“Let’s get our backpacks together. If you didn’t get a chance to drop off your Spring Break work this morning, now’s the time! Calmly, calmly.”

The fifth graders shuffled about the room while Ms. Baer got her own bag together. The bell rang, and the children lined up at the door. Ms. Baer made her way to the front, and led them out to the parking lot. She returned to her room, picked up the Spring Break homework from her basket, and slid the stack into her bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder, and stepped out, locking her classroom.

Mr. Hunt was taking down the March pictures, and putting up his April ones as she passed by. “Oh, your pictures are in yellow,” she said in surprise.

“Yes- I thought we could add some color to the hallway. Sun, Moon and Stars in caaaaalming blue is getting old after all these years.”

Ms. Baer searched for any other teachers who may be around, and looked back at Mr. Hunt. “Do you think that’s… wise?”

“It’s the same drawing. They even have it in the same organization. I just decided to have them do it in yellows.” He looked back at the few he had posted, and smiled, “Don’t you think they look nice? Happy and vibrant!”

“I think that’s the point of the blues, Ed. Yellow is too exciting. The blues will keep them calmer,” she said starkly, and she walked away.

Ms. Baer sat down at her dining room table, and pulled out the Spring Break stack. She couldn’t wait to read where the children went on their break. She never got to leave Springfield, but the kids often did.  Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis were the most popular destinations, but a few of the children got to see the coastline at Asheville. She smiled as she looked through the papers.

The destination paragraphs led into the monthly drawings- a landscape view of the sun, the mood and four stars. The drawings were supposed to be in hues of blue, the calming color. Ms. Baer was amazed at how different the same picture could look from child to child. Her favorites were always the ones which included periwinkle. She set the stack aside, and got up to fix her dinner.

Ms. Baer returned to school the next morning. Emotions were calm, as they were always expected to be. As she walked down the hallway to her classroom, she noticed Mr. Hunt’s bulletin boards were empty. She stuck her head into his classroom where she saw him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, looking over a stack of papers.

 “You were right, Marge.” He didn’t look up. She didn’t reply, but went on to her room, unlocked her door, and started to get ready for her day. She posted her class’ pictures first, then sat at her desk, did her morning breathing, and waited for the bell to ring to begin again.