I watched them carefully.  I knew they were fearful.  I knew they were full of tension and stress.

They were to leave the house a full hour and a half apart from each other for the first time since they started conventional school.  There was a lot of change happening today.

I knew what my job was.

I’ve spent the last few weeks encouraging, teaching optimism, and offering perspective.

But, as with anything in life, they had to face this change on their own.

We waited for Varmint’s bus, and took her yearly “Back to School” picture that would be uploaded onto Facebook for friends and family later.  But My Captain and I noticed her smile did not reach her eyes.

So I quietly sat down with her on the old, damp bench and listened to the early morning sounds surrounding us.

“Be the light,” just popped out of my mouth.

“Huh?”…