A Fresh Start

VIII

  My next class was really boring. I didn't do much but look out the window and listen a little bit. I don't know why but for some reason I just got in a really bad mood. It's not from my friends, that conversation didn't even make me mad I just wanted it to end. I think the teacher can tell I'm not in such a good mood she keeps giving me worried looks and I'm the only one she hasn't called on. I decide to pay more attention it's my last year I can't slack. I turn and face forward instead of looking out the window. I rest my chin on my arms and actually look at the board. I pay attention to the rest of the lesson and realize what we are talking about today is really simple.

  We have a couple of minutes left and Mrs.Denman walks over to me and sits in the desk next to me.

"Onyx are you okay? Yesterday and today you seemed a little detached and barely here." She asked.

"Oh um yeah, I'm fine. Didn't mean to worry you."

"Okay but just so you know you can always talk to me if not someone else. Okay?"

"Okay thank you."

  The bell rang and I took my time packing up and everything thing. I don't need to rush anywhere today so I might as well. I walk out of the classroom and just start wandering the halls. I passed multiple classrooms and the gym and cafeteria. I go upstairs and walk the halls there too. I get stopped a couple of times and I have to show them my ID and tell them why I'm still here. After a while, I get bored and decided to take Atalias advice and find something entertaining.

  I go into the parenthood&childcare room and ask the head teacher/sitter if she needed any help.

"Hi, my names Onyx. I'm a last year student. I get out of classes early but today I can't leave until 4:00. I was wondering if you need any help or if there's something I could do?"

"Oh um hi Onyx I'm the head teacher of this room and we might have something for you to do. My names Miss.Mia. Follow me."

  I follow her from the main room into a slightly smaller room. In this room is supplies and a few sleeping kids. In the main room are some more kids playing. In this room the lights are dim and supplies are everywhere.

"I know it's kinda dark in here but if you don't mind could you straighten up the mess? I'll leave the door open for some extra light but mainly because I don't know you but I trust you're a good person." She kind of laughs a little then walks away.

  I decided to start with the diapers and wipes. I start sorting the diapers by size and brand. Then the wipes by brand and how full they are. Next the blankets. That was the easiest cause it's just folding and sorting by color and size. After that, I did the burp cloths and bibs. Also very easy. I put everything in it's labeled bin and move onto the food and snacks. I sort it by brand and how old the babies need to be to eat it. After the food, I go onto the cups and bottles. I honestly thought being around all this baby stuff would make me feel little but I don't. It's really surprising. I finish cleaning up in here. It looks really nice, to be honest. I didn't know I could clean that quickly. I walk out of the room and leave the door a small crack open.

"Miss.Mia? Um, I'm finished in there it's all cleaned up."

"Already? That was quick like 30 minutes quick." she chuckled "Well, thank you Onyx. We are about to do snack and story time if you want you can help with that too. It's also time for the little ones in there to wake up." She said motioning to the room.

"If you'd like I could wake them while you get snacks," I told her

"Um yeah thank you," She said while walking over to the fridge in the classroom.

  I walked back into the room. I was going to turn on the light but then I decided against it. I walked over to the first little bed and woke the boy in it. He just sat up and leaned against the wall. I woke up the rest of them and they all just sat there looking at me.

"Okay, guys it's snack and story time so how about we all walk out there and sit in the reading area," I said this with as much energy as possible since they had just woke up.

  They all stood up and walked out and if I'm being honest that was easier than I thought it would be. There was one child left in here asleep. She seemed like the youngest baby here maybe a couple of months. I walked out to ask Miss. Mia if I should wake her.

"Um don't wake her but you can bring her out here. She has a baby sling hanging on the back of the door it's the smallest one." She said.

  I walked back into the room and grabbed the carrier. I strapped it on and then grabbed the baby and put her in. She's such a deep sleeper. I walked into the main room and she was still asleep. I wonder who's baby this is. She's brown skin and very pretty. I walked around over to the reading area and looked at the kids. It seems like there are about 15-20 kids in here. The oldest looks to be around 5 and the youngest that's not an infant looks about 1 or so. Other than the baby I'm holding it seems there are only 2 others but they are old enough to crawl.

The other caregiver in there starts the story and the kids eat their snacks while Miss. Mia cleans up their toys. The baby starts to stir so I pay her back and sway a little so she doesn't wake up crying. I walk over to the playing side of the room so I can ask Miss. Mia some questions.

"Excuse me, Miss. Mia? Can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Yeah of course and you can just call me Mia."

"Do you guys need extra help? If so where would I go to sign up? Oh and also who's baby is this?" I ask all my questions at the same time.

"Yes, actually we do need more help. The office has paperwork you need to fill out. And I only know the babies father I don't know the mother. Her father is Zamir Smith." She told me.

"Oh okay and thank you."

  I didn't know Zamir had a baby. I'm going to text him. I grabbed my phone out and before I unlock it I look at the time. It's 3:00 exactly. That means Atalia just got off. Anyways I got sidetracked I text Zamir .

Onyx🔌👀:
Aye bro you got a baby?

Mir😴:
Um yeah. How you know?

Onyx🔌👀:
I'm up in the childcare room. Also yo baby cute. If you ever need a sitter just ask.

Mir😴:
She real little right now the only people who watch her is my mom and Mia. Trust me it's not that I don't trust you but we just met. Hope you get that.

Onyx🔌👀:
Oh yeah, I get it. But I hope it's cool that I'm watching her rn. If not I can hand her back to Mia. Although I might be getting a job up here.

mir😴:
Nah it's cool that you got her. And congrats out here making moves already I see you

Onyx🔌👀:
Alright, I gotta go bro.

mir😴:
👋🏾

  It's 3:15 and Atalia hasn't texted me. I'm kinda bummed. I know she said it's a 30 minute drive but I thought she would text me when she got off.