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Daddy drops you off at school that morning without a goodbye kiss. You don't say anything to him, but you drag your backpack to your seat in the classroom with a sad little face, like an abandoned puppy.
During first class, Elijah hits your head with an eraser and your eyes fill with tears.
“Don’t cry, you little kid!”
You shrink back in your chair. You are a little kid. So is he.
Your little head hurts when it’s time for lunch, and you’re too young to be used to the pain, so you sit alone in the cafeteria with your little juice box and don’t eat the snack your mommy packed.
Back in the classroom, you bury your face in your arms to try to block out the sound of your classmates talking. It’s not a good day.
Suddenly, it seems as if all the noise around you has finally stopped. The sound of Ms. Schemmenti’s high-heeled boots approaching you is all you can hear.
She kneels down next to your desk.
“Hey, kiddo,” she says. You look up at her. “I need some help in the hallway, will you come with me?”
You nod, and she takes your hand as you leave the classroom. Your classmates resume their conversation, and your eyes are filled with tears again and you don’t even know why.
Ms. Schemmenti leads you to a bench in the hallway and sits down next to you. She stares at you, silent for a moment.
“Tough day, huh?” she asks. You nod again.
Ms. Schemmenti is a cool teacher, you think. She lets youse eat candy every now and then, and once she even said a bad word in the middle of class.
Standing outside with her reminds you how much you wished daddy had given you a kiss this morning and how hungry you are now, after turning down mommy’s food, so you do the only thing your little body can manage right now.
You sniffle and try to act like a big kid, but it’s all too much, and tears are already streaming down your little face.
Ms. Schemmenti gives you a sad little smile and puts a hand on your shoulder. You lean forward, feeling sad and wanting a hug, and she hugs you, just the way mommy would if you were at home.
You’re tiny, but you feel big in her embrace. Ms. Schemmenti always knows how to make the class laugh, and it’s no different when you need her.
She runs a hand through your hair and pulls you back a little.
“It’s okay,” she says.
“I want to go home,” you cry. Ms. Schemmenti frowns.
“Are you going to leave me here all alone?” she asks. “I thought we were still going to read a book on the rug later. The one with the rabbit that you like.”
You sniffle, but you smile. Ms. Schemmenti knows which is your favorite story.
“I like it better this way. Are you feeling better, kiddo?”
You rub your eyes before nodding. Ms. Schemmenti smiles at you and gives you a pat on the back.
“Ready to go back to class? You can write the answers on the board, but this stays between you and me.”
“Okay, I’m ready.”
She leads you back with one hand on your back.
You return to your seat, feeling a little better, and even give Elijah a dirty look when he tries to call you a crybaby.
Ms. Schemmenti sees the scene and giggles, and you feel proud. Elijah doesn’t bother you anymore after that.
At the end of the day, daddy is back to take you home. Your little heart isn’t quite at ease yet, but you walk out with your head held high.
Ms. Schemmenti is at the door, and your dad stops to say hello to her.
“Have a good weekend, hon,” she says to you.
You can’t help yourself and let go of daddy’s hand so you can hug Ms. Schemmenti. She’s almost startled for a moment, but laughs and hugs you back right away.
“You’ve got a smart kid here,” she says to your daddy.
“Oh, I know,” he replies.
You leave after that, and while daddy buckles your seatbelt in the car, you look out the window and see Ms. Schemmenti leaving too.
She waves goodbye to you before getting into her car.