What If

Chapter 3

Every game day for the past three years, I've tried to make my day a little extra special to help calm my nerves and destress before the madness begins. Usually, this means a fun outfit, a pre-scheduled lunch delivery, a special breakfast that I take the time to prepare – as opposed to my usual granola bar in the car - and a rare stop at Starbucks on my way to school.

This morning, I've picked out my favorite pair of dark skinny jeans, wedged sneakers, a cheetah print tank top, and a black leather jacket. I curl my hair, apply a golden smoky eye to compliment my top, and head to my kitchen. Last night I baked sheet-pan protein chocolate chip pancakes in preparation for the extra energy I know I'll need today. I pop a few pancakes in the microwave to warm them up and finish them with syrup on top.

I dig into my pancakes, scrolling through my phone to look at my schedule for today when a text from Carter interrupts yet another meal.

Hey, babe – imy and I can't wait to see you tonight!

Despite my frustration with him from last Thursday and our one-sided conversation on Sunday, I smile at the text and reply back, repeating his sentiments. I finish breakfast, grab my purse and backpack from the hook next to the back door and head out for another busy day.

On my commute, I stop and get myself the self-promised Starbucks, savoring it all the way to Underwood Elementary. My drive is a bit longer to the elementary school, as it's further east and towards the middle of town - unlike the high school which lives on the outskirts like me. I pull into my usual parking spot and immediately lock eyes with Lauren, who's arrived at the same time.

"Morning, Lex," Lauren sings, raising her identical Starbucks cup to me as she opens her trunk and grabs her bags. "Ready for today?"

I walk over to meet her and laugh. "Lauren, am I ever truly ready for a high school game day?"

"I know the answer is 'no', but I felt it was the polite thing to ask."

Shrugging her backpack over her shoulders and grabbing her purse, Lauren shuts her trunk and leads the way into the school. We head our separate ways once we enter the doors, promising to meet up for lunch despite the fact we do so every day, and I head down the main hallway toward the Early Elementary wing of the school while Lauren turns left towards her office amongst the Fourth and Fifth Grades.

The walk down the main hallway of Underwood Elementary always puts a smile on my face – they're covered from top to bottom with artwork from the Second and Third Graders, whose classroom's I'm passing by. The bright colors are welcoming and remind me of how awesome spending each day with children is and leaves me thankful for this awesome place I get to call "work".

I reach my classroom at the end of the wing off the main hallway and am immediately greeted by the bright scheme and my own hand-drawn renditions of the characters from Trolls. Judge me if you want, but that movie makes my heart happy and teaches kids some of the most important life lessons that they'll always need, such as friendship, loyalty, and kindness. Can you tell I'm a kindergarten teacher?

As usual, the school day flies by for me, yet most likely drags on for the 5-year-olds entrusted in my care. We finish our weekly letter lesson on H, work on our handwriting, finish another Pete the Cat book, visit the library for new take-home books, and have our Friday dance party to end the day. Kindergarten is anything but dull and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Since the school day ends for me at 3:30, while my dance team gets out at 2:30, we plan to meet for one last run-through on the football field at 3:45. In typical gameday fashion, I pass my kiddos off to Lauren for bus duty, which Principal Smith has graciously allowed me to do since Lauren joined the staff this year. I grab my bags, race down the hall, and through the parking lot, booking it to get in my car and pull out before the buses have a chance to beat me.