Title: It's Like Feeding Ducks
Author: Lola
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own them!
A/N: This is my first attempt at a multi-chapter story. Please send reviews and feedback! Special thanks to Marcy for her input
Teaser
Kate shifted in her seat as she struggled to concentrate on what Ms. Riley was saying. Something about looking for key words and underlining the ideas? She knew she should be paying better attention. After all, the test was in two weeks and every third grader across the state had been preparing for it since birth. Okay maybe that was an exaggeration, but everyone—teachers, parents and students—acted like it was life and death. Kate knew this test was important. It helped determined whether she could go onto fourth grade next year and that made her nervous. If she did survive this reading test, she'd have the big writing test next year. Kate had never been a good test taker, especially in reading. It was just so hard to concentrate on all the important facts, let alone find the correct answers to all the questions. The whole thing made her head hurt.
She glanced at Addie and Miles. Their eyes were glazed and Miles was absentmindedly tapping his finger on his desk. Kate sighed.
Addie looked over and smiled at her friend. "It's okay. You'll be fine," she mouthed. Then she shifted her attention back to Ms. Riley.
Easy for her to say. Addie had been reading chapter books since kindergarten and it came so easily to her. She always aced her tests where as Kate struggled to maintain a passing grade.
Kate watched as Miles continued to tap a silent rhythm and began to bounce her knee in a counter beat. She was just beginning to get the hang of it—
"Kate."
Busted.
Her head snapped up and she could feel her face becoming warm. "Yes, Ms. Riley?"
"I asked you, what is the main idea of this paragraph?"
Kate licked her lips and looked down at her Reading Comprehension booklet. She helplessly looked at the page full of words that didn't make any sense. Think, Kate. What does Ms. Riley say? Take a deep breath and start at the top.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Kate?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
Ms. Riley knelt down next to Kate and lowered her voice. "Did you take your medicine this morning?"
"Yes. But it's almost lunchtime. I think it might be wearing off."
"You've got another hour and a half before your next dose, Kate." She pushed a stray hair behind Kate's ear. "Honey, it's doing it's job. Now I need you to do yours. I really need you to pay attention to the lesson."
Kate looked down. "Yes, ma'am."
Ms. Riley rose. "Addie, can you tell us the main idea of this paragraph?"
Kate only half listened to Addie's response, something about frogs and their habitat. An hour and a half and then she would be able to concentrate. For some reason her afternoon dose of Concerta helped her understand school better. She always did better in the afternoons. Only an hour and a half and things would improve. She just had to focus until then.
Ms. Riley had moved to stand over Ryan. He was talking about tree frogs.
Right.
The main idea.
Frogs.
Kate's aunt collected frogs. She had a Kermit the Frog telephone. Kermit was so funny. Kate loved to watch the Pizza Hut commercials with Kermit and Miss Piggy. Kate had received an obnoxious alarm clock of a pig holding weights. Her brother thought it was hysterical. When it went off in the morning it yelled, "Wake up! Time for morning exercise." Kate looked at the clock on the wall and became fascinated with the second hand and counted the beat in her head never hearing the rest of the lesson.
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"Will you save me a swing?" Kate gathered the trash around her and stacked onto her lunch tray. She placed her used napkin over the half-eaten Salisbury steak.
"Yep. Me and Marissa will meet you there." Addie stood and made her way towards the large trash can as Kate followed behind.
"'Kay. Don't let Miles beat you to it. He'll try and take all the swings." Kate waved to her friends and headed to the nurse's office. On her way she stopped to get a drink from the hallway water fountain, hugged a former teacher and became fascinated in watching a first grade class enter the library.
"Katelin Winters. I thought I'd find you heading my way." Mrs. Hill, the school nurse, shook her head with a smile.
Kate winced, "Sorry, I'm late. I got—"
"Distracted." Mrs. Hill placed her hand on Kate's shoulder and guided her towards her office. "That's why you come to see me." She held the office door open and waved Kate inside.
Kate went straight to the sink and helped herself to a small disposable cup, filling it with tap water. She watched as Mrs. Hill unlocked her medicine cabinet and grabbed a small white Dixie cup with Kate's name written on the side. She handed Kate the cup. "Bottom's up."
Kate popped the medicine into her mouth and chased it down with the water. She then disposed of both cups in the nearby trash can. "Thanks, Mrs. Hill. I'm off to recess!"
"Bye, Kate. See you tomorrow." She turned to re-lock the cabinet. "Same bat time."
"Same bat place," Kate finished and hurried to meet her friends outside.
Kate raced across the playground towards the swings. Everything came into focus so quickly and suddenly her vision began to blur. Kate staggered to the swing and barley sat down before everything went black.
"Kate?" Addie caught her friend as she slumped back in the swing. "Kate, quite fooling around."
Kate didn't move.
"Kate?" Marissa shook Kate gently as Addie struggled to keep Kate's small body sitting upright in the swing. "Kate?"
Marissa screamed and a huddle of children began to form.
"Ms. Riley come quick! Kate's not moving!"
Whispers were flying all around. What's the matter with her? Why wasn't she moving? Was she okay? Ms. Riley and another teacher maneuvered through the crowd. Ms. Riley relieved Addie of her position and ordered her to run to the office. "Go get Mrs. Hill and tell her to call 911."
Addie ran back towards the building as Ms. Riley stroked Kate's hair. "Come on, Kate, open your eyes." She exchanged a look with the other teacher. Not again. This wasn't good.