Disclaimer: I own nothing of CSI
The Bitter Truth
"Alright guys, stand up and let's all sing Carlton happy birthday." Jackie said cheerfully as she had all of her students stand up.
The kids loved singing their special birthday song and they especially loved getting treats afterwards.
As they sang to him the little boy just stood there grinning from ear to ear.
After the song was over Carlton began passing out his cupcakes.
"Here you go Mrs. Stokes." He said as he tried to hand her a cupcake.
Jackie had been slightly nauseous all morning and although the store bought chocolate cupcakes looked delicious she didn't think it'd be a good idea to eat one.
"No thank you sweetheart, why don't you take mine home and you can eat it later?"
"Yeah, ok Mrs. Stokes, you could lose a couple pounds anyway." He told her without a hint of meanness in his voice.
"You shouldn't say that to a woman." One of the other little boys told him with wide eyes.
Jackie struggled mightily not to laugh.
"It's ok sweetie." Jackie told her defender.
Carlton wrapped Jackie in a hug as if it was a peace offering of some sort.
Carlton was one of the sweetest little boys you'd ever meet, every morning when he came into the room he'd run up to Jackie, tell her good morning, and give her a hug.
She knew that he didn't say that to be mean, he was simply stating a fact as he saw it, and like most little kids he has no filter.
A bit later Lisa Masters took the kids outside for morning recess and as soon as they were out of the room Jackie laughed so hard tears streamed down her face.
When the kids came back inside it was time for math. Jackie was in the middle of the lesson when she looked up and saw Carlton walking out of the room.
"Where are you going bud?" Jackie called.
"I have to go to the bathroom Mrs. Stokes." He replied, doing a little dance as he came back into the room.
"Alright kiddo, but you need to ask me first, you can't just leave the room, I need to know where you are."
Carlton turned towards another little boy and said "Man that woman is tough, but I love her."
The other little boy just stared at him blankly as if to say I don't really think she's that tough but ok.
For the second time that day Jackie had to struggle to not burst out laughing in front of the kids.
That child is going to drive me to drink today, and I can't even drink Jackie thought to herself.
She then got back to teaching the math lesson, she wondered what else the day had in store for her.
The End