The Worst Day*

Flu: 2 — Shop Girl: 0.

I thought I had kicked this beast, but last night it reared it’s ugly head once again. I barely slept, but I already had a call for today so I woke up on time and started getting ready with every intention of going to work.

By 7:15am I knew there was no way that I could go to work. I called in, curled up on the couch and did what any sick kid would do: I called my mom.

She told me that the flu can come and go for about a week and assured me that I’m not dying. From there I knew there was one thing my body desperately needed: sleep. I crawled back into bed and slept until noon.

I woke up feeling a bit better, but even now I still have very little appetite. I’m just hoping that tomorrow I’ll wake up feeling myself as it’s book club day and I don’t want to miss it!

It was just so bizarre… yesterday I felt fine. I had already gone back to work by Wednesday afternoon, so I didn’t have a problem with taking a call to work a full day on Thursday. I was a little apprehensive when I learned that I was heading to a school that I’ve never been to before (that coincidently has a very rough reputation) but I packed my bags and off I went.

…I should have stayed in bed.

Yesterday was easily the hardest day I have ever had. The school itself is in a very industrial neighbourhood in a rough area of the city it’s in. When I arrived at the school and went to check in with the office, the secretary laughed a little when I told her it was my first time. She didn’t tell me much, just handed me a schedule and I was on my way.

The lesson plan indicated that I would be teaching general and essential level classes all day, but the regular teacher assured me in her notes that her first period class was great and rarely caused trouble.

Ha.

I had barely taken attendance and started the lesson when a girl abruptly stood up and announced that she had to use the washroom. I asked her to have a seat and wait until I had concluded the lesson, which wasn’t long. She glared at me, grabbed her stuff and walked out. I asked if she was planning to return, but she completely ignored me.

And that is how my worst day ever began. I dealt with flying elastics, throwing paper, awful language and an unbelievable amount of rudeness and apathy. My second period class was so hard that I actually had to stop, turn around and collect myself so that I wouldn’t burst into tears. One student told me off and called me a horrible name, and another announced that I was evil after I confirmed that I would be leaving a very honest review of the class for their teacher.

By lunch I was so done. Thankfully I had a prep during third period, and my last period class was much more manageable.

I left the school praying that I would never have to go there again.

I still felt okay after work–I was just deflated and exhausted. And then the phone rang. It was work, letting me know that I had been requested to return to the same school the next day (today). The woman I spoke with could hear the trepidation in my voice as I accepted the assignment and asked me what was wrong. I found myself pouring my heart out to her about my day and after her initial shock she immediately removed the request and found me  a job at one of my favourite schools.

I felt so much better.

She called again 2 minutes later after perusing through my file and found that there were several requests for me at my favourite schools. I think she just wanted to brighten my day a bit, and I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this woman was.

I really hadn’t planned anything for dinner, and after the day I had had I didn’t feel much like cooking so the Hubster, his friend and I went out to grab a bite to eat at A&W.

In retrospect, this was probably my biggest mistake.

All I had eaten all week to this point was soup, crackers and toast. I probably should have stuck with my bland food diet… let’s just say that I basically slept on my bathroom floor again. *sigh*

And that brings me to now. I was supposed to teach English and Gym at one of my fav schools today, but instead I spent it drinking gingerale in bed. Even now, I’m curled up in bed with my netbook watching Grown Ups, just waiting to fall asleep.

I really hope that this will be my last “I’m sick” post… ugh.