The IV League [EDITING]

Chapter 19

"Jo, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Positive."

Joey had thought a lot about what Sarah had told him. He was good with kids, and he wanted to touch their lives. If he was going to spend the rest of his days in a hospital, he ought to make the most of it. Plus, he had nothing better to do anyway.

"I want to have an impact on people, Ken," he continued. "I don't want to leave knowing that no one will remember me. I mean, even Cass managed to leave an impact on the people here."

Kennedy sighed. "I know, hon. But the thing is, kids can really raise your blood pressure. And that's not the best thing for you."

Joey rolled his eyes. "Please, out of the many things I'm great at is keeping my cool. I won't lose it."

"You promise?"

"Yeah! Now come on, get me registered."

Kennedy hesitated, but put Joey's name on the list. "There you go. Your shift's from 12 to 1."

"Great! I'm going to have so much fun!"

It was not fun. Kids were not fun. They were miserable to be around. They kept hitting each other and pulling each other's pigtails and eating crayons and crying. So much crying. Joey kept running behind them to keep them quiet.

"Stop hitting him!"

"No, don't eat that!"

"Shh, there's no reason to cry!"

"Please don't trouble her!"

A kid slapped him. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You're boring, mister!"

Joey looked offended. "Excuse me?"

"Go away. I don't like you. Bring back Morgan."

"You guys seriously prefer Morgan to me? She hates you guys!"

"She's​ funny."

"No, she's not! She's so grumpy all the time!"

Joey realised he was becoming irrational and losing his cool. He could feel his chest tighten. "Ugh," he grumbled, "I gotta calm down."

"Yeah, whatever." The kid stuck his tongue out and ran away.

Joey rolled his eyes. He walked over to another bunch of kids who were trying to snort clay. "Hey, stop doing that! It's poisonous."

"What's poy-zun-hus?"

"It's... not good for you."

The kids ignored him and continued doing what they were doing.

"Argh!" Joey tugged at his hair. He was not equipped to handle a bunch of children.

"Second guessing your choices?"

Joey turned to see Sarah smirking at him.

"I think so," he sighed. "They just won't listen to me!"

"They'll take time to warm up to you."

"Yeah, but now I'm literally their punching bag. I thought this would be fun."

"It is! But you have to give it time." Sarah looked around the play pen. There was a young girl, around 6, sitting quietly in a corner. "Why don't you start with the quiet ones? That little girl looks like she could use some cheering up."

Joey nodded and walked up to the little girl.

"Hey, I'm Joey. What's up?"

The girl looked down and curled her legs tightly.