August 24, 2038
Los Angeles, California, Earth
There comes a time in every parent's life when they have to send their child off into unfamiliar territory. And it definitely isn't easy. They've always been with their child, nurturing them as they grow, so saying goodbye to them is difficult. And it doesn't matter that the child will only be gone for a few hours, the temporary loss is powerful. Things will become easier over time as the process repeats and the child grows older, but the pain never fully goes away.
Anyway, today's the day Pre-K begins at Public Elementary School 347 in Los Angeles, and Sprig and Polly Boonchuy-Waybright-Wu will be starting their first day at school. The twins were ecstatic to be finally going to school. They've become friends with lots of the kids their age around the neighborhood and now they'll get to see them more often!
As for their moms, well…
"I can't believe you two are starting school already!" said Anne in between happy sobs. "I swear it was just yesterday when we took you home!"
"You're right, Anne!" said Marcy, who was currently giving Sprig and Polly a massive hug as they sat next to her in the car. "Pretty soon they'll be leaving for college!"
"Don't say that, Mars," said Sasha. She turned around and—
"Eyes on the road, Sasha!" said Anne and Marcy simultaneously.
"Yes, ma'ams." Sasha quickly became laser-focused on driving. "Anyway, Sprig and Polly won't be moving away anytime soon. They're little and adorable."
"That's right!" said Polly, still being hugged. "We're precious!"
"But yeah," continued Sasha. "It is pretty hard to believe."
"I'm not little," protested Sprig, making a cute face. "I'm a big boy."
"Awww…" That did not produce the desired effect, as it only made the Calamity Moms dote on their adorable children even more.
Sasha pulled into the school's parking lot. She managed to get a spot very close to the entrance since there weren't many cars there yet— Anne insisted they arrive a little early so she'd have time to take tons of pictures of the twins in front of school.
"First day of school! First day of school! First day of school!" as she got out of the car and ran around to the other side to let Sprig and Polly out.
"You make it sound like you're going to school," said Anne as she and Sasha got out.
"No thanks!" said Marcy. "Eighteen years of school was enough for me!"
Anne opened the camera app on her phone. She was gonna start taking pictures as soon as possible. "Kids, pose for a picture with Mom and Mama!"
"She says 'a' picture, but she means twenty," said Marcy.
"Twenty? I think you mean fifty," said Sasha.
Anne couldn't argue with her wives on that. They were absolutely correct. She took pictures of the twins everywhere she could: by the car, in front of the school, in front of the school's sign, in front of the doors, a few places inside the building, before the family finally stopped by Sprig and Polly's Pre—K classroom.
"Last picture for now," said Anne, "I promise."
Sprig and Polly stood in front of a mural by the classroom and posed for the photo. Anne looked at it to see if it came out well, and satisfied with the picture, she put her phone away.
"I think we should each take turns giving some words of encouragement," said Sasha. "I guess I'll start." She kneeled down to get on eye level with the twins. "School isn't gonna be the easiest. Well, right now it'll be pretty easy but you know what I mean. Learning stuff is surprisingly fulfilling." She put her hands on the twins' shoulders. "You're about to have a lot of fun with your friends, and if any of them start trouble with you, just tell us and we'll handle it. We'll always have your backs." She gave Sprig and Polly each a kiss and stood up, ready for someone else to go.
"Thank you, Mom," said Sprig
Marcy knelt down next, knowing Anne most likely wanted to go last. "I won't pretend I was the greatest student. I would often play video games whenever the teacher wasn't looking… but that's not important right now. What's important is that you never let your creativity die. Always let it grow, even if others try to stifle it."
"Thanks, Mama!" said Polly.
Gave each child a little boop on the nose and stood up, making space for Anne to take her place. The Thai mom knelt down and wrapped the twins in a soft hug. "I'm so proud of you two," she said.
"But we didn't do anything yet," said Sprig.
Anne chuckled a little. "That doesn't mean I can't be proud of my two precious tadpoles. This is gonna be the start of some of the best years of your lives." Anne started happily tearing up again. "I wasn't an amazing student either. None of us were! But we made it through in our own ways, and so will you. Sprig, Polly, I need you two to always remember that not only will we have your backs, but you two will always have each other." Anne's tears got a little more intense. "It's still hard to believe this is happening right now…"
Sprig and Polly leaned into the hug even more. "We'll be okay, Mæ̀," said Sprig.
"Yeah!" agreed Polly.
"Dang it," said Anne playfully, "I'm supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around!
Just then, a school bell rang, signifying it was time for the family to wrap things up.
Anne stood up and wiped her tears away. "Alright, now you've gotta go in there." She pointed toward the classroom.
"I'm gonna pick you up later! See you then!" said Marcy.
"Have a wonderful day!" said Sasha.
The twins waved goodbye as they walked into the classroom.
"Bye!" said Sprig.
"We love you!" said Polly.
"We love you too!" said Anne as she and her wives waved back. She looked toward Sasha and Marcy and saw that they had been crying a bit as well. "I don't know why it was so hard saying goodbye," she said to them. "We'll see them again in a few hours."
"No one wants to see their kids grow up without them, I guess," said Marcy.
"I think it's making us feel a little old," said Sasha, putting her psychology skills to work. "And that feeling will only intensify the older they get. We don't know what'll happen to them as they get older, but as long as they never have to go through hardships like we did when we were thirteen, things should turn out alright."
"That was very wise, Sash," said Marcy.
"Agreed," said Anne, nodding. Just then a timer notification on her phone went off. "Oh crap, we've got to get to work!"
The Calamity Moms rushed out of the building as fast as they could. Their conversation would have to continue another time.
Author's Note: Translation: Mæ̀ (mom)
