Page 10 of Before We Fell

“Riley,” I called out when she stayed sitting. “I know you’re staying later, but will you help me?”

“She can’t even talk,” a little boy whispered close to me. The one next to him snickered.

I bent down and hushed him. “What’s our rule?” I asked quietly.

His face scrunched. “Be kind or be quiet.”

“Thank you.” I grinned, pressed my hand to the top of his head, and stood. “Let’s practice that tonight, okay?” I said to everyone. Riley had been far enough away, I didn’t think she heard him and as the bell rang, she reached my side.

“I’m not sure I know where I’m going,” I said to her, the kids in line getting antsy to head out. “Will you help show me where the office is?”

The kids in line for the busses would splinter off before we reached the front office where the rest of the kids would wait.

I held out my hand to her, smiling. She stared at her feet but slowly, oh so slowly it hurt to watch, she looked up and placed her hand in mine.

“All right then! Everybody ready?”

“Yes, Miss Frazier!” they all rang out just a few seconds before the bell rang. I stepped back and opened the door, and as we walked down the hallway, Riley and I leading the way, that soft little palm curled around mine had never felt so sweet.

It felt like a victory. Another small one.

This time I wouldn’t screw it up.

We walked side-by-side through the school hallway until we were at the front of the school. After dismissing the kids who would walk and wait to get picked up by parents in the car line, I grinned down at Riley, whose hand was still in mine.

“Now, you have two choices,” I said, and her little head tilted up to look at me.

Progress. Better than staring at her feet.

When she didn’t say anything, I continued, “We can wait in the office until we see your uncle, or we can wait for him in the classroom. Which do you want to do?”

It was intentionally a question that demanded an answer and for a moment, as she looked back down the hallway and then toward the door, I thought she wouldn’t choose either. But just as slowly as she’d put her hand in mine, she pointed down the hallway, and said, “Your room.”

“Okay then.” I squeezed her hand and loosened it, expecting her to pull away. To my surprise, she gripped me harder.

We walked down the hallway, dodging other classes still being dismissed, and when we turned and reached the hall leading to my room at the very end, I stopped.

“Do you like to run?”

Her eyes slid in my direction and she gave me a shrug.

“Do you like to crawl?”

Her nose wrinkled.

“Do you like to skip?”

She tilted her head back and gave me a funny look, but a little sparkle brightened her eyes and her expression

Success.

“I like to skip,” I said, pulling my gaze off her and toward the end of the hallway. “And if you can promise to keep a secret, I’ll tell you one.”

I glanced at her quickly to see her lips were fighting a smile.

It felt like another victory.

I pressed on, and bent down so I had to whisper, “Can you keep a secret?”

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