Page 71 of Too Hot

“I don’t know. Everything will be fine.” The kids lined up. Brianna opened her classroom door. While there was smoke, she didn’t see any flames. She glanced at the exit strategy beside the door to refresh her memory, though she didn’t need it. She never entered a building or room without knowing the exits. Never again.

“All right, kids, we’re going to leave the classroom now. We’ll go right and out the back door to our assigned area on the playground. Stay in formation and remember to hold hands.” She looked at Matt. “Matt, you’re in the lead.”

“Yes, Miss Brianna. This way everyone.” Holding hands, her kids walked out of the classroom, and she brought up the rear. The other classes were leaving, as well. They were a small school, so there weren’t many classrooms in this school, only six.

At the back door, the assistant principal held it open and directed the children away from the building. Brianna’s heart pounded as she made her way behind her class and out of the building. Everything inside her said “run”. She held up her hands, not surprised that they were shaking badly. This was her worst nightmare. As she followed her class through the door, she breathed a huge sigh of relief to be outside. The farther away from the school they got, the more that relief took hold. They were okay. She was okay.

Once they were away from the building and in the open grass area, she noticed that several of the girls were crying. “Everything will be okay.” She sat down on the grass and opened her arms.

Her students swarmed her, and that was fine. She knew their fear, and while they’d had drills, this was different. What they needed now was a distraction. She could use one too. “Let’s sing.” Brianna started singing the ABC song. One by one, the kids started singing with her.

Soon, the entire school was singing as fire trucks arrived. It was Friday, but Brianna noticed Rafe step out of the first truck. Several firefighters immediately went inside. Brianna kept her gaze on Rafe as he stood by the truck, chatting with another man.

She relaxed more. They did not seem overly concerned, so maybe this was nothing. But it wasn’t a drill either. After about five minutes, the firefighters walked out of the school and straight over to Rafe and the other man.

The principal and assistant principal joined them. After a few minutes of discussion, both women shook their heads and walked back toward the students. The principal clapped her hands, and the singing stopped.

“False alarm, everyone. Not sure who, but someone threw a smoke bomb in the hall.”

Brianna took a deep breath, letting the last vestiges of her panic go.

“The school buses will be here shortly to take you all home. If you need to grab anything from your classroom, a firefighter will escort you. We’ve got the doors open to air out the smoke.”

Just then, the school buses rolled up. Brianna stood and gathered her students. “Is there anything you need that can’t stay in the classroom until Monday?”

Two hands shot up.

“My bag has my medicine in it,” Jessie said.

“I didn’t eat my lunch today, and it will spoil,” Matt said.

“Okay. I’ll run in and get them.” Brianna looked up to see Rafe walking toward her. “I want you all to go stand with Miss Ruby’s class until I come back.” She watched her kids until Ruby looked up.

Ruby gestured as if she was slinging something over her shoulder and Brianna realized she was signaling she needed her purse, and Brianna waved. That would be easy enough to get as their classrooms were right next to each other.

“You need to go inside?” Rafe asked.

“Yes.” She was happy to see him.

“I’ll escort you.” His tone was so serious.

“Thank you.”

Rafe took her by the arm, and they walked in the door she’d come out of. The smoke was already clearing. She stopped at Ruby’s classroom.

“I thought yours was the next one,” Rafe commented.

“It is. I’m grabbing Ruby’s purse for her.” Brianna opened the door and went to the small closet to grab Ruby’s purse. Then they went to her classroom. She grabbed the kids’ stuff and then her own.

Rafe stood in the doorway, watching, his eyes shifting back and forth as if he was expecting trouble. Once outside, she gave Ruby her purse and her kids what they needed before escorting them to their buses.

Brianna turned, and Rafe was right there. “How are you doing?” he asked as he walked her to her car.

“I’m okay. I was scared at first, but I’m good now.”

“Did you see anything?”

“No. Just heard a big bang and then saw the smoke. The alarms went off a second later, and I got the kids out.”

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