Teachers Love

11

September 17th

Pensacola, FL

Robert "Meek" Williams

"Good morning troublesome kids. How did you like your 3 day vacation?"

"Where's Ms. Maraj?", a boy asked.

"It's Mrs. Williams but unfortunately she's out sick."

"You wish she was Mrs. Williams."

"And this conversation is over. Today we are doing pacer. This should be fun."

-

I walked out the office and I saw Nicki walking towards me coughing.

"Aw poor baby. You alright?"

"Yeah. Just a cold. Chapo was sad when I left."

"That dog needs to leave people alone. He's Maria dog. Always bothering me. I think he does it on purpose."

"Stop being mean. Hey kids."

I sat down and watched Nicki hug and talk to the kids so I took my phone out and sent Sam a text.

Hey. I need a favor

What's up?

I need another test. This Crystal stuff got me thinking about something.

"You're taking India to school tomorrow. All she was talking about was you. Maria just wanted to stay with me."

She kept on coughing so I got up and picked her up bridal style to the office.

"You take anything?", I asked.

She shook her head so I grabbed my bookbag and took out cough medicine.

"Do you have some Mucinex or something? I'm not taking liquid medicine. Especially not grape."

"You need to take this medicine cause you not about to get me sick."

"Can you go and get something else on your lunch break?"

I shook my head and she pouted.

"You look cute pouting but you still need to take this."

She shook her head and I pulled out some candy.

"If you take the medicine then I'll give you candy. Deal?"

"Give me the candy first."

"That's not how it works Nicki."

"Fine. I'll take that nasty behind medicine."

"Thank you for deciding not to be stubborn. Open."

She opened her mouth and I gave her the medicine. I watched her swallow it then she drunk some water.

"See that wasn't so bad."

"But did you think about my question last night?", she asked.

"Yeah and the answer is yes. I got a test a couple days after she was born. I was in denial too cause she didn't look like me at all but Maria is mine."

She nodded and sat in my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek.

"You want to stay in here or go out there?"

"We can go out there. I have to take down the girls scores."

I waited for her to get up then walked behind her and went to the speaker.