Author's Note: Unless you read the Little Sister series, Natalie Springer makes one appearance in the books (Claudia and Crazy Peaches and a cameo in Jessi's Big Break) but I got a request from Boris Yeltsin. Thanks for the suggestion! I'm not sure how in character this would be to her but did some rereading. I'm also not really expanding on her spouse. I like the idea of her being bi, but I can't pick which one she ended up with so it's vague.

Enjoy the chapter!


The halls of the elementary school were ripe with art displayed and fliers reminding students of the back to school carnival. Natalie Webb (nee Springer) smiled at each piece of art looking for her children's. Being in an elementary school again took her back to her days at Stoneybrook Academy. It was some of the best and worst years of her life.

She remembered second grade vividly, like she had spent decades there. Ms. Colman was her teacher and frankly one of the best teachers she's ever had. Learning was always fun with her and she kept the projects for a long time. The kids she went to school with were a different story, however. Karen Brewer, Hannah Papadakis, and Nancy Dawes were all nice to her and would invite be the fourth person in their group sometimes. It wasn't the same as having friends. Not to mention Pamela Harding and her friends picked on her. Last she heard from her mom; Karen was in New York (she didn't go as far now that Natalie mused over it), Hannah had practically dropped off the planet (she was traveling so much), and Nancy married the old school bully (who actually turned out to be nice). Natalie didn't want to think about what happened to Pamela.

Natalie turned the first corner and into a kindergarten classroom. Her five-year-old twins, Sam and Sophie, were waiting for her. Still in her work uniform she turned the corner to see other parents waiting to be invited it. Right on time, she thought, and joined the line. In front of her was one of Sophie's friends' moms.

"Ready for your presentation Natalie?" asked Jenna in front of her.

"Ready as I'll ever be," said Natalie laughing some. "Hey what is it that you do anyway? I know your wife is an electrician."

"Manager at Trader Joe's. Not everyone has fancy office jobs sometimes you know. I wish Kate came instead of me though. We shouldn't be putting down trades, they're more important then ever."

The two talked a moment and Natalie couldn't' help but wonder what it would be like if Jenna went to school with her. Maybe they would have been friends once upon a time. The two women laughed about something the kids did before they were ushered into the classroom. Bring your child to work day was last week and the parents were to give a small presentation talking about their jobs. Their kids would be sharing their experience as well. It seemed complicated for a bunch of five-year-olds but Sophie and Sam were awfully excited.

Natalie squared her shoulders as someone named Nick Albright brought his father, the mayor, to talk to first.

"Omaha is its people. It's a thriving city and I am thrilled to be the mayor and to tell you all about my job," said the man with a smile on his face, looking more at the parents then the kids.

Natalie coughed lightly and grinned at Jenna. He was really trying to appeal to all the parents in the room for reelection. Jenna was covering her mouth and her shoulders shaking some. Next to her, Ivan Daniels, was also trying to cover up his reaction. Natalie poised herself to look a little more interested in the presentation. She was eager to see what Nick had to say about his father's job.

Which turned out to be a hoot since he said that his father's job was boring five minutes later. In the sea of kindergarteners, she spotted Sam and Sophie. They waved to her and waited for her turn. The class wasn't going in order but when the kids signed them up. Which according to the list Natalie Webb was third.

Oh geez, she thought, and patted her bag. She had a special gift for the class. Honestly, she loved school and was eager to get these kids to learn something. Natalie had to follow up her presentation behind an educator from the high school.

"Next, we have Sam and Sophie's mom, Natalie. Mrs. Webb would you step to the front of the class."

Natalie adjusted her safari hat on her head and calmly walked to the front. The badge gleaming from her tan button up shirt. Her boots actually clean today.

"Hello everyone, my name is Natalie and I am a zoologist at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. My job means that I get to study animals, feed them, care for them, and yes sometimes play with them. I work at the exhibit called the Asian Highlands. I currently care for our snow leopards and tigers with my co-workers."

A chorus of ohhs and awws filled the room. A couple of parents that didn't know what she did looked impressed or surprised. A swell of pride ran through her. She loved her job and it was awesome to talk about it. Jenna gave her a thumbs up from her spot. Natalie beamed and waited for quiet. She had to explain how she got her job too.

"In order to do that I had to go to college for eight years. I have a diploma that's called a PhD, I know that sounds like a lot, but it is fun. I've worked with lots of different animals like red pandas and rhinos."

Like the others before her, Sam and Sophie stood up to share their experiences. Hopefully, she had impressed her children like the others in the class. Sam stood up straight and Sophie fixed her sparkling jeans.

"We thought it was fun," said Sophie. "We got to watch the leopards be fed and my mom brushed them. We couldn't get too close to the animals though, but we saw places most people won't."

"And the tigers played with a toy specially made for them," said Sam bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "We think our mom has a cool job, even though I wouldn't go to school for that long."

Everyone chuckled and Natalie couldn't wipe that grin off her face. This just made her feel excited. They wrapped up their presentation by passing out coloring books for the fifteen students in the class. Which of course was a zoo theme.

She went back to her spot next to Jenna and sat down, quite pleased with herself. Jenna and Ivan gave her a high five. Sam and Sophie had some kids poking them for more details, at least from the angle she could see them. Her kids are already having a great school experience! She paid attention to two more lectures; an engineer (her spouse did that too) and a real estate agent, before her mind started to drift. This was fun and couldn't help but think back to that second grade classroom. Natalie had a feeling that her younger self would be amazed at what she did now.