Mother

Chapter 9

I could hear the footsteps and the chatter getting louder, the once-empty hallway now filling with energy. I straightened up in my chair, glancing around the room one last time.

The door creaked open, and the first group of students trickled in, some quiet and cautious, others laughing and talking, their backpacks slung over their shoulders. A few glanced at me, curiosity in their eyes, while others paid no attention, too caught up in their conversations.

As the students started taking their seats, I quickly scanned the room. There were about twenty of them, Some were already talking to one another, while others sat silently, eyes fixed on something else.

I noticed a boy with messy black hair sitting near the window staring out, as if the world outside was far more interesting than anything happening in this room.

"Good morning." I said standing up.

Let's get started My name is Ms. Thompson." I said, trying to sound confident as I walked to the front of the room. "And I'm your new art teacher."

A few students shifted in their seats, looking up at me. After everyone had quieted down I walked back to my desk glancing at my laptop and opened the attendance sheet.

"I will be taking attendance now, so please raise your hand when you hear your name." I announced as I started calling out names.

Sara Johnson........ "here."

Leo Kim.......... "here."

Maya Singh.......... "here."

Olivia Brooks.......... "here."

Nico Rivera......... "here."

Julio Rossi........ .......... is Julio Rossi here, I called out again .......... "he's here." I heard the boy next to him answer. nodding my head I continued.

Iván Rossi.......... "here." the same boy from earlier answered.

Hana Yamanda........... "here."

After taking attendance I decided to break the ice.

"Why don't we go around and share something interesting about ourselves?" I suggested, hoping this would get them talking and give me a chance to learn more about them.

The girl with the glasses was the first to speak up. "I'm Olivia, and I love reading. I just finished a book about space travel."

The boy next to her rolled his eyes, but Emma didn't seem to notice. I smiled. "Space travel, huh? That sounds fascinating. Maybe you'll teach me something about it by the end of the year."

One by one, the students introduced themselves. There was Julio the boy by the window. Who barely whispered his name uninterested, and then Ivan, the quiet student right next to Julio "Now that I think about it they have the same sure-name could they be twins?" I thought to myself.

There were a few other students who were  shy, offering only a word or two, while some  were more enthusiastic, eager to make an impression.

"Alright, Now that we know a little bit more about each other, let's dive into today's lesson."

"Since today is my first day I would like all of you to create something that represents your family. It can be anything. Just let your imagination guide you."

A few students looked unsure, while others, like the girl with the neatly braided hair, already seemed excited. Julio finally looked up from his phone, his eyes narrowing as if trying to figure out what I was getting at. The boy in the back with a  football Jersey on, raised an eyebrow and asked."So, like... are we. Supposed to draw our family members?" He asked, disinterested.

"Not necessarily. It doesn't have to be a picture of anyone, It could be anything—an object, a place, a color or even a feeling. There are no rules here." I assured. walking over to the back to get supplies.

As I handed out the supplies, the room was filled with curiosity, but the boys near the windows were completely unfazed. They leaned back in their chairs, talking loudly, and ignoring the assignment altogether.

I made my way around the room, checking in with each student. Some were already fully immersed in their work, while others were still thinking, pencils hovering above their paper.

But the boys in the back were the only ones not even trying. Ivan was sat concentrating on his drawing, while Julio had leaned back in his chair, barely even looking at the paper in front of him.

I walked over to them. "Hey boys, have you come up with an idea for your drawings yet?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light and encouraging.

Nico didn't even glance up. "Nah, not doing this," he muttered, his voice dripping with defiance.

The rest of the boys snickered, slouching even further in their chairs. "Yeah, we're not into this kiddie stuff," Anthony added, his tone mocking.

I forced a smile, keeping my patience. "Well, this isn't about being perfect at art. It's just about expressing yourself. Why don't you give it a try?"

Julio let out a loud, exaggerated sigh and finally looked up, his expression one of pure boredom. "Nah. This is stupid. I'm not wasting my time."

His words hung in the air, and I could feel the eyes of other students starting to turn toward us. I knew I had to stay calm. "Julio, in this class, we all participate. You don't have to be an artist, but you do need to give it a try. That's all I'm asking."

Julio's face twisted into a sneer. "You can ask all you want, but I'm not doing it." He shoved his chair back, and stood up.

"Julio," I said, my tone more serious now, "sit down, please."

But he wasn't listening. He grabbed his backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and walked toward the door, not even looking back. Ivan looked up and hesitated for a moment, glancing between me and his brother, then  shrugged and stood up too.

"Sorry Ms.Thompson"Ivan murmered giving me a tight lipped smile before following his brother.

And just like that, both boys walked out, the door slamming shut behind them. The room went silent, the energy suddenly tense and awkward. I stood there for a moment, letting out a slow breath, and then turned back to the rest of the class. "Well," I said, keeping my voice steady, "let's keep going."

As time passed, I got up again and walked around, seeing the variety of creations taking shape. Some were bright and colorful, others more muted. A few students drew family-portraits, while others chose symbols, colors or objects— Black, a guitar, a city skyline, a tree. Finally, i walked back to the front.

"Alright, let's wrap up. If anyone feels comfortable, I'd love to see what you've come up with." The room fell silent, and for a moment, no one moved.

"It's okay no one has to present their work if they don't feel comfortable." I reassured. Suddenly, the bell rang—ding dong, ding dong.

"Alright, everyone, class is over. See you all tomorrow morning," I said, waving them off. A few students echoed, "Goodbye," as they filed out, leaving the room empty.