Chapter 4 #2
“Looks like you guys got lucky enough to get the best teacher,” Koa decided a little harmless flattery couldn’t hurt. From the corner of his eye he noticed a slight smile on her lips. Thank goodness.
Though he hadn’t been able to say a coherent word to her the other night, today he was having no problem with the kids. Probably because he hadn’t just hurt their feelings. But he needed to pay better attention to them if he wanted to keep it that way.
“We do,” a tiny voice chimed.
Man, these kids were cute.
“So I’m here to talk to you about being safe in a fire,” Koa began.
Seventeen solemn nods was the response he received.
He grinned. “K.J., does your family have a safe place that you can go to if your house is on fire?”
Koa picked on his nephew because he knew his brother had a plan in place.
After the horrifying fires that had devastated the west side of their island, Koa had made sure of that.
Koa’s heart dropped just thinking about that day.
It would live in the nightmares of every firefighter he knew for a long, long time.
“Yes,” K.J. said with a nod. “We meet down the street if it’s just our house on fire. If the fire is bigger we go to the pool.”
Koa nodded. He knew by pool K.J. meant the neighboring community center but it was the easiest way for K.J. to remember where to go. He and his sister often walked to the pool during the summers with their mom.
“That’s a good plan. Do the rest of you have fire safety plans?” Koa asked.
He saw a mixture of nods and shakes of heads.
Koa paused, hoping these kids would understand just how important his next words were.
When people weren’t facing a fire, they didn’t realize how little they would have when they were in the thick of an emergency.
Cell phones didn’t work, radios were difficult to find, and the keiki and kupuna—kids and seniors—tended to suffer the most because of this.
“Okay. So if you don’t have a plan, I have really, really important homework for you tonight. Maybe the most important homework you’ll have all year.” Koa glanced to his side, worried he might be overstepping. But he had to convey the importance of his message.
Ms. Goodman nodded along with him, trusting him even after the way he’d treated her. So she isn’t at all like Talia, came the unbidden thought.
“I want each of you to talk to your parents and make a plan for your whole family if your house is ever on fire,” Koa said gravely.
The cute little heads nodded.
Koa knew that for some this wouldn’t be easy, especially for the kids who had parents who behaved the way his mother had.
“And if you can’t talk to mom or dad, talk to Tutu, Papa, or Aunty. Someone you trust to have a plan with you,” Koa continued.
They nodded once more.
“What if my mom is busy and my Tutu lives on Oahu?” a little girl in the back row with the biggest brown eyes asked, breaking Koa’s heart. Her hair was stringy, as if no one had brushed it that morning, and Koa wondered if she was hungry.
“Who brought you to school?” Koa asked, clearing his throat to make sure his emotion didn’t come through his words.
“My sister,” the little girl said.
This situation hit a little too close to home, but at least Koa had had his Tutu. He would ask around later that day to see who this little girl’s village was. And if she didn’t have one, he’d help to find her one.
“Then make a plan with your sister. I bet she’d want to make sure you’re safe in a fire, yeah?” Koa said hoping that was the truth.
The little girl smiled and nodded. Thank goodness.
“Now…” Koa went on with the rest of his presentation, and before he knew it, his watch beeped, letting him know it was time to get back to the truck. They’d give tours of the truck to bigger groups before they left for the day.
“And that’s it. Thank you guys for having me.” Koa said smiling at the class that had welcomed him.
“What do you say, class?” Ms. Goodman asked.
“Thank you!” and then the voices got lost as some said firefighter and others Uncle Koa.
“You’re welcome,” Koa said with a giant smile.
“Now back to your seats,” Ms. Goodman directed as Koa did something he’d rather not. But he couldn’t leave without doing so.
“Hey,” Koa whispered so only the pretty teacher could hear.
Wariness filled her eyes. He considered doing a better job apologizing than he had the night before but then realized this wasn’t the time or place. Maybe he’d have the chance again someday, but for now, he had something even more important to do.
He pulled a twenty from his pocket and discreetly handed it to Ms. Goodman.
“For the little girl in the back.” He knew he didn’t have to say more and she’d understand.
“I want to make sure she has lunch for the next week. If she already has lunch money, then put it on the account of any kid that needs it, please.”
Ms. Goodman swallowed before nodding.
“Thank you,” he said before hurrying out the door.
He got back to the fire truck after most of the others, and Paka was already regaling them with a story about how much Aunty Gertrude still scared him.
“Incoming!” Koa called out when he realized he was being closely followed by several student classes.
The rest of the morning was a blur of tours, with kids asking hundreds of questions and Koa being able to answer most of them.
Ms. Goodman’s class had come through, the kids all declaring Koa the best firefighter as Preston pretended to pout. Preston had sent Koa a pointed look when he recognized who the teacher of his class had been.
Koa ignored his friend as he tried to keep his eyes off the gorgeous teacher in the same way he’d somehow managed in her classroom but found it nearly impossible.
He noticed she was eyeing him as well, and he wished he knew what she was thinking.
Did she hate him? She should. He wished he had a way to rewind time and make things better.
To treat her with the respect she deserved instead of letting his unsettled emotions caused by Talia win.
No, that wasn’t fair. The way he’d acted had been his decision.
He couldn’t blame it on anything or anyone else.
So with that on his mind, he tried to keep his eyes to himself. Thankfully the class was gone soon after that.
As they rode back to the station, Koa leaned back in his seat. He was sure he’d see Ms. Goodman again, the island was too small not to, but he wasn’t sure she’d give him a chance to really apologize. If he did see her again, he’d be more prepared, he’d do better.
And hopefully, she’d forgive him.
His heart raised with that thought before it plummeted to his stomach.
Or maybe she wouldn’t. And if that was the case, he wouldn’t blame her. He’d be sad, since the idea of getting to know her…no, his thoughts couldn’t go there. Because if she didn’t forgive him, he’d have to live with that.
Though that sounded a lot easier said than done.