A Day of Surprises

I skip staff meeting. They're briefing on pastoral which is second nature after 23 years. But I supervise a Year 9 class and meet a boy ready to take me on. I email the dean and his form teacher and talk to him.
I meet Kirk on site to discuss windows. The only way to fit the fan lead lights from the old house in the living room bay is to raise the ceiling. Or, as Nicki says, I could take them out, have one pane of glass, and let the garden be the hero. This is the easiest option. And it will work visually. We look at the bay in my bedroom. Kirk says there is room to play. I can fit the lead lights in. We check the other openings. The main bathroom will need alteration to the framing. Making changes to the windows which have been a focus for me requires detachment. This takes time but is necessary.
Garage bracing is still an issue so I call Percival, the engineer. He's in a meeting. I leave a message for him to sort this out with Kirk. I'm just the messenger.
I do teaching planning at school that I do have control over. But there's lots of crossing out. And it could change. Planning is just that.
When I get to Waimairi Beach where there's a strong sideways rip. I wave to the life guard as I walk past and wade in knee deep. I stop where I can stand my ground. A little boy wades in beside me and I wave him back. He looks about five and I'm aware he may try to keep up with me. The rip takes him and he drifts away. A slightly taller boy, but slight, comes in too. He is quickly taken away then drops up to his neck. He's frightened. I put my arm in the air and start to wade over. I'm not a strong swimmer but I'm the nearest and I have a board. It takes time to get to him. I walk carefully because I don't want to be swept away. As I come up I hear, "Help." It's a small voice. I keep walking with one arm in the air while reaching the other out to the boy. We don't connect. I keep going and make eye contact and stretch. My hand grasps his. I take a firm grip and pull. I ask him if he's ok then the life guard reaches us, another just behind. They escort the boy to shore. I keep swimming.
When I get out, the life guard is helping the first boy find his shirt. His sister is rounding him up. She is obviously in charge of both boys but doesn't acknowledge me. Her eyes lack empathy. The life guard tells me he was watching the boys. When to act? Water swallows us so quickly. The little boy I rescued is gone. I wonder if anyone will give him a hug and tell him it's alright. He was frightened.
I drive to volleyball. Putting on my shoes I find some money I've stashed.
After a post volley beer I drop in for a coffee with Chris's mum. We talk about summer weather and she remarks how different the sky is. She used to be able to read weather by the clouds. Now the sky is different and clouds behave differently. I agree. There has been much more low cloud which blocks out the sky and the sun. And much higher humidity, so even in an easterly it's warm. Climate change.