Like That

Chapter 16 - She Needs Help

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone - Ronald Reagan

Chapter 16 – She Needs Help

Emily's POV:

Linda:  Tomorrow night 7:00 – we’ll pick you up

Me: Fine

Linda:  Don’t sound so happy about it

Me:  This is me being happy

Before she can send me a snappy comeback…

Me: Gotta go…see ya soon

With that I put me phone back in my pocket as I wait with Addy and Helen for Cooper to arrive for lunch.  Helen is not one of my students.  When she started school, she was placed in Lillian’s room.  She and Addy have been pretty much been inseparable since she has moved in almost six weeks ago.  This is our last Friday lunch together, so Cooper is bringing in their favorite…bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches with salt and vinegar chips. 

“How are my favorite girls?”  Cooper asks as he waltzes in with his boxes of lunch goodies for us.

Addy and Helen immediately start zombie walking toward him, “Food…food…give us food.”  They smile and bat their eyes eyelashes at him, “Thanks, Uncle Cooper.”

I thank him for lunch, and he sits down beside me across from the girls.  I watch him as he takes a visual inventory of my classroom.  “It’s changed a lot since the last time I was in here.”

“Good or Bad?”

“Neither…different.  Not as busy.”  Well, it is the end of the school year.  I can’t keep the decorations up over the summer.  In fact, I can’t keep them up at all; I’ll be leaving at the end of this year.  I haven’t told anyone, yet, but I have not accepted the permanent position that was offered.  I won’t be returning next year. 

“I’ve been taking down some of the decorations, preparing for summer.  I’m only keeping up what is needed for lessons.  I sort of like it better this way.  Cleaner walls feel calmer, and when I’m teaching a bunch of 10 year old…I need some calm.”  I smile waiting for the inevitable retort from the kiddos in the room.

“What?  I don’t understand, we’re not calm?”  Helen does a surprise gasp of innocence.  “We are always calm…like a lullaby.”  Addy burst out laughing.

“Yeah, that’s us.  A lullaby.”  They both laugh even louder.

The girls entertain us with stories of their friends, and class, and plans for this coming weekend.  Addy throws away her lunch trash and comes over to rest her chin on my shoulder.  This has been a common action here and at home, and I reach up and touch her cheek.  Helen cannot be outdone, so she takes a place in my lap…which is how she has always been with me even in California.

“You look loved.”  Cooper says with a smirk.

“Oh, I feel loved.”  I roll my eyes at him, and he chuckles. “Girls, Cooper, if you will excuse me.  I need to take the class out to recess.  I’ll be right back.” 

The girls try to go with me, and I look at Addy, “Your Uncle Cooper is here to see you.  Why don’t you stay here with him, and I will be back in a few minutes.”

I walk back to my classroom trying to gather my thought for what could be a difficult conversation.

“Ok, Addy and Helen, it’s time for recess.  The class is already on the playground.  I’ll see in a little while.”  They say goodbye, and are out the door.

“Alright let me have it.”  He smirks at me.  He must be better at reading me than I am at reading him.  “I can see the teacher look on your face.  So, what’s going on?”  I let out a little breath…here goes.

“I need to talk to you as Addy’s teacher for a minute.  I don’t want to overstep my bounds, but as her teacher we need to talk.”  He gives me a small smile.

“It’s ok.  Tell me what’s going on.”

“First of all this is not academic…it’s social.  She doesn’t know I’m talking to you about this, but she’s growing.  She has needs that she may not feel comfortable talking about with her uncle.”  I give him a pointed look hoping that he catches a clue of what I am trying to say to him.  He doesn’t.  “Her body is changing, and she is asking questions. Unfortunately, she’s asking friends not adults.”  Again, I’m trying not to have to say this.  Then, he catches on.

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.  She needs someone to talk to.  I know Foster has his mom to help with Chandler.  Do you have someone that can talk to Addy?”  He smiles and then it turns into a smirk.  I don’t change my expression.  I’m not here at his buddy Emily.  I’m here for Addy.  He needs to know the seriousness of this conversation.

“Well, I know this nice lady in my neighborhood.”  Again, I don’t change me expression.

“I’m serious.  She needs someone to talk to…someone who will answer her questions.  Help her.”

He reaches out for my hand and rubs my knuckles with his thumb.  I watch his hand as he does this.  Does he know what this feels like to me?  I look up to see his beautiful, blue eyes as he studies my face.  His expression has changed to one of concern.

“Emily, I am serious.  She likes you, she trusts you.  I trust you...do you mind helping her?  If she feels uncomfortable talking with me, then I would prefer she talks to you.”

“Thank you for your trust.  I would be honored.”  I let out a breath.  While the irons are hot, “Now I need to take Addy shopping.”  He lets out a huge laugh.

“Shopping, really.”

“Well yeah, unless you want to help her with buying her first bra.”  He lets out a groan and looks like he just aged ten years…priceless.  I pat the top of his hand.  “You’ll be ok.  You will make it through this.”

“I need a subject change, fast.”  He lets out a deep breath.  “You didn’t answer me this morning about watching the Travs tomorrow night.”

I smile, but I know it probably looks more like a grimace.  “As much as I like sports, I’m going to have to pass on watching a Travelers play.”  I’m not ready to start up with minor league ball.  “Do you or Foster know I’m a girl?  I don’t think my brothers do, but I was hoping you or Foster would.”

“What is that supposed to mean?  Of course, I know you’re a girl.”

“Really?  Please tell me how we have spent the last few weeks?  At least a dozen soccer games, not including Mason’s, three rugby games, four baseball games…high school and college, and now minor league baseball?  I don’t think so.”  I know I sound like a bitch, but I’m tired of being one of the boys.  “I know you guys keep asking me so I’m not sitting around moping, and I love you for it.  But I think I’m ready to go out on a date.  It would be nice to go to a concert, dinner, or a movie...something not sports for a change.”  He looks happy for me.  I’m glad, because I’m scared to death.

“Linda has fixed me up on a blind date.  She and Garrett are going to double.”  Ok, now he doesn’t look happy.  Great, now bodyguard Cooper is about to come out to play.  I just shake my head.  He’s about to go all caveman/big brother on me, and I am going to cut off.  “She’s been trying to do this for a couple of weeks.  It’s about time I get out there.  It’s been almost 9 months, and you guys can’t babysit me forever.  You have your own life; it’s not fair for me to keep you from it.”

I can tell he wants to tell me something, but I timed this conversation to my advantage.  “Oh, look at the time.  I need to go get the kids from recess.”  He didn’t say anything as we went our separate ways.

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