Phone Calls

"STRIPES!"

"WHAT?"

"PHONE!"

Rogue walked over to the closest phone and picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Hello, Mrs. LeBeau it is Kylee Mayble calling, Alison and Quinn's teacher."

"'Ow can Ah help ya?"

"There's been an incident…"

"Wha' kind o' incident?" Rogue's heart picked up speed.

"Let us call it a loud one."

"Somethang blew up didn' it."

"Yes Rogue, a medium wooden block and a doll."

"Ah'm so sorry Mrs. Mayble, was anyone hurt?"

"No, everyone is fine."

Rogue closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah'll talk with the girls an' their father t'nigh'."

"Thank you, but I should tell you it wasn't entirely their fault. They were startled by a reaction of one of their other classmates."

"Ah understand, thank ya f'r lettin' meh know. Is their anything else?"

"Yes actually, I was hoping to speak with Professor Xavier if he is available."

"Ya, jus' give meh a moment t' find 'im."

"Thank you."

"Professor."

"Yes Rogue?"

"Can ya pick-up the phone please, the girls teacher wants t' speak with ya."

"Certainly." "Hello Professor Charles Xavier speaking, how may I help you?"

Rogue hung up the receiver she had been holding and smashed the down arrow of the elevator with her fist.

"Good afternoon Professor, my name is Kylee Mayble and I was wondering if you would be able to help me."

"I can certainly try, what is it that is troubling you?"

Kylee cleared her throat, "Hum, well Professor I have a, unique group of kindergarteners this year and I was hoping you might be able to give me a guiding hand."

"You have a handful of mutants."

"Yes."

"Two of which live here correct."

"That is right."

"I can certainly work with Alison and Quinn, however I would have to meet the other children to help them and that requires parental consent."

"Would you be able to help me so I can give a guiding hand to the others?"

"From what I hear on the streets you are a wonderful teacher Mrs. Mayble. This year you have been handed a challenge. Like I said, I am happy to help as long as I have parental consent. You are welcome to give my number to those parents who seek assistance and are unsure where to turn, other than that there is not much I can do, I am sorry."

"I understand, thank you for your time."

"It was my pleasure and if you have any more questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call." There was a click and both Mrs. Mayble and the Professor hung up the phones.

Rogue entered the gym slapping the play button on the CD player and punched the daylights out of the punching bag. 'Hit me with your best shot, why don't you…fire away!' She knew this would happen! Now there would be mobs at the gates, scared parents who either wouldn't send their kids to school or demand that the twins be removed.

'You're a real tough cookie with a long history… you better make sure you put me in my place!' Rogue was so engrossed in beating the bag that she didn't hear Remy enter the gym. 'Hit me with your best shot, hit me with your best shot…'

"Cherie."

Rogue spun around mid punch and Remy jumped back to avoid being hit. "Gawd Remy Ah almos' nailed ya. Don' sneak up on meh like that."

He ignored her, "I hear dat de girls 'ad dere firs' school explosion t'day." Rogue's expression told Remy everything he needed to know. "We knew it jus' be a matter o' time Rogue, an' fr'm wha' I hear it be an accident."

"Ah, Ah don' care! They shouldn' be explodin' thangs at school."

"Come on Rogue, Remy non wan' t' 'urt ya feelin's, bu' we both know dat y' didn' have control 'till six years 'go." She glared at him. "Give dem time cherie."

Rogue walked away sweat running down her body and tears forming in her eyes. Remy turned off the CD player and followed her to the elevator. Once upstairs Rogue headed to the showers to freshen up before they picked up the girls.

The phone rang and Mr. Woods picked it up, "Hello?"

"Hello Mr. Woods, it is Kylee Mayble calling, Noah's teacher."

"Oh hello Mrs. Mayble, is everything alright?"

"I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Noah."

"I suppose so, his mother is normally better at answering these sorts of things but fire away."

Kylee smiled, "Thank you, I was just wondering if you or your wife ever noticed anything happen when Noah spoke at a normal level."

There was a sigh on the other end of the phone, "Yes, he, he breaks things. Has something happened today? Is he alright? How about the other children, were they hurt?"

"Everyone is fine Mr. Woods, it was a plastic Lego bin that cracked right down the middle. No one was hurt but Noah did take off and hid beside the cubbies on the floor."

"Yes, that is something he does at home as well. He thinks he is going to get in trouble for something that he has little control over so he tries to hide from it."

"I understand."

"May I ask what caused it? He is trying so hard to keep it under control."

"Another child ran through his Lego village that he worked very hard on while heading to another centre. A few pieces fell off and were knocked over. Nothing to worry about, kids will be kids."

"I apologize and we will be happy to get you a new bin."

"No worries Mr. Woods, but may ask why this was not mentioned on Noah's form under other things you should know about my child?"

Joseph Woods voice became defensive, "We didn't want to say my kid is a mutant, is that so bad?"

Mrs. Mayble kept a calm voice, "Of course not, but you may be interested to know that he is not alone."

