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Past
1953
By now, Ashley can finally walk properly without tripping after a few steps. She still prefers to be held in her mother's arms or be in a stroller, but at least she can walk.
"You won't need to be in the high chair anymore." Her mom said as she carried Ashley to a regular chair, except with a strap around a chair that was meant to be used on three-year-olds. Of course, with a yank, Ashley creamed loudly. Her mother sighed. "What did I say about having tantrums?" She muttered to herself.
As Ashley sat in the chair, she felt somehow lighter. She is three. "Mama," Ashley managed to say. Her mother gasped. Ashley never said actual words like that before. That was the first real word she said. "Mom," Ashley said again.
And those were Ashley's few words she could speak.
And when preschool started, Ashley not only learned to speak a little but also managed to walk, especially after her mom took her to more walks before being in a stroller. Her mother was sad that Noelle would be going to a different preschool than Bethany and that she wouldn't be by her side. From what she heard, David's family moved to another preschool because they had to change houses. At least she'll have Bethany, her mom thought.
"Welcome to preschool!" The teacher said this as the parents walked away and the children settled down near the carpet. "I would ask you to be quiet and sit down here as we learn new things from videos."
The teacher turned on the small TV for the little kids to watch. She changed the channel to an educational video appropriate for them. Some songs came on. Then the children paid attention. "Easy." A boy muttered. Then the teacher turned the TV off. "Ok, so what are some things you know?" The teacher asked. "One! Two! Three!" Ashley said. A boy rolled his eyes. "I know how to count all the way to twenty already." He said. "No way." Another girl said, "I could count to ten. And I know some ABCs." Bethany said. "Although I can't remember everything," "I already do." A boy said, "A strategy for counting the numbers is to use your fingers." A teacher said.
And with that, the teacher allowed them to play properly with toys and allowed them to socialize and learn names.
And then it was lunch after playtime. Kids went to their backpacks, took their lunch bags out, and unpacked what they had. The teacher knew that when little kids eat, things can get messy, so she would have to clean after them afterwards.
When Bethany opened her lunch, unlike any others, she gasped. Ashley tried to hide her laughter. "EWWWWWWWW." Bethany screamed, put her hands to her nose, and then stared at her disgusting lunch, which was a food she'd never seen in her life: a taco. And with that, she snatched the taco and threw it directly at a boy because she was obviously really angry at her lunch.
He screamed. Then cried. Like crazy.
Bethany sticks her tongue out. Then she just stalled in her seat.
"Dylan, are you okay?" The teacher said, rushing over to him, wondering why he's crying. Dylan sniffed, then looked up at the teacher. He pointed to Bethany. Then he managed to say, "She threw the food on my head."
The teacher walked over to Bethany. "Bethany, that's mean. You don't do that to others. Say sorry." She said. Bethany sighed heavily, walked over to Dylan, and said "sorry" in a way that didn't sound like she was really sorry.
The teacher didn't know how Bethany managed to get her hands on a taco, which a three-year-old shouldn't be eating. At the end of the day, when parents pick up kids, she finally knows the story behind what happened today.
Bethany's mother was in a rush to pack kids lunches because she woke up later than usual and still needed to drive to work. Bethany's mother took Bethany's lunch by accident when her older sister was rushing out the door to elementary school. They both used the same containers, so she doesn't know which lunch is which and didn't have the time to check. So that's how Bethany ended up with a lunch that was meant for her sister instead of her.
And Ashley had a good laugh when she was at home, playing with her older brother, when she told him what happened today.
Present
1994
It was another typical day. I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. I shut it off, then got up to get ready for work.
I made myself ready, then I went down to make Nicholas and my breakfast. Once we were finished, I went over to wash the dishes as Nicholas was getting ready to head out the door. "Bye," he said. "Have a good day!" I replied.
Once I was finished, I took my bag and headed out the door. Nicholas drives the car, and since we only have one, I usually take the bus to and from work. So I walked over to the nearest bus stop. I waited a bit until it arrived, paid to where I'm going, then just sat on the bus until it pulled up at the stop near my office. I got off, then walked over to the building, then used the elevator to get to my floor.
"Everyone. I have some news." My boss said this as people were walking in. "We have a new employee. Some of you settle down here, although if you would like to meet him later, you may go to your offices first."
I settled down. It might as well start the day with something exciting.
Soon, it was time for people to get to work. Boss turned her head to the person beside her. "Go ahead and introduce me yourself." She said. "Ok." He started. "My name is Dylan Pavlovic, but you can call me Dylan. I had an old job, but I'm changing jobs here because someone told me I can make more money, and I truly like this job instead."
"Any questions?" Boss asked. Everyone shook their heads. "You may get to work now."
I scrambled to where my desk should be and took the papers I had out. I had to review things first before looking over the one that was sent through the computer. Dylan. That was familiar. But from where?
Then she realized he was the one who sat beside her. "Oh, hi," I said to him. "Hi." He said it back. "I feel like I know you from somewhere." I said. "You're Ashley, right?" Dylan said. "From... my class back in preschool?" Ashley blinked. Then suddenly, she remembered everything.
She remembers him being smart and being in her class, and how Bethany landed a taco on his head, making it dirty. "Yeah." She managed to say. "You do remember it, right? Me being in your class?" He asked. "Yeah. I do. What happened once you got home from the first day?" I replied. "Oh. My mother helped me wash my hair and asked me who did it and what happened. And then I remember my mom making a call to the teacher." He said. "How long have you been working here?" "Ever since I failed my first job," I responded.
"So, where do you live?" I asked. Then we started asking each other questions and getting curious about each other's lives. We were so interested in it that we lost track of it. "Hey, we should get working." I said. "Before the boss notices what we've been doing."
"Sound good." He said.
And there was quiet between us.
Okay, for the past few years, I've actually seen something.
I realized this year I'd reunited with Dylan. Last year, I also reunited with an old friend, and the year before, and the year before.
I'm seeing a pattern—in a way that could possibly tell who I could reunite with next year. Except that the best way to remember things is to write things down.
I grabbed the paper and wrote down the names I've already reunited with so far. Only four.
But there might be more. Might.
