CHAPTER 1 The New Normal.
The New Normal.
“Okay, my little lovelies,” I sing to the group of smiling faces before me. “It’s time for Teacher Zee to wrap things up, seeing as it’s almost time for dismissal.”
“Aww,” the kids groan as a few of them shake their heads. “Just five more minutes!”
“How about we sing our goodbye song as we pack away our instruments?” I ask with a smile, and they agree excitedly. “Well, okay, my musical geniuses! Let’s hop to it before your teacher arrives to come and get you.”
I lead them in our usual goodbye song as they move around the room to put their instruments in the designated places.
Since this was my last class of the day, they were used to helping me straighten up, and I was grateful that it’d only taken a few weeks to get the routine down.
It shouldn’t be a surprise, considering most of them had been my students since I started working here.
This school wasn’t that big to begin with, having fewer than 400 students at any given time, so it was a pretty close-knit environment.
As the song came to an end, the room was back to how it was at the beginning of the day, and the students were lining up by the door with their assigned buddies.
The last one steps into their spot right as a knock comes at the door.
It opens, and one of the newer teachers, Winter, enters with a smile.
This was her second year working here, but she was a natural.
The kids loved her, and she was honestly such a sweetheart.
“Hey, kiddos,” she greets them with a smile. “Y’all had fun with Teacher Zee?”
“Yesss!” they all answered enthusiastically.
“Well, I love that. Now, let’s get y’all back to our class so you can pack up and have our afternoon snack,” she says, moving out of the way so they can walk out before her. As they filed out into the hall, she turned back to me. “Any trouble today, Zee?”
“Nah, they were angels as usual,” I laugh.
“I mean, it took them a little longer to settle down at the start because they were excited about a science experiment they’d done earlier, but I didn’t mind.
I love how much they love learning. Also, they love you, girl.
You sure this is only your second year teaching? ”
“Yeah,” she smiles, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of bright red, which she tries to play off. “I guess I’m just lucky.”
“Nah, it’s definitely more than just luck,” I smile with a nod. “This is your calling. You’re doing amazing with them. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and if you ever need any advice or anything, you know where I am.”
“I appreciate it, Zee,” she says. “Everyone here has been so nice and welcoming, and I’m excited to be back for another year. Thanks for always making me feel welcome.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I reply, waving her off. “I already have a feeling that this year is gonna be even better for you.”
“Thank you,” she chuckled, before turning to exit the room. “I’ll see you around.”
I nod and toss her a wave as she continues down the hall with her class. I get to work reorganizing a few last things, wasting time until it's time to clock out. The hour and a half seemed to breeze by, and I began to pack up to head out to pick up my daughter, Serenity, from her preschool.
I still couldn’t believe that my baby would be three in a few months.
She was at that age where everything excited and interested her.
She was also a talkative little munchkin and very inquisitive, thanks to how much I worked with her at home to support what she was learning at school.
I mean, yeah, she still had her terrible two moments now and then, but most of the time, she just wanted to explore and learn about what was happening around her.
I finished collecting the last of my things and then flipped off the lights before stepping out into the hallway.
A few of the other teachers speak as they pass, and I tell them to have a good weekend.
I spot Winter walking my way with two other teachers we worked with, Adonis and Sai.
They’d been thick as thieves since they started two years ago, and it seems as though they’d pulled Winter into their group.
I loved that for her, especially because those two were amazing people.
There’d been a handful of times when I hung out with them after work, and it was always a good time.
“Hey, Zee. Heading out for the night?” Sai asks with a smile as they get closer.
“Yeah, I’m ready to get off my feet,” I reply, struggling to juggle my purse, backpack, and box of papers I was taking home to grade.
They slip, but Winer and Adonis grab them before they can hit the floor.
“Thank y’all. I need to invest in another one of those big portfolios so I can slip it into my backpack.
