first of 3 prompts by rosered33
Chapter 25
Kono stood by the front door, arms folded, lips pouted and tears tracking her face. It was her first day at kindergarten and she didn't want to go. Nani was already struggling with the fact her little girl was growing up let alone seeing her little girl in tears about going, not wanting to leave her mum. Nani had tried to make the idea fun, taking Kono to buy a new back pack and crayons but now the time had come the young girl wasn't having any of it.
"Kono darling you have to go, it will be fun I promise you" Nani tried in a soothing voice.
"No mummy I want to stay with you!"
"Sweetie you will make so many new friends"
"Noooo"
"Keikei we can't argue about this you have to go mummy will take you"
Kono just stood by the door crying and shaking her head in a definitive no. Ke'ano had already left for work so wasn't able to help Nani in persuading Kono to go but Nani knew who would be best to help her.
Chin arrived fifteen minutes later. He was on his way to school himself when Nani called. He headed straight there to try and calm his baby cousin down.
"Chin!" Kono sobbed as she ran into his strong arms.
"Hey ipo why the tears?"
"Me no want to go kindagarten"
"Why not!" Chin asked in comic surprise.
"Scary…I stay here"
"But kindergarten is fun"
"No" Kono pouted as she shook her head.
"I went to kindergarten" Chin said spiking Kono's interest.
"Me not big enough" Kono sighed as she tried to hide in Chin's arms.
"Oh do you not want to be big like me?"
"Yeah I want to be you Chin" Kono mumbled as she looked up to him with doe eyes.
"Well then you have to go to kindergarten that's what big girls do!" Chin exclaimed with a cheesy grin.
Kono creased her brow in thought trying to determine if she agreed with Chin.
"Will you come?"
"Chin has to go to school Kono"
"Noo"
"Hey I'll come" Chin quickly agreed.
"Chin"
"Auntie its fine I'll miss sign in I can explain"
"Your mum will kill me"
"I swear my first period teacher is cool he will let it slide"
"You go straight to school afterwards though" Nani warned.
"Yes Auntie…now shall we go little one?"
"Hmmm…I'm big!"
"You are now your all grown up!"
Chin and Nani held Kono's hand, walking her down the corridor behind the other children and parents until they reached their class room. It wasn't like a normal class room, it looked more like a play room and Kono started to become more interested.
"Hey keikei look at all the fun things you can do" Nani tried as she and Chin bent down to her side.
"Hmmm"
"Cuz do you know what my favourite thing to do was?"
"No?"
"Nap time!" Chin giggled.
"Sleepy?"
"You get nap time and you can sleep on all the soft bouncy bean bags"
"Oooo"
"Shall we hang your coat and bag up?" Nani asked softly.
"Okay"
Nani walked Kono to her peg and helped her hang her stuff up. Kono clung to Nani as though she would disappear, as she began to worry again.
"Shall we have all the little ones come sit on the carpet!" One of the leaders called.
Kono panicked and clung to Nani more climbing into her arms.
"No mummy!"
"Sshhhh Kono ipo"
"Hey cuz shall I sit with you?" Chin offered.
"Okay" Kono agreed as Nani glared at Chin for skipping more school.
Chin walked Kono over to the carpet and sat her on his lap as the leader began to talk animatedly to the children. Kono wasn't the only one scared about being left alone and the other leader was telling all the parents it was normal. The best thing to do was stay until there distracted then sneak out.
"It's not so bad cuz" Chin whispered.
"Where's mummy?"
"Mummy's there she's watching"
"Who wants to do some painting?" The leader asked.
Kono sat up as the other children became more interested.
"That sounds like so much fun!" Chin grinned.
"I want to paint!" Kono exclaimed happily.
"Go on then" Chin encouraged.
Kono looked to Chin unsure whether to follow the other children. She then looked to Nani who smiled and walked over.
"Are you going to go paint?"
Kono bit her lip and grabbed her mum's hand.
"Why don't you paint me and mummy a picture?" Chin suggested.
"Okay" Kono said happily as she wandered over and a leader took her hand and gave her an apron.
Kono stood painting looking over at Chin and Nani for ages making sure they were still there. When Kono seemed distracted they snuck out. Nani had tears in her eyes as she left Kono praying she would be okay.
"Hey auntie she will be fine"
"I know it's just such a big step"
"Yeah but it's good for her"
"I know, thank you for coming today Chin"
"That's alright"
"Your mum really will kill me for having you skip class"
"I'm not worried, Leila got detention last week for behaviour so mum's getting a phone call today about it so the heat will be on her" Chin chuckled as they left the building.