The morning sun hadn't even peeked its face over the horizon when Ms. Roberts got to school. A daytime veil coats the air with that pleasant blue color when one wakes up just early enough, the kind that ushers out those last few gusts of cool breeze before the sun sucks it away. The kind that Ms. Roberts enjoyed herself during summer break, sitting on her porch with a smoldering cigarette.
A scent returns her to the present… the nostalgic taste of cigarette smoke on her lips. She caught herself gazing up at the clouds passing by above the Library parking lot, leaning against one of the decorative trees near the edges of the asphalt plane. She raises the cigarette to her lips, letting the smoke slide in and fill her mouth, before taking it out and letting out a steady breath, shooting the gray into the air and watching it drift off into nothing.
She sighs. She's technically breaking several rules smoking so close to school grounds, but it was her one smoke for the day, and Roberts certainly couldn't stand to wait until the end of the day for it. Her commitment to herself; one cigarette, no more, no less. But even so, the doors will open up for teachers soon… She flecks the cigarette onto the asphalt and gives a quick step and twist, before walking to her car full pace in one swift motion. Rest is up, time for work.
With a determined yank, the passenger door to her little dark red beater swung open. She reaches in, grabbing her purse off the vanilla white seat and the iced coffee in the stained cup holder, misshapen ice cubes left drifting aimlessly on the top of the drink. She had to prep all her classes for the day, and the next month of curriculum for several classrooms before she considers today a success; an early head start is just what she needed to get this done. Slinging her ugly flower-pattern purse around her shoulder, she reaches into the vehicle again, grabbing a larger white bag with a smooth brown handle neatly placed on the floor next to some wrinkled and long ignored Lava Java receipts.
Ms. Roberts breathes in again, closing her eyes, taking in the last huff of cool morning air. With her ritual complete, she ruffles into her purse, feeling for the keys to her car to click the lock button as she makes her way to Volcano High.