The one I had was on its last leg, so I tossed it a few days ago. ”
“They have some on sale at the teacher supply store off Airline,” Winter says, taking the box from me to hold. I thank her. “I just bought a few the other day. I think they’re like $2.99 right now.”
“Oh, shit, well yeah. Can you send me the link? Imma just stock up so I’ll have some for later.”
“Yeah, no problem,” she nods as we make our way to the exit. We chat a bit more as we reach my car, and I thank them once more for their help.
“So, do you have any plans for the night?” Sai asks once everything is put in the car. “We were going to get a few drinks and wanted to know if you were interested in tagging along?”
“Oh, I’d love to, but I’ll have to take a rain check,” I smile apologetically.
“I have about twenty minutes to pick up Serenity before her school closes.” They nod understandably.
“Then we’re heading over to Lafayette to spend the weekend with my dad, so I probably wouldn’t have been able to drink today anyway. I’m sorry, guys.”
“It’s cool,” Adonis assures me. Sai and Winter smile in agreement. “We just wanted to see. Have fun and drive safely.”
“And tell Sera we said hi,” Winter adds, calling her by her nickname.
“Yeah, and that we miss her,” Sai whines. “Ugh, you gotta bring her around more often. You know she practically runs this school when she’s here.”
“That she does,” I laugh, agreeing with a nod. I climbed into my car and buckled my seatbelt before looking back at them. “I’ll bring her by next week to see y’all. I’m sure she’ll love helping out. I’ll see y’all next week.”
They waved before backing away slightly from the car. I shut my door, started my car, and then backed out to head towards Sera’s school. There was a bit of traffic, but I made it with five minutes to spare.
“Mommy!”
“Hey, my sweet girl!” I greet her as I enter the class. She runs over to me, and I scoop her up into a hug as one of her teachers brings over her backpack. I flash her an apologetic smile. “I know I’m cutting it close today. It wasn’t my intention.”
“Oh, you’re good, sweetheart,” the older lady assures me.
“I know that you’re gonna try your best to be here before five every time.
Besides, Sera is such a sweetheart, so I don’t mind watching her for a bit longer if ever you do happen to be a little late.
Oh, and before I forget, we worked on a few new signs today.
” She turns to her with a smile. “Sera, show mommy how to say cup.”
I watch in awe as she outstretches one of her palms before making a “C” with the other one.
She taps the “C” against her outstretched palm twice and then looks at me with a smile.
I squeal and kiss her as she giggles. My heart was full, and I felt immense gratitude toward Miss Brown.
She’d been her teacher for only a little over a month now, but I was already so impressed with how much Sera had been learning.
When she learned that I was teaching her ASL at home because her godmother used it every now and then, she started to work with her while she was in her care.
Just like her verbal vocabulary grew every day, her signing also improved.
I knew that by the time she was four, it’d be like a second language to her, and that’s something I looked forward to.
Back when Jakayla and I had first started to hang out, she told me about how she’d been in a bad accident the year prior, and even though all her visible wounds had healed, the accident left her partially deaf in her right ear.
Because of this, she wears a completely-in-canal style hearing aid when she’s in public.
This was also around the time she started taking ASL classes, and I decided to join her.
I think we got even closer from that point on because she admitted she was so moved that I wanted to learn with her.
We promised that even when we had kids, we’d teach them as well, and that’s how Sera began to learn.
“Thank you so much for always taking the time to work with her, Miss Brown,” I tell her. “I was scared that sending her to preschool would be just like daycare, where all they did was have them watch movies, but I’m glad that I gave it a fair chance.”
“I get what you mean,” she pats my shoulder softly. “I’ve been an educator for over thirty years now, and I still believe that the kiddos are never too young to start learning. Ain’t that right, Sera?”
“Right!” She repeats, and we chuckle at the adorable girl.
“Okay, baby girl. Tell Miss Brown that you’ll see her on Monday.” I told her.
“Bye, Miss Brown!” She says, reaching out to hug her. She takes her from me and cuddles her close.
“See you later, cutie pie,” she smiles before handing her back to me.