Diana (Urban Fiction)

I

Dear Diary,
Today is Monday February 4th, 2019. The time is 6AM. I didn't have the best sleep last night. Could be because my neighbors like to fuck like rabbits, or I've been up grading my students' alphabet tracing. I have no clue why the district wants me to grade kindergartners, but as long as my rent gets paid, I have to abide. But I'm getting off topic. My therapist wants me to talk about me, not work. But it's hard when that's all you do. Those students are my babies. Anyway, today I plan to have a great day. I'm decorating my classroom for black history month, as well as planning our Valentine's Day party if they behave. But I don't have the time to write all day, I have to be at the school by 7:30 for a staff meeting.

Signing off,

Diana.

As soon as I put the pen down, I immediately get a FaceTime call from my work buddy, Semére. I met Semére at orientation my first year teaching at Roosevelt Elementary. She's been the 2nd grade teacher since 2013. Granted she's 6 years my senior, she's such a great colleague and friend.

Hesitantly, I answer the phone.

"Now heffa, I didn't even get in the shower yet! Whaaat?" I answered in a playful annoying tone.

"Well good morning to you too, bitch! I was just calling to see if you wanted to carpool! We can stop by DD's and get something to eat shit!" She laughed it off.

"Fine, give me 15 minutes!" I said before hanging up the phone to get ready.

I'm very particular about hygiene and scents. Today I'm feeling like a honey day, so I pair my milk and honey body wash with my honey scented lotion and spray I got from the mall the other day. It's soft and subtle, and I'm in the mood for some compliments.

I grab my briefcase already equipped with today's lessons and laptop and double checked the lock to my apartment before I left to meet Semére in her 2018 Toyota Corolla.

"Right on time, Ms. Jones. Seatbelt!" She warned me as I sat my briefcase in her backseat.

"Good to see you too, Mrs. Farhan. Happy Monday." I replied, adjusting the seatbelt to my comfort.

"Now, since I'm driving us to RES for the day, I do assume you're treating us to DDs?" She looked over my direction.

"Girl I thought you was gon' treat yo'self!"

"Well it's only right! When you carpool I'll pay for your DDs, but today you pay for mine! Now I want..."

I zoned out Semére, like always, until we got to Dunkin Doughnuts. I ordered my small caramel iced coffee and a sausage egg and cheese croissant. She ordered nothing but a vanilla latte because she just has to watch her figure to keep her youth. We finally made it to the school 5 minutes before the meeting to get situated and take attendance.

"Good morning, faculty and staff," our principal, Mrs. Santiago greeted. "I would first like to say a great start into the 3rd quarter of the year. Our test scores have gone up by 30%."

I'm so tired of the same old news. Test scores, who's on the committee to plan what. It always ends up with me and the other 2 black teachers planning the Black history program. I just want to fast forward to my class.

The bell rings, signaling its time for us to go our separate ways to our separate classes.

"See you at lunch, we gotta talk." Semère whispered to me before she disappeared into the sea of children. Normally when she says "we gotta talk", it's about the new boo she added to her collection.