Wanted

Back to School

~ Chapter 8 ~

Fox

Mornings were always busy for me; when I wasn't at work, I was probably doing some sort of volunteering at the local school. I had accepted early on that a certain level of organization would be necessary to juggle all my responsibilities, organization I prided myself on having. That morning, however, my brain seemed incapable of unscrambling itself.

Since the moment my alarm went off, I hadn't stopped running through a mental checklist of everything I needed to do before 8:45. I was on the books to help out with the junior preschoolers. School didn't start until nine for them, but I was habitually early to everything.

I was grateful for the additional hour more than usual. I had an extra stop to make - well, two, if I counted the coffee shop - and I definitely didn't want to fall behind on time. Thoughts of my second stop already had butterflies performing a gymnastics routine in my stomach. The anxiety I experienced about showing Mallie such a significant part of my life was a foreign feeling for me.

Volunteering with the little kids was my favorite thing to do. I mean, I liked everything I did at school, and it made me feel great to give back to the place that did so much for my family and friends, but there was something about the three and four-year-olds that put me in an especially good mood. I guess maybe it was how infrequently they let anything phase them. Everybody was their best friend, and I wanted to include Mallie in that.

I admired the way Mallie was handling her situation with such grace more than she knew. From first hand experience, I sympathized with how daunting it could be to have to pick up your life and start over in a new place. I felt like an introduction to the kids would help her feel more comfortable with the town I had grown to love so quickly.

I slammed on the brakes, my Bike screeching to a halt. For the hundredth time, my mind had veered way off track, and I just about passed up the café. I tried again to prioritize, then slid off my seat. A bell announced my entrance as I pulled open the door of the coffee shop.

A few customers glanced up at me, and I waved to all the familiar faces.

"Hey, man."

I looked to my left to see one of my closest friends slouched in the nearest booth.

Hawk stood slowly then stretched his arms above his head. I couldn't help but grin at his disheveled appearance and exaggerated scowl, no doubt caused by the inconvenience of being awake so early. He was practically nocturnal by nature and I doubted that was ever going to change.

"Hey, Hawk" I fake punched his stomach, "Energetic as always at this hour, I see."

He groaned, but slapped my back in return, "You headed to school?"

"As per usual. What about you?" I responded, and turned to look at the chalkboard menu.

"Actually, I promised to help out with, uh," he fidgeted a little, but quickly recovered, "with a music class at school today starting right at eight. Then I was gonna see what everyone else has planned."

"Music class? That's a new one for you."

"Excuuuuse me. I'll have you know I'm perfectly capable of following teacher instructions when they're given to me. Besides, I'm not planning on making it the most typical music class."

"I know that," I assured him, "I'm just giving you a hard time. Mallie and I will probably be free later."

Stepping up to the register, I placed a few bucks on the counter in front of the barista, an old classmate of mine, and rambled out my usual order, plus one peppermint hot chocolate.