"You guys are doing so great. Keep writing down your vocabulary words. And I will let y'all know what your assignment is for this weekend." I said. I began writing their assignment on the white board, if they were paying attention they could start on their assignment before class was dismissed that way they could have the weekend to themselves. "Ms. Smith, is that our homework on the board?" One of the students asked. "It is." I responded. "For class, or for the weekend?" Another one asked. "For the weekend." I responded. "Oooh I'm about to do mine now, so I can go to Dave and buster's with my uncle this weekend." One of the students Trey said pushing his glasses up. "I ain't know you had a uncle Trey. You ain't have one in first grade." Another student Layla added. "Cus he was in jail. But he's out now." He said causing me to frown. "Okay okay enough. Finish your work." I said.
My phone vibrated.
Josiah 🧔🏽♂️🤷🏽♀️ How you doing love? 3:01 pm
Me: I'm doing good thanks for asking. How are you? 3:02 pm
Josiah 🧔🏽♂️🤷🏽♀️ Good now that I'm back in the city. Can I take you out tonight? 3:03 pm
Me: I would love to. 3:04 pm
Josiah 🧔🏽♂️🤷🏽♀️ Cool. What time your class let out? 3:05 pm
Me: 3:30. But I'll have to wait until every student is gone before I can go. 3:06 pm
Josiah 🧔🏽♂️🤷🏽♀️ That's cool. Let's shoot for 8. 3:07 pm
Me: You can come to my place. 3:08 pm
Watching my students, I thought about my night. Josiah always made me feel so special. He was an ideal boyfriend but he was away playing basketball for the University of Texas. He was planning on going to the NBA when he graduated next year and that would only put even more distance between us. So in the meantime I was just going to try and enjoy our time together. No titles and no pressure, and use tonight to take my mind off how Amari and Rashad had both managed to act an ass all in one night.
"Alright guys, go ahead and start getting your things together. If you're a bus rider go ahead and line up on the right side of the wall, and if you're a car rider on the left side. And if you're a walker you get to walk right behind Ms. Smith." I said, although I was pretty sure I didn't have any walkers. They started to get their things together. As I grabbed my phone and my classroom keys. I stood at the front door waiting on them to meet me there.
Once they had collected all of their things, they lined up as we headed out of the class. In the hallways they stayed separated like I had shown them how to do the first day. Once we were outside, everyone went to their appropriate location. But I noticed someone close behind. "I didn't know you were a walker Trey. I thought your mom usually picked you up." I said as he pushed his glasses up. "She does. But since my dad is back, she goes to work now. And he said I can walk on the days he can't pick me up." He responded but I found myself frowning. Although I know times were different but walking alone was no place for a eight year old to be. "Where do you live?" I asked him. "Just around the corner on Sunset Avenue." He said shrugging, that was my grandma's street and that wasn't just around the corner. "That's not around the corner." I said. "Let me walk with you." I said. "It's okay Ms. Smith, my dad or some of his friends usually meet me halfway and walks me the rest of the way." He said and shook my head. "I insist Trey. It's fine I could use the exercise." I said laughing as we started on the walk. Looking at him he had a since of familiarity to him. But I didn't have any kids in or around my family so I knew I didn't know him.
"Ms. Smith, do you like being a teacher?" He asked. "I do enjoy it. Do you like being a student?" I asked. "Sometimes. But my dad makes a lot of money, and I don't think he ever went to school." "Well good for him. But everyone doesn't have that luxury. Sometimes you have to go to school to make money." I said. "Dad!" He yelled running ahead of me. Looking up I almost fainted. "Fallon?" He asked as Trey hugged him.
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"Rico? You had a son!?" I asked him as he pulled me into a hug. "Yeah, this my boy. How you know him?" Rico asked me. "He's my student." I said. "Wow my little baby Fallon then grew up, and teaching my kid now. Boy we getting old." He said. "Sup sis." Fabe said jumping out the truck. Causing me to roll my eyes. I was starting to put two and two together. "Now yall know better. If the school finds out any of this, they are going to investigate. Have someone pick him up." I warned. "He's too young to walk alone." "I got him, he know how shit go. And if anybody touch a hair on his head they don't value their lives. He knows that." Rico said looking at me. "Now let us give you a ride back to the school."
Fabe and Rico were best friends when we were younger. Thick as thieves literally. They did it all together. Rico was like the other older brother I didn't want either. But he always looked out. Jumping in the truck, I immediately rolled my eyes to the back of my head in annoyance.
"Hey Uncle Rylan!" Trey said excitedly. "What's up youngin'?" He greeted him back.
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"We gotta stop meeting like this Fallon." He spoke to me. "We surely do." I said. "If you would quit avoiding me, maybe it wouldn't be so awkward you think?" "Oh I'm avoiding you? I think it's the other way around. Cus you won't answer any of my questions." I suggested. "Uncle Rylan, we still going to Dave and busters this weekend? I did all my work in Ms. Smith's class." Trey said. "Yeah I got you lil man." He spoke to Trey. "I got you too Ms. Smith." He smirked. We were pulling back up at the school. As I climbed out of the truck. They let the window down exposing Rico in the front seat, Fabian in the drivers seat, and Rylan in the back with Trey. "Be safe little girl." Fabe said. "I'll be seeing you little sis." Rico said. "Fallon." Rylan said.
The wheels in my head were turning as things were starting to come together thinking about what Trey had said. "Wait a minute." I said holding my hand up. "You been gone all these years cus you been in jail?" I asked Rylan. "Ah shit." Rico said lowly. "Look Fal we gotta go. Y'all talk later." Fabe said pulling off before Rylan could answer. My heart was racing. I wanted to get in my car and chase them down. I needed answers. But it was becoming perfectly clear to me, that I wouldn't be getting them anytime soon.
