10
10 Lydia
LydiaLydiaShe sits on the playground bench, smoothing Martha’s hair back and gathering it into a ponytail. Several of the other children stand around her, watching, chatting, insisting they are next in line for a hairstyling. Lydia laughs and encourages them to calm down, promising everyone will have a turn.
Across from her, on the other end of the playground, stands Mya, her beautiful Burmese colleague. Two of Mya’s children attend Unity, and she began working there this year. She is one of the Kindergarten classroom assistants during the day, and helps Lydia with the second grade afterschool class in the afternoon.
Lydia smiles in her direction and waves. Mya smiles her bright warm smile back and returns the gesture. Lydia feels a strong connection to this woman, twenty-
