Taking Attendance

I held the red clipboard flat against my knees. Midday sun was warm on the shed doorstep. I lifted our blue plastic ruler from under the clamp and tapped the wooden board. Clack! My brown terrier friend was sitting very still right inside our taped white square, tongue out and tail resting in the dust. I tapped the ruler once on the board, then tapped the dog's front paw very gently. One student present, I said. The dog let out a proud little huff and placed its wet black nose right against the red board to sign in. Our lunchtime class has full attendance.