I presumed that today would be like yesterday because the plans for the second day were like the plans for the first day. Pam and I were to meet Pamella at 8:30 a.m., go to the Kiita school, and like yesterday, again clean books. And like yesterday, we’d again spend our afternoon at the Fred Ipalook elementary school, again passing out books to young appreciative readers. This before calling it a day and returning to Itinerant Housing.

As it turned out, today was much like yesterday, with just a few variations on a theme.

Fred Ipalook Elementary School

Pam and I were ready to meet Pamella at 8:30 a.m., but this time we were more organized. The suitcases were at the school. We resumed cleaning and sorting the broom closet books, storing them neatly in boxes and canvas bags.

The main variation upon a theme: This time we were served lunch, a Friday staple at the Kiita school. This lunch consisted of fry bread donuts, caribou stew, white rice, and chocolate chip cookies and brownies. We were guests so we were first in line. I bypassed the caribou (tu tu) stew and was glad that no one took notice.

We ate in one of the large classrooms, at white tables set up for this purpose. We talked with Jenn, who is the Kiita School administrative overseer. She related her personal history – I decided she’s one really tough woman. For instance, she was homeless when attending the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She took on a number of teaching related and administrative related jobs before ending up at Kiita.

We watched the fish in the freshwater aquarium while waiting for our ride to the elementary school, and talked with Kurt, a Kiita teacher. Kurt, fiftyish, grey hair, bristly on top, wearing thick brown glasses, and extremely twitchy. He’s lived In Barrow for some time – had no idea where the garbage dump was – says he doesn’t recycle. I could see when he said this that he lost points with Pam.

As we talked, the Kiita receptionist remained glued to the computer screen.

Finally, with food in hand for Pamella, we left for the elementary school. Once again, we set up in the library, with Pam putting stickers on books and me putting said books back in suitcases.

Build it and they will come. The kids came bursting into the room, knelt down and began taking books.

We didn’t part with as many books as we did yesterday. We put what remained on the display shelving.

I need to talk with the powers that be at Scholastic Books and find out who will be paying for the books or the return shipping.

And I need to give more thought to what’s going on here – if and when we get the books in the villages program going, we are going to have to determine who will be in charge of the books at their end of the world and in working with these individuals, determine what will become of these books.

I have known this for a long time and tried not to think about it. However, the time is now.

Next: 331. 12/2/23: Confirmation Code: BJXVZD