So High School

Chapter 2

The next day, Taylor woke and got Kayden up and dressed and when she went out to the parking lot outside her apartment, she found her car with a flat tire.

"Oh shoot. I'm going to be late", Taylor muttered, running her hands through her hair.

"Mommy, I fix tire", Kayden said, taking the toy plastic wrench out of his coat pocket and 'fixing' the flat tire.

"Thank you bud", Taylor mumbled, waiting for the tow service to pick up the phone. But when the call went to voicemail, Taylor hung up and took Kayden to the bus station.

She sat on the bus stop bench with Kayden snuggling her lap. "Mama, what we doing?" the two-year-old asked in his little voice. His eyes and face were so innocent it pained Taylor that she couldn't give him everything he wanted.

"We're waiting for the bus", Taylor explained, kissing Kayden's cheek.

Kayden, being two, had no control of his volume, so when his mom mentioned the word 'bus', his immediate thoughts were his favorite song "The Wheels On The Bus". He began singing it loud and out of tune, causing others to stare and some to smile at his cuteness.

"Mommy, I singed", Kayden said with such pride.

"Yes, you did", Taylor said, kissing her son's cheek.

When the bus finally came, Taylor and Kayden sat by each other, Taylor protectively watching over Kayden so nobody took him. Almost the whole way to preschool, Kayden sang the wheels on the bus out of tune, causing many to smile but others to have an annoyed look.

"He's got his dad's singing voice", Taylor told one person who looked annoyed.

Finally, the bus arrived at Kayden's preschool.

"Bye Kay. I love you so much! Have a good day", Taylor said, kissing her son's forehead and setting him down to play with the other children.

"Good morning! I'm just here to remind you that this month's payment for Kayden's daycare expenses are due tomorrow", one of the front desk ladies said cheerfully as Taylor was on her way out.

"Oh, thanks for reminding me. How much is due?" Taylor asked politely. Daycare was so expensive and the main source of payment for it was Joe's child support money.

"Looks like it's adding up to about $600", the front desk lady said.

"Great, just great. Now I have to pay for two tire replacements and $600 to people who feed kids goldfish and teach them how to sing "The Wheels On The Bus", Taylor said sarcastically. Of course, she had great respect for teachers but the price was outrageous. She wished the woman farewell before going on her way to school.

...

"Class is dismissed. Oh, Charlie? I need to see you after class", Taylor said above the noise of loud students.

"Oohhh", some students said, making Charlie's face turn red.

"That's enough. You've already been dismissed so you are free to leave", Taylor said sternly. The students nodded and left without a word. She didn't tolerate any form of bullying in her classroom in the slightest.

Charlie stood before Taylor's desk.

"You asked to see me, Miss Swift?" Charlie asked politely.

"Yes. I've spoken with Coach Travis and was made aware of the... importance of Friday's game. So we've agreed to let you play on Friday under certain circumstances", Taylor began.