A shoutout to my collaborator Brittany
Chrissie sat quietly in her car seat, as she clutched onto Goober and her Lion King lunchbox. The little girl peered out of the window the best she could, before shrinking down, like a tortoise trying to hide in it's shell.
The Impala was sitting in a busy parking lot, full of parents with their children. For once, the hyperactive and boisterous five year old was stunned into silence.
"Daddy? Where are we?" asked the little girl, hugging Goober very tightly.
John sighed, knowing that his small daughter was nervous. She was growing up so fast.
"This is your school, Chrissie. You'll get to learn new things, and make lots of new friends," says John, as he looked back at his youngest. "Your brothers loved their first day of school, and I'm sure you will too."
The little girl scowled, and huffed into her patchwork teddy bear.
"I don't wanna go" she said, with an adorable pout.
John chuckled on seeing the child's expression.
"Don't worry, honey, you're gonna be alright. I'll pick you up every day, and if I can't make it, then Dean will collect you. You're really gonna love school. They have paints; building blocks, story time, and a whole bunch of other things for you to see and learn" said John.
He couldn't help but be proud of Chrissie's caution. It was an unfamiliar territory, full of strange things she hadn't encountered. Even though she was still naïve about her family's secret, she was already developing the hunter mentality. This anxiety should keep her safe for now. Yet, John was nervous himself. Chrissie would be alone, with no form of protection.
The five year old looked scared and very unsure.
"I wanna stay with you, Daddy," said Chrissie, looking like she might start crying again at any given moment. "Don't send me away."
There had been tears earlier, when Chrissie said goodbye to her brothers.
"I'm not sending you away, sweetheart. I know you wanna stay with me, but you have to go to school. Look, I'll go in with you and get you settled" said John, as he then climbed out the car.
His last baby was starting school. How could this be possible? It seemed like only yesterday he was holding her in his arms after the fire. John was soon leading his daughter across the very busy playground. Chrissie had her bumblebee clip in her wild waves. Chrissie never liked it when her father brushed her scruffy hair. She was also wearing an old white and navy gingham dress, her tiny Dorothy dress as Dean called it, with cute white socks and her old Mary Jane shoes. She clutched her father's hand, whilst holding Goober with the other. John carried her lunchbox. Chrissie didn't want to wear the dress, but John had insisted.
As soon, as he lead her into her classroom, Chrissie started to cry again. The other children were just as upset too, as were some of the mothers.
"Daddy don't go," sobbed the little girl. "Don't leave me. I'm scared."
John levelled himself with his tiny daughter. He stroked her hair gently, like she was a kitten.
"I know, sweetheart, I know you're scared, but don't worry. You're gonna have lots of fun, and I'm sure you'll make lots of friends" said John.
Chrissie huddled into her father's side. John hugged her into him, in a very protective manner. He was the only father in the classroom. The rest of the children had their mothers with them. John watched the other children, and then looked down at Chrissie. Mary should be here.
He was a little uncertain at first, but he knew this had to be done. Besides, he would be back to get her at eleven thirty. It was only a half day, and then he would have a few days with her, just the two of them, before she went back full time. He then looked around and saw most of the other mothers kissing and telling their children goodbye.
"Okay, baby girl, it's time for me to go. I'll be back later to get you," said John, with a sad smile. "Daddy loves you. Now, give me a kiss goodbye."
The little girl started to cry again, her sobbing interrupted by hiccups. Her teacher then appeared. She had light brown hair and dark brown eyes. She could have been no older than thirty years old.
"Hello, my name is Miss Montoya," said the teacher. "What's your name?"
John rubbed his daughter's hair, trying to console her.
"This is Christina," he said.. "She's a little nervous."
"Aw, it's nice to meet you, Christina. That's a very pretty name. Don't you worry, we're all gonna have a great time together. Would you like me to show you to your seat?" asked Miss Montoya.
Chrissie turned back towards her father and hugged him again, this time around his neck.
"I'll miss you, Daddy" said Chrissie, in a small voice.
John felt tears sting at the back of his dark eyes.
"I'll miss you too" says John.
Chrissie then kissed her father on his rough cheek, before she looked back towards her teacher. John soon left the classroom with the other parents.
