Author's Note: Buddy next! Not sure how many chapters I have left but thinking I'll stop around chapter 20 or so. Not much to put here but I hope you like the chapter! Also we get see Kristy again in this chapter too.
Warning, T rating for Buddy's internal swearing.
Please review and let me know what you think!
Stoneybrook Academy was quiet without children running around. Which was good as Buddy Barrett carried a clear tote filled with classroom goodies and a bag on top, unable to see in front of him. He had to decorate his first-grade classroom before school officially started back up in three weeks and counting. He wished Margo was with him, but she had a doctor's appointment today and he let her sleep.
"Hey, need help with that?" asked Kristy catching up to him.
Kristy Thomas, well now Patterson, his former baby-sitter was now his boss. It was a little weird but not that unusual. He nodded and passed her a canvas bag to carry for him. At least now he could see and made their way down to the hall. Teaching here would be different from his old elementary school across town. Which was a good thing because that would be weird.
"Thanks, I still have the same room, right?"
"Yep, hey how's Margo and the baby?" she asked referring to his wife sitting at home probably grading papers.
"Pretty good, she'll be teaching online classes and then can go back to in person next year," he said setting down the box on top of a row of desks. "She's dropping off the kids before her doctor appointment, if you want swing by she'd like to see you."
Margo was a teacher at Stoneybrook University, believe it or not teaching education courses. She was also due to have the baby any day now which just made him happy to have another child on the way with her. He dusted his hands off and then went to get the other box from the car. Kristy helping him along the way. Together they had carried in three boxes and two bags filled with stuff for the new year. He had to spend some of his own money, but it was worth it.
"Want some help?" she asked looking around at seeing how empty the room looked.
"Nah, it's okay I got it," he said finding the staple gun and boarders for the white boards and cork boards.
She left to take a page and then he got to work decorating. Which honestly was kind of fun even though it was more of Margo's forte. He had sixteen kids in his class and had to plenty of room to work with. The perks of teaching at a private school instead of a public one with twenty something. Slowly it was getting done and almost ready before he heard the page for him.
"Buddy Barrett please call Mrs. Patterson," said the voice of Tammy Barken in the office.
Curiously he went over to the phone on the desk. What on earth? School hadn't even started yet so he couldn't be in trouble. Slowly he picked it up and called the extension to the principal's office. Oh shit, he better not be assigned to a different room. Instead he learned that there was a student's mother that wanted to meet him. Okay so the student might be nervous or something. He had told her to send the kids to his classroom.
Cautiously a woman and her daughter peered into the classroom who just looked like a deer in the headlights staring at him.
Maybe he shouldn't have worn his old AC/DC shirt with the jeans that had holes in them. Or maybe it was the fact that he needed a haircut.
"Hi, I'm Buddy Barrett," he said putting out a hand for the woman to shake who nervously shook his hand.
"Betsy Sobak."
Wait a second, he knew that name and Betsy had stood frozen too. That could be the reason why she started. Fuck, he remembered her, and she probably remembered him. Betsy was the one that pulled all those stupid pranks back in third grade. Even breaking her baby-sitters' leg with a messed up swing. Buddy even remembered being on the receiving end of some of those. He knew he shouldn't judge, but he wondered if the daughter had an order of McBuzzy's Pranks coming before class started.
"Nice to see you again Buddy," she said and then straightened up getting to the point. "My daughter is transferring from public school to private. My husband and I moved over to Edgerstoune Drive and we'll be going to the Academy now. We figured that we'd stop and see your classroom."
"It's almost done being decorated," he said gesturing around as if it was obvious.
Before he could say anything, else there was the sound of footsteps running down the hall and into his legs. Fuck, he thought, remembering that Margo was dropping off Lizzie and Noah with him while she went to the doctor. Oh this was awkward especially with what happened between Betsy and Margo.
"Hey Buddy, just remember that we're going to Byron's tonight for dinner," said Margo slipping her cellphone in her back pocket.
Right, he thought, he loved that once a week they got a free meal. They rotated from going to John and Dee Pike's home then Byron and Charlotte's and then to theirs for dinner every Friday night or so. It was a way to see each other now that everyone was gone. He missed having Suzi around but she was living in Paris. Marnie was moving into college at Dartmouth for her final semester. His step siblings kind of went everywhere with Taylor being the closest in Stoneybrook, but lived on the other side of town over on Slate Street.
Visiting all of them sounded appealing to be. He'd rather be anywhere else right now. Maybe he could visit Matt Braddock and help him get ready for the season. He did play for the Boston Red Sox's. Or visit Nick Pike, he lived in Providence Rhode Island, which was far far away from here.
"You married Pike?" said Betsy snickering softly.
"Sobak," she said with a look of dislike on her face. "I'd ask you how your acting career is but your standing right here instead."
"Look, don't take this out on her because of me. She's looking forward to going to this school."
"You're the one that…"
Okay that was enough for him to look at Margo and tap his watch. Margo and Betsy were both in drama club back in high school and they would often compete for certain roles. Betsy was the better actress between the two of them thus the rivalry.
"If you excuse me, I have a doctor's appointment," she said.
Buddy turned to his wife and gently pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. "Hey, everything'll be fine," he whispered soothingly as Betsy just rolled her eyes. Margo closed her eyes and leaned into the hug before kissing his cheek and left the room with a small wave.
Shaking his head Buddy turned to the two girls instead. Betsy furiously typing something on her phone probably to her husband. So, he got on his knees next to the girls in the play area he had set up for the kids. Some of those toys and books his own from when he was little.
"I'm going to be your teacher," he said to the girl. "What's your name?"
"Briana," she said shyly.
"Your mom tells me that you're looking forward to coming to this school. Can you tell me what your favorite subject is?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment and shrugged.
"It's okay I didn't like some of my classes when I was your age either. Now I'm a teacher myself. We'll learn about all kinds of things like animals and holidays and…"
"Are we going to learn about emus?"
Buddy smiled at her a little surprised that she was interested in emus, most were interested in the lions or elephants. He liked her style and interest in learning about animals. At least something good was coming out of this.
"Why not," he said. "You know my daughter starts kindergarten this year," he said gesturing to Lizzie. "Why don't you show her a thing or two about being in school for the first time."
Briana excitedly turned to Lizzie who had looked up from her toy. Excitedly the girls were chatting about what school was like and their favorite toys. Sighing he turned to talk to Betsy but kept an eye out on the girls. Noah happily drawing on a small whiteboard and wiping it off all the time. This was going to be a good school year.
