I am holding on with claws to the last days of my baby girl's elementary years. In our district, elementary ends at 4th grade! She'll do some growing up in the Intermediate school next year where they have lockers and four different teachers and some pretty un-elementary expectations.
Last week, we had Oklahoma Heritage Day, a beautiful day made to sit back and bask in the history of our state. Formerly the Land Run Day, it was changed to incorporate more people groups, specifically Native Americans!
There was sheep sheering, line dancing, animal petting, and a slew of other fun stuff to enjoy. Plus my litle Indian girl who I love so much!
One great highlight of elementary school is the day-long field trip to the one-room school house in Perry. It was a great learning experience 
Leslie, the new girl in town, makes her appearance and school and quickly becomes a laughing stock. She looks funny and acts funny and doesn't even have a TV in her house!
At recess, the boys get ready for their race, and Leslie asks if she can join!
Gary Fulcher tells her in no uncertain terms that "No you cannot!" but Jessie comes to Leslie's rescue and asks Gary if he is afraid to race a girl. Gary relents and the race is on!
As the kids race, everyone else in the schoolyard is riveted! Who will win?
Jessie nearly beats Gary Fulcher for the first time in his life, but Leslie beats him out at the last minute and he is sorely disappointed.
On the way home from school, Leslie and Jessie talk about the race and begin a tentative friendship. Leslie decides they need a place "just for them" and the idea of a magic kingdom called Terabithia begins to form. 
They swing across a dry creek on a rope and enter a magic world where Leslie sees nymphs and fauns and goblins and dragons. She declares herself the queen and Jessie the king, but Jessie can't quite see the magic world yet. 
A couple weeks later, Maybelle shows Billy Jean a special treasure: some twinkies her daddy brought her all the way from Washington!
It isn't long before Janice Avery steals those twinkies and Maybelle is hurt and furious! Jessie and Leslie retreat to Terabithia to make a plan of revenge. During this time, Jessie and Leslie become closer friends and Leslie begins to share open Jessie's eyes to the amazing world around him. Leslie, (along with their teacer Ms. Edmunds) appreciate and encourage Jessie's gift of art.
His family, however, still does not understand him. They ridicule him and for Christmas get him a race car track that shows that they have no understanding of his true interests. 
Jessie, meanwhile, wants to get a present for Leslie, but knows it's gotta be "just about free." When he sees the "Free Dog" sign, he knows just what he will get her.
It was a scene that always brought oohs, aahs and lotsa laughs.
Leslie gave Jessie a paint set, exactly what he wanted! The Terabithians were pleased at the gift giving, and they declared it a "time of greatest joy!"
After intermission, we learn that Janice Avery herself has a heart. Leslie catches her crying in the girls' bathroom and there is a lot of discussion about reaching out to others in need. 
Meanwhile, Leslie and Jessie continue to wage epic wars in the land of Terabithia. Once the seasonal rains start coming in, however, Jessie becomes afraid and tries to face his fear of water. The dry creek becomes a rushing river and he dreads visiting Terabithia. He no longer feels like a king.
One rainy day, he gets a call from his teacher who wants to take Jessie on a field trip to Washington to see an art museum. He slips out without asking his parents or telling Leslie.
as fate would have it the rope breaks as she is swinging across.
When Jessie returns his family is worried. Leslie's body has been found, but nobody knows where Jessie is. Maybelle knows, but they are not sure whether to believe her.
It is a time of greatest sorrow. They have a procession for their queen. 
Suddenly, a little voice yells out. It is Maybelle. She has followed Jessie to Terabithia and is about to fall into the creek. He pulls her across and gives her a queen. He then boldly begins to introduce her to Terabithia, just as Leslie did to him at one time. 
Jessie tells Maybelle that she is the queen the Terabithians have been waiting for and crowns her with a wreath of leaves and berries. He tells her he will build her a bridge to Terabithia that she can use anytime. 