Chrissie made Goober wave goodbye to her father from the classroom window. She started to cry again, as John vanished from view. She hugged her bear tightly. The little girl never liked being left alone. Miss Montoya levelled herself with the distressed five year old.
"Don't worry, Christina. You're Daddy will be back soon. We're all going to have so much fun. This is a special place for learning and making friends" says Miss Montoya.
Chrissie cuddled Goober, feeling very anxious. Miss Montoya looked at the very odd looking patchwork bear.
"What's teddy's name?" she asked, with a kind smile.
Chrissie mumbled into Goober's small ears, looking at her teacher every now and again. Miss Montoya waited patiently for a reply.
"Goober," answered Chrissie, in a very quiet voice. "His name is Goober."
Miss Montoya shook the bear's soft paw.
"Hello, nice to me you. Goober, can you keep special guard over Chrissie's bag for me?" she said. "All bears have to stay hidden until recess. We don't want you getting hurt or lost, you see."
Chrissie hugged Goober tightly.
"Goober has to hide?" she asked "Is it like hide and go seek?"
The little girl gazed lovingly at her teddy, not wanting to let him go.
"Yes, it's like hide and go seek. Why don't you go and hide him in your backpack, so he can stay safe" said Miss Montoya, as she showed Chrissie where to hang her jacket and backpack.
Chrissie was then guided to her cubbie holder. It had her name above it, in purple chunky letters.
"Oh, I like my sticker" said the little girl, in a small voice, pointing at the flower sticker beside her name.
"I'm glad you like it. I try to give everyone their own special sticker beside their name, and you got a flower. You are a very special little girl. Now, how about I show you to your seat" said Miss Montoya, as she offered her hand to Chrissie.
The little girl took the teacher's hand. Miss Montoya then led her over to a circle table where two boys and one girl were sitting at.
"This is Brandon, Tyler, and Sarah," said Miss Montoya, as she introduced the kids at Chrissie's table."Everybody this is Christina."
Chrissie then quietly sat down in the vacant chair. Miss Montoya smiled warmly. There were various shapes of tables, and each had four children sitting at them. There were a total of twenty children in Chrissie's kindergarten class.
Soon, everybody was seated, and Miss Montoya then ventured to the front of the classroom, to begin the class. Her name was spelt out in big letters on the big chalkboard behind her.
Chrissie kept to herself during the start of class, still nervous of her alien surroundings.
Later, Chrissie was playing alone in the house corner. She mumbled to herself, as she pretended to fill a small yellow teapot.
Sarah appeared at the small gate, that led into the house corner. She had dark skin and tight braids. Her glasses make her brown eyes look a little bigger.
"What you doing, Christina?" she asked, with a curious head tilt.
Chrissie was busy pouring the teapot around the home corner. This confused Sarah.
"Putting salt around the doors and windows" replied Chrissie. "It's super important and we're not allowed to touch it."
Sarah thought for a moment before replying to her classmate.
"Why?" she asked, curiously.
Chrissie gazed up, and blinked at Sarah. She looked just as confused as Sarah. The five year old had seen her family do it lots of times, and she had even started to help. She was always told not to touch the salt lines.
"Daddy says so" said Chrissie.
Sarah then gave Chrissie a dazzling smile.
"Oh, okay then. Do you want to play house?" asked Sarah.
Chrissie looked around for a moment, before slowly nodding her head.
"We have to be quiet though," said Chrissie. "Daddy gets sore heads from his grown up juice. He's upstairs sleeping."
Sarah nodded, as she started to set the table with plastic plates.
"Okay. I'll be quiet" said Sarah.
The little girls played together for a while, before Sarah wandered off to play with another child. Chrissie was alone again.
When Miss Montoya came to check on Chrissie, she found her drawing with pencils. The five year old was in deep concentration, her tongue sticking out as she scribbled on the paper.
"Hey, Christina, what are you drawing there?" asked Miss Montoya.
The child didn't look up. She never liked being interrupted whilst in the middle of something. Chrissie huffed loudly, and held out her picture for inspection.
"It's my best friend, Cassie" said the little girl.
The picture was of a man with blue eyes and a long coat and blue tie. He had huge black wings sticking out of his back.
"Oh, really? Do you see him in your dreams when you sleep?" asked Miss Montoya.
