Part Five: Coffee Withdrawal Syndrome
Rated: K+
"Is she asleep again?" Maria asked, staring at her sleeping teacher. Maria was a human girl.
"I think so." Tina replied.
"Why?"
"She's been without coffee for a couple weeks."
"But isn't coffee like grown-up batteries?"
"Kinda."
"Then why won't she drink it?"
"Because it's baby-poison."
"Huh?"
"She's having a baby right?"
"Yeah…?"
"Something in coffee and soda can hurt babies before they're born."
"Ohhhh…what hurts them?"
"I dunno." Tina shrugged, "I think it's the stuff that keeps grown-ups awake which is why she's asleep."
"Because she can't drink her wake-up stuff because it'll hurt her baby?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"I feel bad for her…"
"I do too, Ria."
Maria bit her lip, "Should we wake her up?"
"Nah, not til recess's over, let her nap."
"Okay. Should we call Mr. Levin?"
"No, there's nothing wrong and he'll freak over nothing."
"Okay. Should we go get her some food from the cafeteria?"
"…Yeah, she might be hungry when she wakes up."
"What can we get her?" the two girls began leaving the classroom, shutting the door carefully quietly behind them.
"Grain-O's should be okay…and regular milk."
"Juice too?"
"She likes orange juice…"
"You get the cereal and milk, I get the juice?"
"Right."
----
"Ms. Tennyson," she became aware of a persistent poking sensation and groaned, slowly sitting up. Note to self, bring a pillow.
"Ah heck," she muttered as her eyes focused and she realized where she was at, "not again."
"No worries, Ms. Tennyson," Tina assured her, "it was like five minutes to recess and the bell just rang to come in."
"It's not right though." She protested, "I'm here to guide you and yet I'm asleep…"
"It's fine." Tina pointed to the food, "Its reading time anyways; eat and you'll be awake enough for math. We retook roll, Tony and Timmy still aren't here. And Jenny got suspended for fighting."
"I should give you guys half my pay…"
"Nah, but cupcakes are good."
Gwen nodded and, with a flick of her finger, added more points to the behavior chart then her vision blurred, "Right, can't use my powers…" she kept herself perfectly still and absorbed manna from the plants which decorated the room.
"Do we need to call Mr. Levin?" Tina asked a bit worriedly.
"Nope." Gwen smiled, "everything's fine."
"Right…" the girl still looked unconvinced but shrugged and went to read. They all knew the speed-dial set up on the redhead's phone should anything go wrong.