The Things We Do

Chapter 1

My alarm clock rings at 7.00 AM, as it does every day. However, Today is going to be different.

I start my day how I usually do, with a cup of coffee in my Zia symbol mug with exactly two teaspoons of sugar and five tablespoons of cream. Once I finish my cup, I head across the hall to the bathroom, where I attempt to comb through my knot of curly brown hair but eventually give up and pull it back into a bun. I then brush my teeth for exactly two minutes and twenty-seven seconds and slide my retainer into my mouth. I dress in two-sizes-too-big jeans and an old t-shirt I purchased at a thrift store a few years ago. 

Once I am put together, I pack my bag and walk out of my apartment building into the streets of Santa Fe.

I have an internship at an elementary school a few blocks away, and I can't help but wonder what the children will think of me. I was told that it was a class of second graders that struggle with learning disabilities such as dyscalculia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and some others I haven't memorized the names of yet. I will be teaching in the same class as other interns, where we will all help different groups of students.

After about six minutes and fifty-four seconds, I finally arrive at De León's School for Children With Learning Deficits. Before I even walk up the sidewalk, I already see the other interns signing in. I take a look at all of them, and I see a tall, brunette man, a small, freckled woman fidgeting with her hands, and a woman my height with stunning brunette locks and a small figure. I walk up and take the place in line behind her. I can't seem to stop staring at her.

"There is an open sheet here, kid," I overhear. I turn around to see who was speaking and a middle-aged man with rough stubble is glaring back at me.

"Sorry," I say, and take my place in front of the table and begin filling out the sheet. After I complete it, the rest of the interns are already inside. I grab my things and hurry through the door to the classroom.

I wonder what Today will bring.