~Shelby~
"Okay class please line up at the door single file!" She tried her best to be heard over the giggling and whining of the twenty kindergarteners that were presently running around in circles all over the room. Shelby reached for one but he got away and another wiggled her way out of her gentle grasp so she could stick her tongue out at another one who was pulling a little red heads fiery hair. It looked like a highly unorganized circus, children running everywhere, doing everything and not paying the slightest attention to the ringleader, to them known as Ms. Merrick.
"Everyone freeze!" She yelled this as loud as possible and in an instant every voice was quieted and every movement ceased. Her students stared up with wide eyes from where they were standing. Silently she collected the stragglers, buttoned coats, tightened scarves and deposited them in line. A pin drop would have been loud in the room; she had taken swift command of her unruly troop and turned them into a first class infantry of runny noses and messy pigtails in less than a few minutes.
"Now lets sing our song and then we can go outside to play," Shelby nodded to the small girl with big blue eyes in front of the line. "Our line leader for today is Heather and she's going to lead us."
She smiled encouragingly at the little Heather who opened her mouth wide, revealing a few missing teeth, took a deep breath and in a high sweet voice began singing as her other class members joined in.
"Keep your hands to yourself, keep your hands to yourself! Don't push anyone, don't hit anyone, keep your hands to your self!"
Shelby beamed at her students as the filed out of the bright classroom one by one and out onto the playground. As soon as they reached the beginnings of blacktop the small amount of rule that had been enforced flew away and they were back to their screaming ways. All she could do was shake her head in amusement as she watched them, each with their own personality, style and way of doing things. It never ceased to amaze her how there could be so many different people in the world.
"What's so funny?" Shelby turned as she recognized the voice of fellow teacher and one of her closest friends, Kelly Harris, behind her. She was a good-natured brunette that had a habit of meddling but she always meant well. Shelby met her the first day she came to teach at Ross Elementary and the immediately became close friends.
"Nothing, just watching them brings a smile to my face." She said simply. Kelly nudged her slightly and grinned mischievously.
"Are you sure it's not the new fifth grade teacher, Jason Rowland, that brings such a look of rapture on your face."
Shelby's mouth dropped in surprise. "Of course not- Marcus Brown, I see you! We don't throw sand in other peoples hair!-, although he hasn't made it easy for me to tell him I'm not interested."
"What exactly did you say?"
"Well, he asked me out to dinner after parent-teacher conferences but I politely told him that I had some place to be but he said 'maybe another time' and he meant it. Some guys just can't take a hint."
"He's gorgeous. I don't see why you just don't go out with him at least once."
"Because I'm not interested or ready to date."
Kelly sighed and made steady eye contact with her friend. "It's been eight years, Shel, I'm worried that you're never going to let it go."
Shelby quickly averted her eyes. "Howie and Sarah! The monkey bars are not high wires!"
Kelly shook her head at her friend's obvious change of the subject. "Fine. I won't meddle but eventually your going to have to move on. You can't sit around waiting for that guy forever, if you love him that much maybe it's time for you to take the initiative and if it doesn't work out then you know, its time to get on with your life."
She patted her arm and then walked away leaving Shelby to contemplate her words.
"I only wish it was that easy." She whispered to the frigid air and then went to stop a fight over the kick balls.
