"Ms. Tsang," Mr. Clemmons, the principal of the grade school said, "I'd like to talk with you about a few things at the end of the day." I inhale deeply, form a smile and nod, replying with, "Sure." With that, I turn and head towards my classroom. When I enter, the overwhelming noises of overlapping voices and giggles instantly drive me "insane." I snap and yell more loudly than I probably should've at the kids to be quiet and sit down. Other than the kids, I like my career. Mostly because of the hours. My kindergarten teaching job only lasts from morning to early afternoon.
The kids go silent immediately. "Thank you. Today we're going to count to 100." I sigh and bring the hair in my ponytail over my shoulder. I start twirling the ends, and stare at it. I look up and say, "So I want you to get your pencils and paper out and start. You should be able to know how to do this now. After you've finished your counting, I have coloring pages for you." I go around the room and hand out coloring book pages and crayons.
I get another urge to vomit. I think these pills are giving me side effects. I haven't gotten my period yet either. I can't be pregnant. I just can't. I don't want to believe it. I grab the trashcan sitting next to my desk and excuse myself. I go out of the classroom door and shut it behind me. I throw up. Tears are welling in my eyes from the gag reflex. I leave the trashcan outside and wipe the overflowed tears off of my face and head back in.
When I step back into the classroom, I see Johnny Valentine stand up and yell, "I can't do it!" He threw the pencil across the room and it hit another student, Sierra, in the head. Not extreme, but it did draw blood, and she was crying. Fed up with the day already, I gritted my teeth together and said, "Finish your work, class. I'll be right back." I shoot Johnny a furious look and said, "Johnny, come with me. Sierra, you too, sweetheart."
Holding Sierra's hand in one hand, and gripping Johnny's arm in the other, I walk down the hall and to the office with both of them. The blood oozing out of Sierra's temple is getting into her thin, blonde hair. Johnny has his eyebrows furrowed, obviously upset with the situation he got himself into. When I enter the office, I tell the receptionist to call the nurse down to take care of Sierra. I set Johnny down in a chair and tell the other receptionist to get a hold of Johnny Valentine's father. "Tell him that Johnny had another altercation with a student again." The receptionist nodded and proceeded to do so.
I left Johnny in the office so the counselor and principal could take care of him. Sierra was back within 10 minutes with a bandaid. The class was still working quietly on their counting when I returned. I looked around the room. Seeing how far along everyone was. They're about in the high 80's by now. I start handing out the coloring pages.The days go by so slow. I'm just thankful I don't have a crazy class like the other teachers. Yeah, there may be a few altercations at times but nothing that's not easily resolvable. The class is now heading out the door for their school day has come to an end. Only a couple more hours before the meeting with Mr. Clemmons. Time to grade their counting.
