Maple Ridge writer Jack Emberly has written a new book, and plans a launch event on Dec. 15 at Greystone Retirement Community.
Titled “Goodbye Chums and Other Tales From My School House Daze,” the book reflects on Emberly’s years as an educator.
“Anything can happen in Better Days Elementary,” says the author. “In the first of 10 stories, Goodbye Chums, (long-listed in the 2022 CBC short story competition), Mrs. White’s grade threes hover ‘like brooding hens’ around Mohammed, a traumatized boy from war-torn Afghanistan who hasn’t spoken a word in three years.”
The class has started their ‘Stream to Sea’ salmon enhancement project. Students will monitor the progress of chum eggs in their aquarium.
Dr. Khan asked “How will children respond to a boy who doesn’t speak?”
“Youngsters sense the pain of others and respond with love and empathy” she said.
In “Where There’s Life, There’s Hope,” grade one students are heartbroken when a chicken eggs in their classroom incubator fail to hatch. Many students are afraid to try again with another batch of eggs until Akai, tells them “you can’t give up on life.”
“Young children are innately emphatic, and protective, and hopeful,” said Emberly, “but classrooms aren’t always peaceful. There’s drama and occasional conflict and pandemonium as well.”
In “Frogs Forever” Jimmy, in grade 6, shares disturbing news: a fungus called Chytridiomycocis. Amy, who wanted to be a teacher printed it on the white board. (chy-tri-di-o-my-co-sis).
“It’s killing frogs,” reports Jimmy. “This fungus covers their skin and they suffocate. We have to help them.” Mr. Beagle, his teacher, invites Dr. Spock and Dr. Doolittle, two herpetologists (frog experts) from the Vancouver aquarium to speak about the world-wide threat to frogs at the next school assembly.
In “Teacher on Call” Mr. Aimes, the substitute, gives two trustworthy grade six boys free time to work on a classroom fund-raising project in the empty room next to Division 3.
All goes well until the boys lock themselves in a dark overhead storage cabinet. When Nigel shouts, “there’s probably rats in here, the screaming alerts the principal, Mrs. Hardknukkles.”
All tales are based on real events and people.
“I kept a journal during 30 years of teaching,” said Emberly, “knowing there’d be yarns to spin when I retired. I now appreciate how lucky I was to have had a long teaching career. “I learned more about life from young kids than they could ever learn from me. Children are our “better angels.”
Emberly says the phrase comes from President Abraham Lincoln during the US Civil War.
“We can become jaded and pessimistic as we grow older,” explained Emberly. “At the height of the Civil War, Lincoln said we have better angels we can and should stay in touch with. I witnessed those better angels in children.”
“Hopefully, my book reminds others of that crucial part of us we may have forgotten. If enough of us do, it could help save the planet.”
Emberly said his stories are intended for grades one to seven and “anybody who ever attended elementary school and might enjoy a nostalgic look back in time.
“Readers are all guaranteed a laugh, whatever age they are,” he said.
Joining Emberly at Greystone Manor Retirement Residence (11657 Ritchie Ave.) at 6:30 p.m. will be singer/songwriter, Holly Arntzen, an accomplished dulcimer player who has performed across Canada.
“Holly’s unique music is a perfect fit for my stories,” says Emberly. “Her Good Medicine Songs promote protection wild salmon, forests, and the natural world.
The Goodbye Chums launch takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Greystone Manor Retirement Community (11657 Ritchie Ave.), and is open to the public.