True Confessions of a Teacher

Chapter 6

Children's Literature... I used to teach that course to College kids.  It was one of the few courses I enjoyed doing because for the finals, I would require my students to come up with a production, showing off their creative talents and the things they had learned.

Their show would mostly comprise of a ton of handmade puppets which the little kids they had invited to watch their show would adore. The night would end up in a spectacular way, giving them a valid reason to celebrate.

❋ ❋ ❋

"Ba-bah!" Megan interrupted my thoughts, her brown eyes looked sad.

"Ohhh, are you thirsty?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Do you want water?" I put Carly on the floor and stood up.

"Yes," she followed me to the kitchen.

"Can you say please?" I asked her as I took an empty bottle from the counter and started filling it up with cold water.

"Please..." she replied in her most adorable tone.

I extended my arm to hand the bottle to her and said, "What do you say?"

"Thank you."

"Good job!"

"Ba-bah, ba-bah!" Camden and Sadie repeatedly said, approaching me.

I walked back to the main room to pick up Carly and carried her towards the kitchen area. Then I put her on the high chair and made the rest of the kids sit at the table, filling each of their bottle halfway with cold drinking water.

"Cheers? Cheers?" Sadie raised her baby bottle. Her silly smile spread over her face revealing her chinky eyes.

Chuckling, I grabbed my bottle and sat at the table across her. I lifted my water bottle and as our bottles touched we both said, "Cheers!" I took a long swallow as the kids longingly waited... Ahhhh! I exclaimed, and they all laughed and giggled.

Not long after that, two of the moms came in; I had to say goodbye to Sadie and Megan.  And I was down to two kids again but Ms. Kim never showed up. So I proceeded to wash the dirty bottles at the same time listening to Camden sing his ABC in a very melancholic tone. I glanced towards him; he was basically hugging the top of the plush horse, rocking back and forth.

"Awww... Cam," I tried to comfort him with my words.  "Your mom will be here soon! That's a promise."

Meanwhile, a similar sort of sadness swept over me... I hope Lyla is okay too. It was my first time to be away from her for a week. She and I had always been close. She's never been used to not having me around.

But I had to be strong for Camden, right this second. I had to gather my courage and redirect my thoughts to Miles who had always been there during my times of hardships.

He must be home by now, and waiting for me... became my mantra.  I've never felt so alone and I just wanted to be home.

All the kids had finally gone and everything was quiet.  I searched the school for Ms. Kim so I could tell her that all kids had been picked up.

After chatting with her outside the playground, I went back to the classroom to gather my stuff. I walked across the room to shut down all the ceiling fans and lights. 

For one last time, I looked around the classroom and made sure everything was ready for Mel to use the following day.  I reached out for the logbook and signed out, 6:00.  With a heavy heart, I dragged my aching feet to the car not knowing when I would be called again... to teach.

~ The End ~