Teach Me Something // LH44

Chapter One

Gigi's POV

"Alright kids, when Graeme and Lucy are returned to their home, then you can all pack up! But I don't want to see any pencil cases in bags until they're back safely in their home!" I call out to the class of increasingly agitated 8 year olds in front of me before turning around to the digital white board and begin wiping the end of the lesson plan that was in front of me.

Perhaps you're expecting Graeme and Lucy to be class pets but no. Graeme and Lucy are two of the six glue sticks in my classroom because I realised four years ago that kids care a lot more about taking care of things when you give them names. That's not to say we don't also have a cat pet, there's a bunny in a hutch in the corner of the classroom to disprove that thought quickly but Rory the Rabbit (female) will be returning home with me tonight and is never unaccounted for. There's a quick flurry of activity behind me and by the time I have switched off the smart board and turned back around, I can see all six glue sticks are at the front of my classroom and every kid is sitting in their seat looking at me expectantly. There's some light agitation and bouncing knees but on the whole they've been a surprisingly good class so far this year - although it's only been two weeks so I suppose the jury is still out on that.

I smile and declare that they are indeed allowed to pack up but ask that they don't do it too loudly so as to scare Rory. So with some quiet chattering in the background, I sit back in my seat and wait for everything to calm down once more. I don't blame them, I'm also desperately keen to get out of here so the sooner they leave, the better for me. However, unfortunately I'm not legally allowed to actually let them out of the building or my care until 3.30 so there's a little time left over once everyone is packed up and sitting back in their seats. This was planned however and so I am quite easily able to fill it as there's a few more end of the week rituals to come.

"So... school is almost over which means we need to choose table of the week... so hands up for blue?" I ask taking a tally on the regular white board for each colour table, relieved that the children already seem to have caught onto the fact that they can't vote for themselves. Ultimately it's revealed that the green table has won, so with a gentle round of applause and just a couple of glares, that is settled and I remind them that it means they get first choice of golden time activity next week. With that confirmed I get to move onto the last thing that I need to remind them of before the end of the day. "Finally the school fair is this weekend, tomorrow actually! I'll be here all morning! Please remember we're trying to raise money for the cat and dog shelter not far away from here! Our year is in charge of baking so please, if you can, get your dads and mums to help make sure you can bring something with you. Year fours are running the book festival and there will be other games so please make sure you come down! It's meant to be lovely and sunny and I'm hoping that we will have a great time all together!" I remind them and there's a sweeping of excited chatter through the room as I remind them of the autumn fair with a smile, watching many of their eyes light up.

It turns out that I've timed it perfectly and the bell goes off just three seconds after I finish talking and so I take them all outside into the sun that's been taunting me and the kids since we arrived this morning. As always, there are many parents waiting for their kids in the playground and I stand at the exit as I wave them goodbye, getting a couple of hugs and some high fives from kids before they skip off to their parents like little balls of chaos that I'm glad I am now relieved of. The shining sun makes me think about what I might get up to this evening before I feel a tug at my arm, pulling me away from the future and into the present.

"Miss Hart?" Kaiden says, my name a question for attention as I squat down to get to his eye level and nod softly at him. "I can't come to the fair tomorrow," he tells me with a pout. I kind of want to laugh at the upset on his face but I keep my face straight, quickly understanding that this is not a decision he's a fan of and so I pout back before smiling at him, tilting my head to the side understandingly.