Devine

39

A few days later.
I'm pretty sure I'm getting better. I felt like I was going to die, it was so bad. I couldn't stand being away from my kids but I'm better now. But guess who's sick now?.

I bring him some soup. "What's that?"

"Chicken noodle soup."

"For what?"

"You're sick. That's why."

"I'm not sick."

"Mh. Just eat it." He coughed. "You'll get medicine after."

"What are the kids eating?'

"Tacos."

"I want tacos."

"Eat you can have some after if you're not full."

"I'm sick so that apparently means treat me like Josh.".

"You mean a baby."

"I do. I'm not a kid, I'm thirty-four."

"Just eat it. You can have tacos after." He sighed. I sat it on his lap. "I'm pretty sure you jinxed yourself. Should've never said that you can't get sick."

"Whatever but at least I have a excuse to miss work."

"You've been missing work like crazy."

"I know. I got my brother to go in for me."

"How many siblings do you have?"
"Four two brothers and sisters. How about you?"
"Two older sisters. They hated me, I was convinced no one in that house cared about me.."

"Hey. I care about you. The kids do. You grew up to be a independent woman without them."

"That's true."
~~~~~~
A few months later
I go inside. It's so nice. I'm excited. Oh my God. I start my counselor job today. I'm nervous but really happy. It's the middle of the year. I go in the office. "Hello."
"Hi, I'm here to talk to Mr. Lee. " I sign in. "And what's the reason?"

"I work here as a counselor." She chuckled. "You won't make it sweetheart. Why do you think the last one quit?"

"I think I'll be fine. I'm just a counselor."

"Okay miss girl. Go right in."

"Okay thank you. It's Ms. Waters by the way." I go in the principal's office. "Good morning."

"Good morning." I sat down. "Okay Ms. Waters. I'm glad you offered to work here. We really need a counselor these kids need someone to talk to and look up to."

"I know."

"Now, about the kids in this school. We're not like any other school, we're probably not like your old highschool unless you went here did you?"

"No."

"Okay good. Our kids aren't the smartest and aren't the most....how do I say it, respectful. Is this the only school you could get?x

"Well, I wasn't looking for one until the next school year started because I had a kid but then I saw that you were looking for one right now so I put my kids in daycare and I took the first offer."

"Do you live in the ghetto. Ms. Waters?"

"Uh, no. I guess you could say I used to live in it a long time ago. Like maybe four years ago."

"Are you sure you want to work here?"

"Mh. Sir if these are the most difficult kids why wouldn't I want to help?"

"Okay, you're officially hired. I'm gonna show you your office."

"Okay." I followed him to my office. He opened it and gave me the keys. "Here it is. You want help fixing it up?"

"I'm fine. But thanks.x

"Okay. Good luck." He walked out, closing the door. Okay. I need to fix this up and see what I need to do.
~~~~~~~~~
I think the bell is gonna ring soon so I'm just walking around the school. It's not the best looking school. In the front it is but once you get more into it, it's not that nice. I've looked in some classes as well. Some classes the students are sitting down and listening but others students are doing whatever they want with the teacher just on their phone at their desk. I'm certain the principal doesn't give a fuck about this school. If he did it would be totally different. It's been forever since I've really been in a highschool like actually in it. I wonder what the bathrooms look like. I should've expected this. I heard sniffles. Is that a student? "Hello?" I hear her throw up. "Oh..are you okay miss?" I push open the stall door. Do these not have locks? She looked at me. "Um. Hi. I was just wondering what you were doing in here?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Ms. Waters, I'm the school's counselor. Can you come with me?"
~~~~~~~~
"Okay, your the first student that I've had. So I might be bad at this."

"It's okay, I just need help."

"Okay, so why were you throwing up in the bathroom?"

"I um..I took a pregnancy test this morning at home and I'm pregnant obviously, I told my boyfriend and he broke up with me and told other people so the whole school knows. I couldn't stay in class cause everyone was talking about me." Okay I didn't expect this on my first day. "Okay. What's your name?"

"Ariana."

"Okay Ariana, I'm gonna guess you're under eighteen right?" She nodded. "I know you just found out this morning but do you know what you want to do about the baby?"

"I don't really want a baby miss but like I don't want to hurt them because I'm selfish and-."

"No no no. Ariana you're allowed to do whatever you want with your body. You might think it's selfish and I did too but if you don't want a baby you don't have to have one. You don't have to keep it."

"Okay I'll think about it. But I don't have my boyfriend and he told everyone and he doesn't want anything to do with the baby and-."

"Just let him go. Most likely you won't remember him five years from now.".

"Okay. Once I figure out what I want to do can I come back and you can help me?"

"Of course sweetheart. Come back when you want."

"Thanks." She got up and walked out. I really didn't expect to talk about pregnancy on my first day.