She was afraid that the child needed more social interaction. Not only was she avoiding the other children and strictly kept to solitary activities, she also appeared to have manufactured an imaginary friend. Miss Montoya knew she would have to talk to Christina's father about this.
"No," answered the five year old. "He visits me. I've not seen him in a while. He must be busy upstairs again."
Whilst Miss Montoya interacted with some of the other children, Chrissie continued drawing. She then gazed out of the window, and smiled when she saw Castiel observing from outside. Chrissie then waved and showed her picture to him. Castiel tilted his head in curiosity.
Miss Montoya watched from a distance. The little girl was waving at nothing. She was also talking to herself. When some other children sat down at the table, Chrissie got up and left, holding onto her picture protectively. She sat in a corner by herself, whilst talking to thin air.
Miss Montoya was rather concerned about this. She went over to Chrissie and knelt down to her level.
"Christina, why don't you go and play with some of the other children?" inquired the teacher.
Chrissie shook her head. She looked nervous.
"Am I in trouble?" asked the little girl, in a very tiny voice.
Miss Montoya gently took her hands.
"No. No, of course not, sweetheart, but school is a place to make friends, and I think you should try to make some new friends" said Miss Montoya.
Chrissie shook her head again, her mouth turning into a pout. Miss Montoya ventured over to the book shelf, taking the little girl with her. She allowed Chrissie to pick a book for the class story. The five year old picked the Cat in the Hat. It was a book that Sam would read to her. Even during story time, Chrissie seemed to be in a world of her own.
Later, as the children were colouring a picture that Miss Montoya had handed out, at their assigned tables, Miss Montoya was putting the packets of special papers, in every child's backpack. When she observed Chrissie, she was still concerned for the little girl. She went back to her desk, and got out her special stash of candy. Miss Montoya then stuck a couple of peppermints inside Chrissie's backpack, for the little girl to have a nice surprise when she got home that morning.
Miss Montoya smiled, then continued to put the special packets of papers in all the other children's backpacks. When she was through, she went to the front of the classroom.
"Children, this has been a great first day. I am so glad to have all of you in my class. We are going to have a wonderful year together. If you are still colouring your picture, you can take it home with you, and group one can bring theirs back tomorrow, and group two can bring theirs back next Wednesday," said the teacher. " A special packet of papers has been placed in your backpacks. The packet will tell you and your parents which group you are in. If you are in group one you will come back tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday. For those in group two, then you will come back next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday."
The children nodded. Chrissie intently watched the clock above the chalkboard, swinging her legs impatiently.
"Then we will all meet up again together the following Monday. You may now play until the bell rings," said Miss Montoya. " Your parents should be here to pick you up very soon."
Chrissie once again kept to herself. As soon as the bell rung, her face lit up and she rushed to her cubbie. She tripped over in excitement, yet got back onto her feet. The little girl grabbed her things, and ran towards the door.
Miss Montoya quickly stopped Chrissie at the door.
"Whoa, slow down there, Christina. There is no running in the classroom. It's dangerous. Your Daddy hasn't arrived yet" said Miss Montoya.
Chrissie pouted. She didn't like this strange lady telling her what to do all the time.
The teacher watched as the parents arrived and collected their children. Chrissie searched for her father amongst the small crowd. Her face fell. John wasn't in the crowd. The little girl ventured over to the small corner that she had occupied most of the day. She sat down, and held onto Goober for comfort.
Soon, the classroom was empty and silent, leaving only Chrissie and her teacher. Ten long minutes went by, before John arrived. Miss Montoya discussed her concerns to John, who listened carefully. Chrissie detected her father's voice, and let out a high pitched squeal, as she raced towards him, with open arms.
"Daddy!" she shrieked.
John grinned at the sight of his daughter.
"Hey, sweetie. How was your first day?" he asked, as Chrissie hugged his legs.
Chrissie leapt into his arms, with Goober still in her grip and her backpack attached to her shoulders. She put her skinny arms around his neck. The five year old resembled a koala bear.
"I don't like it," she pouted, looking adorably moody. "Daddy, do I have to come back here?"
John chuckled.
"Shhhhh. Shhhhh. Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm sure you'll like it" said John.
He shrugged his shoulders at his daughter's teacher. John figured that this wouldn't be the last time he would hear his daughter say this.
"Thank God" mumbled Chrissie, as she left the classroom.
John couldn't hold back his laughter.
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