
day of mainstream educa-
tion. Mikey was ready to
Elizabeth Thomas paused for a moment,
determined to have one
I be a big kid. He took the
AOpleTree
more glimpse of my
hand of his big sister,
Staff Writer
baby.
Katie, and impatiently
I
heard
someone softly say
marched out the door. I followed
"Mommy" and saw that Mikey
the pair, monitoring Mikey for any
had
come back to the door for
signs of distress. Of course, it was
one final goodbye. We hugged
really me who was the distressed
again. Then Mikey's face contort-
one. I felt heavy inside, like I had
ed with his tough-guy expression
swallowed a rock.
—
a cross between a frown and
Mikey continued to hold Katie's
a scowl. He was going to be
hand as we approached the
strong. "You go now," he said.
sch6ol.
Mikey got through his first dcd
"Katie, remember this is his first
just
fine, the teacher told me later.
day at school," I pleaded as we
My daughter also told me she hac
reached the gates. "Can you look
taken charge of Mikey during
after him when you see him during
every recess. "I had to go to the
lunch or play breaks?"
bathroom during one break," she
Katie, who is 9 and too jaded
explained
earnestly, "but I left a
to be excited over the first day of
few
of
my
friends to watch over
school, rolled her eyes: "Okay,"
him until I/got back." She enjoald
she agreed. "I'll be nice to him at
showing
off her brother after all,
school until the end of the first
she told me. "It's nice to have a lit
term. Then he's on his own."
tle
brother at school," she said.
As we walked into the school-
As Mikey continues his school
! yard, and Mikey realized how
career, I must be careful not to
soon he would be alone with his
attribute every rough bump to his
new class, he let his sister go,
autistic tendencies. Some slings
stepped back and grabbed my
and arrows go with the territoryloof
being a new kid at school. He'll
Elliabeth Thomas is a former
find his niche. I will be patient. It's
resident of Mississippi who now
just so hard to know when to hold
I lives in Reading, England, with
them close and when to let them
her husband, Mel, and two chil-
go. El
1 dren.