This time there was a hint of curiosity in his voice, "There are others in his class?"

"I can not disclose any names but I can give you a number to call if you and your wife find things stressful and need a place to turn. So far I feel you are doing a fantastic job, the beast any parent could do in your shoes."

"Thank you, I apologize for snapping at you."

"I completely understand and will see you at the end of the day when you pick-up Noah."

"Thank you for letting us know in advance, have a good afternoon."

Mrs. Mayble hung up the phone, 'It has got to be better than this morning,' she thought as she left the reading office.

After lunch the group of eight took books off the shelves looking at pictures, reading the story to themselves or out loud to a buddy. This worried Kylee. Sure she completely understood why they felt the need for a quiet activity after the morning chaos but this was normally such an active bunch and to see them just sitting with a book concerned her.

The rest of the class was scattered at various centers such as the art centre, play dough and cars. She checked the time and saw that they had a good two hours before they needed to tidy up for home. "Ok everyone, come and meet me at the carpet for some music."

Most of the children put down their toys and came to the carpet. Mrs. Mayble looked around, "I am still missing Jake and Emma, come on! It is going to be fun!"

Once the two were at the carpet their teacher started giving instructions. "Alright everyone, we are going to make a circle so let's stand up and hold hands." The children looked at one another a little worried so Mrs. Mayble took one of Alison's and one of Quinn's hands. Joey and Michael followed Joey with Quinn and Michael with Alison. Eventually Mrs. Mayble had a circle. "Next time let's see if we can make the circle a little faster."

She smiled at her class and then asked, "Who has seen the movie Tarzan?"

"Me!" "I have!" "I own it!" It's my favorite!" "Ahhahhahhh!"

"Ok, thank you Jake. So I am guessing you will be able to help me with some of the songs." Most of the children nodded enthusiastically, "Good, now take your partners hands." 'Come stop your crying it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you…'

The children looked at their hands and then up at the person they were holding hands with. "Can you sing with Kala?"

"But it's girly."

"Try it anyway Nick, and don't worry, we will be doing others." Kylee listened to her class and sang with them. ''cause you'll be in my heart, yes you'll be in my heart…No matter what they say…We need each other to have to hold…but ya got to hold on…'

Ryan looked over at the twins, "I sorry I was scared of you two."

"Dat be ok, y' should o' seen us when we firs' go' dis…"

"Daddy call it a gift. We were two an' mah dolly blew up. Ah was so scared."

Jake looked at Noah, "I'm sorry too that I maked you sad 'bout your Lego town. It was cool."

Noah gave him a small smile.

Mrs. Mayble grabbed a box of instruments. She held some sticks, symbols, maracas, tambourines, sand blocks and two small drums. "I think we should let Turk have a turn, how about we trash this camp?"

The children laughed while Michael piped up, "But the twins already did." Alison swatted his hand, "Ouch! You hit hard for a girl."

"Well dats wha' y' get f'r makin' fun o' us."

"How about we use the instruments instead Alison." Mrs. Mayble handed Alison a drum, Joey and Stephanie got sticks, Noah and Amy Maracas, Kelly and Quinn sand blocks, while Jake and Emma got tambourines. "You are going to have to take turns because we don't have enough instruments for everyone at once. If you don't have an instrument you can clap your hands, snap your fingers, tap the floor or your knees. Here we go!"

'Shoo be doo, sha be doo… doo whap she doo! Whap ba ba de a ba ba…! Break it up and shake it up.' Kylee watched her students as they tapped and shook their instruments. They were all smiling not a care in the world.

'Rip it up and tear it up. Rip it up and throw it out…' She let the song finish and had the students pass their instruments to a friend who hadn't had a turn using one and played 'Trashing the Camp' one more time.

She smiled as she stopped the CD, "You all did a fantastic job playing the instruments to the music. When I come to you I would like you to place your instruments gently in the bin. Once you have done that you may go back to your activities." She walked around the circle collecting the instruments and watched her class disperse to various centers.

Rogue ran her finger through her hair as she rinsed out the conditioner and let the warm water run over her body. She turned off the shower wrapping herself up in a towel drying off. She then grabbed one of her hairbrushes and combed her wet hair and it stuck in place. She entered her room and grabbed some fresh clothes tossing them on the bed as she continued to dry off. As she did this she glanced at the clock, "Awe shit! Remy, why didn' ya tell meh it was almos' time t' ge' the girls!"

Rogue pulled on her fresh clothes quickly and ran to the stairs. "Y' be mad either way Rogue." She ran down the stairs and into the garage.

"Grrr, jus' get in the van Swamp Rat."

"Y' know y' be extra grouchy lately Rogue."

"No Ah haven'!" She pulled into the parking lot and hopped out of the van walking to the kindergarten gates.

Remy slid out of the van muttering under his breath, "Ok, ce que vous dites." (Ok, whatever you say.)

Rogue looked over her shoulder, "What?"

"Not'in'."

Rogue turned her attention back to the gate and muttered, "Men,"