(COMPLETE) The Teaching Elective - A Logicality Fanfiction

Chapter 5 - Mr Croft

Summary: Logan has to do some homework on a Teaching Elective class he missed, and meets a child that makes him realise why he took this class.

Logan spent the rest of the week at home, catching up on sleep and homework so there would be hardly any stress when he returned. Well, apart from the stress that he may have broken a friendship. He hadn't texted Patton since the meltdown incident at the cafeteria, and Patton hadn't texted him. That must mean things are awkward. They hadn't even talked about the work experience Logan was missing by taking a mental health week – which meant Logan had to write a reflective log on his week in first grade that he didn't attend.

"What homework is this Logie?" Logan's Mom inquired as she placed a jar of Crofters jam on the table. Logan gave his fidget toy a few spins before answering.

"Reflective log for a week of Education Placement that I didn't attend. I have written one sentence." And that sentence was 'I did not attend school this week'. Logan was not very good at reflecting on his feelings. "What am I even meant to reflect on?"

Logan's Mom paused for a little and sat opposite her son. "Maybe, how do you feel being away from the class? Do you miss any of them?"

The quiet teen shrugged before remembering three specific first graders that always had such excitement when seeing him. "Uh – there's three Hispanic kids that absolutely love when I come into class. Mainly because I can speak semi-Spanish with them while their teacher can't..."

And with perfect timing, as expected, the second parent came barging in – rambling and with a hug to give her favourite son. "I told you Mama's ramblings would help, mijito! You'll be fluent in no time!" Logan was adopted by his two moms when he was in kindergarten, so he was used to the general chaos of his Mama versus his Mom, and he was comfortable with his Mama's random hugs now. He didn't like hugs from anyone else.

"I don't know exactly what to write about the kids I miss though. I mean I can write that I miss them – but that would bring the sentence count to two." Logan started to write anyway; any sentences would work in finishing this assignment. Now he had both his moms opposite him watching him work.

Luckily it seemed as though the two women were reminiscing on the days when they little boy was smaller. "Oh pollita, do you remember Logie as a first grader? He absolutely loved his teacher to the moon and back, didn't he? It was so adorable!"

"It was probably comparative Mama; I was bullied really badly in elementary school."

"No, no, kids always adore their teacher." Mama argued back, keeping Mom preoccupied by stealing Logan's favourite jam that was his comfort food. "Those kids will remember every word you say to them, you're probably like their first, second or third Dad on that playground!"

*******

Mama's words were still in Logan's mind when he finally returned to school, a little late on the Monday. Mom drove him to the elementary school in time for the end of recess, and he was welcomed in to supervise recess with Patton. A certain Patton he'd not spoken to.

Patton was in the middle of the action, instructing a relatively organised game of tag or catch or whatever game they were meant to be playing. They all looked happy at least.

Logan was a little unsure of what to do. The three Hispanic kids he usually played with at recess were in Patton's crowd, confidently speaking with their classmates. That's cool – they were usually scared to speak English to people. Patton must have a magic power.

A scream alerted Logan a little, but a couple of fidgets calmed him down again. He had his eyes on a group of children by the door to the classroom, two little boys surrounding a third giggling and making jokes. The third was crying, sitting on the floor. The other teachers seemed distracted organising the rest of the chaos... Logan had to do something, right?

"Hey! He doesn't want to play with you two." Logan put on his best teacher voice and the two boys scattered away back to Patton's game. The boy on the floor kept crying – Logan recognised that this child was one of the first graders in his class. "Hi buddy, is everything OK?" The boy shook his head, so Logan sat beside him, leaning against the wall. "Were they bullying you?"

The boy sniffled and spoke through choked tears. "They said my daddy doesn't love me and won't come back!" The boy cried louder, but it didn't cause anxiety to rise in Logan's chest. He in fact got closer to the noise. "I miss my daddy!"

Logan remembered feeling like this. It wasn't the same situation, but he felt out of place in first grade. He was the only child with two moms and was bullied for it (as well as acting generally 'weird'). He used to cry to his teacher at recess about how he just wanted a dad and to be like all the other kids, but ten years later he couldn't imagine living a life like that. His two moms made him. "What's your name, kid?"

"Thomas." The little boy whispered, and Logan remembered which child Thomas was. He was the child that seemingly kept to himself, although he was very chatty to the teacher. He just needed a confidence boost.

The junior remembered exactly what was said to him in first grade when he begged his teacher to make him normal and not bullied. "The kids think you're weird for not having a dad, don't they?" Logan mumbled quietly, Thomas sniffling but invested in his calm demeanour. "I'll tell you a secret, you ready?" The boy smiled a little and came even closer. Logan couldn't help but smile in return. "I don't have a dad either! So, I'm also weird according to those kids."

"But you're cool!" Thomas repeated what Logan told his teacher all those years ago. But Logan's first grade teacher was cool – she always wore fluffy jackets to class and when Logan was overwhelmed, he was allowed to hold the jacket on 'jacket duty'. Logan had no idea how he earned the title of 'cool'. "Mr Baker said today you write really nice poems!"

How did Patton know that Logan had his own poetry anthology? Well, that was a thing to find out later. "That means you'll be cool once you grow up. And the first step to being cool is thinking you're cool."

Thomas had bright hazel eyes and a wide smile, invested in any word Logan said. Logan was smiling the widest he'd ever smiled before looking at the life he was changing. "I'm cool Mr Croft!"

Logan didn't believe he was cool straight away, and Thomas probably didn't believe it completely too. It took a couple of years for Logan to be fully convinced he wasn't a loser weirdo – and he had a few moments of backstep. He was still proud to be this child's first step forward. "You definitely are kid. High five?" Thomas gave Logan a high five and ran away to the teacher, just as the teacher was calling the class back in the classroom for their science lesson. Logan stayed sat for a few minutes, watching Thomas join the group and chatter to some of his classmates. And it seemed as though he had a new friendship group – the Hispanic children ran up to him straight away.

*******

At the end of the day, Mrs Torres-Rosario wanted to do a catch-up with the students on how they were finding the classes. And this would be the time to mention if a class move was needed, so that the teacher could change grades after the Christmas break. When Patton arrived, he saw Logan already waiting outside classroom 312. He looked calm waiting at least – maybe was the time Patton should check up on him.

"Hey Logan..." Patton started, smiling at Logan. Logan didn't look up from the floor but smiled back. Amazing! "How are you feeling? You'll finally get to move up to fifth grade!"

"I'll actually stay in first grade. I like it." Logan finally looked up and smiled a little wider, and Patton couldn't contain himself. He really wanted to hug Logan right now. "I'm not angry at you by the way, during my meltdowns I display extreme anger and hatred of people that actually mean the most to me. So – I'm sorry about the paper throwing."

"Do you like hugs?" Patton's voice chirped in excitement and looked like he was about to explode. Logan shook his head though, and Patton immediately calmed himself and stayed put. "Well, um, I'm giving you a hug right now."

"I appreciate your hugs." Patton and Logan were an arm's length away from each other, but Logan still felt extra close to Patton after this moment. Sure – he stayed in first grade because he liked the joy and the curiosity of the class – but he liked Patton too. Patton was his best friend.