After greeting all the parents and watching them leave, the children quieted down. I smiled as every pair of eyes turned to me. "Hi, I'm Ms. Swan" I waved a hand energetically. They got a bit more relaxed and even managed a "Hello Ms. Swan" I decided that it would be best to have a 'get to know each other day' so I planned out a few activities.
"Today is just going to be a game day -" nobody was tense anymore.. Except for one student. "so we'll just go around the classroom, you can say your name and anything else you want to" With my eyes roaming the room I made sure I had everyone's attention. "I'll begin.. My name is Isabella Swan, but I liked to be called Bella. I'm 25 and this is my second year of teaching" quick and simple with nothing to distracting. At least for 6 year olds.
I pointed to a little girl at the edge of the room. Her blond curls were pulled into pigtails and her dark blue eyes shone brightly. "I'm Olivia, I'm six and I live with my mommy, daddy, and my little brother" Once satisfied with her speech she looked to a boy across from her. He had dark brown hair that swooped at the ends, and that constantly fell into his black eyes. "I'm Alex and I'm 7. I have a doggy named Bronco"
The girl next to him turned out to be his twin, Jane. Though they had nothing in common with the looks except for pale skin and black eyes. This continued throughout the rest of the class and finally we got to the one I've been anxious for. Xavier.
He stood up from his chair, his eyes moving over every kid, practically commanding their attention. "I'm Xavier and I'm 6" with that he sat back down. I was startled by his abrupt speech. Of course a few other pupils weren't exactly big talkers and said about the same as him, but the way he commanded attention. And the way he was so cold and final. Yet unsure.
Once done with the game I gathered everyone in a small circle next to my hand picked out chair. I sat between Olivia and another girl named Sasha. "Has anyone heard of Telephone" There were a few collective gasps and I smiled at their quick recognition. "I'll start. I'll whisper a secret -" eyes went wide as I say secret. "- message into Olivia's ear and she will whisper it into Conner's ear and we'll go around the circle till Ryan gets the message" A few eager nods.
I narrow my eyes and tap pursed lips in exaggeration. I quickly thought of a ridiculous sentence before leaning over to Olivia. With a hand covering my mouth I whisper "pink elephants like to drink purple water while dancing on the moon." Her hands flew to her mouth as she giggled, the class's curiosity peaks a little. She leans over to Conner and whispers the secret message.
I watch as hands are cupped over whispering mouths, even more closely do I watch when Alex leans over to Xavier. The message is quick and soon Xavier is nodding and whispering to the girl who sat next to him. Soon Ryan is hunched over Jacob and the message is passed, I wait for Ryan to look at me before giving an encouraging smile. "What secret message did you get Ryan?"
"Pizza elephants like to eat parrots while dancing in the moon" he said, almost pleased with himself. Slight hysteria broke over the small circle and I waited for them to calm down. "Now what secret message did I tell you Olivia?" She looked at me uncertain for a moment before remembering what I had told her. "Pink elephants like to drink purple water while dancing on the moon"
In all, they did pretty well for being first graders and this being their first day of the school year. I looked over at the clock and was shocked to realize it was time for lunch. I stand up and brush my legs off, "it's time for lunch, grab your lunch bags and you can sit wherever." The talk starts almost immediately as they quickly find where their lunch bags are located.
I sit at my desk and pull open the mini fridge door that was hidden under the desk and that I usually forgot about. I grab an apple and a bottle of water before leaning back in the chair and watching the students, pretty content. I quickly finish my apple and bottle of water and notice that most of the kids had finished. I stand up and walk to the trash by the door, aware of the eyes on me. "When you're done you can throw your stuff away here" I state pleasantly as I toss away the apple core and empty bottle.
I heard the shuffling of feet and walk over to the art supplies. 3 large boxes sat on the shelf where the art supplies were contained, I reach up to the one slightly covered in paint and wrap my hands around the handles before slowly pulling it down. I popped off the top and stared at the bunches of brushes, containers filled with paint, paint shirts and even some easels.
While the kids were busy I placed paint and brushes along with paper in every spot, "Time to go back to your seats" After getting everyone in paint shirts they all plopped their brushes into paint and started painting, ideas flowing off my suggestion of flowers. I could see Xavier from the corner of my eye, he only had green and red. I looked around the room and noticed everyone else had a variety of colors.
Frowning, I walked over to him "Do you want some more colors Xavier?" He shook his head as he painted a long green stem and then a bright red blob connected to it. That's all that was on his paper, not even a sun in the corner of the paper. "Flowers are red, green leaves are green, there's no need to see flowers any other way. Than the way they always have been seen." My frowned deepened when I heard, what seemed to rehearsed, speech. I wonder if his dad makes him say that.. I felt my anger rise.
I smile tensely at Xavier, muttering "of course" before standing up and sitting in my seat. Anger boiling. I decide to look up Xavier's files. They don't tell much, but I do learn his mother is named Tanya, and who I conclude to be deceased. I wonder if that has anything to do with their strange behavior...
not so sure about this story but I'll try to continue with it! Nothing new except that I finished two books(one thats 240 pages and the other is 307 pages) in under a day and it's got me kinda frustrated cause I just went to the library yesterday. -_-