Longing, pages 22-31 Summary

Eventually the little boy is told that it is time for him to go to school. He is very excited, and feels welcomed by his first teacher, Mam Salinière. When his mother leaves him at the nursery school, he is terrified and devastated, and sits in complete silence not really aware of anything going on around him. However, after lunch at home with his mother and siblings, the little boy is a bit braver. He begins to pay attention during the afternoon and is delighted to join in the songs and games.

He begins to find that school is fun, and delights in learning new things, such as mixing colors, cutting and pasting, reciting the alphabet, writing letters, etc. He also learns fairy stories and rhymes from France. He is so pleased by it all that he boasts...