45 Minutes to Open and Close a Thumbdrive

In a borrowed classroom because ours was being used for testing.

With a class that pops out of focus without routine and structure.

Delivering a tech lesson requested by the homeroom teacher.

On 5 year old computers cast off from a sister school that was now using MacBook Airs.

Twenty fifth graders take 45 minutes to open and close a thumb drive.

To be fair, some students drifted in from the library–the original relocation location.

The students who have arrived early begin keyboarding. Quietly.

Everyone present. Time to insert the USB.

Open Computer. Locate the removable drive. Look for USB Brand. It will be different than the one you see on the screen.

Loading times vary from 5 to 55 seconds.

My expectations yo-yo. When to let go and when to pull back?

My blood pressure rises and falls in staccato silences between observations of “how patient” some people are being while others’ noises are “not helpful.”

As the clock jumps toward the end of the period, I have the horrible realization that the USB needs also to be ejected properly.

Or material might be lost. Damaged. Erased.

Locate the task bar. The ejection icon. Offer a solution if the “disk was still in use.”

Applaud those who have closed their applications completely before attempting to eject.

Finally. Safety. Safe to remove disk.

Rrrrrrring. End of hour.

Remove thumb drive.