Page 2 of Silas

Nova

Shocked with my achievement, I grasp my college degree in my hand. I am officially a teacher! I didn’t think that I would ever get here, but here we are! Ready to begin my next chapter, I crack open my laptop to check on the applications for different teaching jobs I applied for. I applied all over the country, allowing the job to choose where I am going next. All I know isthat I am over being in the big city and I am quite ready to see where this is going to take me.

Bing, my computer, chimes with an incoming message.

I see the header of the email in the right-hand corner of my computer. Thank you for selecting Rock Stream Elementary.

Clicking the email, hoping that this is an acceptance letter, my mouth drops open when I read the content.We are excited to offer you a position as our kindergarten teacher for the Spring Term of 2025. Consider this a trial period to see how you do in the small town setting with a smaller class. We would love to see you here before December 15th to give you the grand tour and sign some paperwork. If you accept this position, please fill out this digital acceptance letter and email it back to us. We look forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Principal Truman.

I can’t believe it! This is really happening! I quickly sign the acceptance letter and email it back to them. I looked up the location to find that it is a small town of Jasper, Colorado, with a population of around 2000. Holy shit, that is a small town compared to what I have been living in my whole life. I can’t wait to head out, but first I am going to have to break the news to my bestie Nellie. She is probably going to be really mad at me, but here we are.

“Knock, Knock…Bish, you better be dressed because I am coming in, and you know I love a good set of titties.”

Giggling, I say, “Girl, get your ass in here with the wine. I have the bottle opener and glasses already!”

“Damn girl, you really ready for me? Alright, spill it because you are never this prepared for when I come over. Normally I find you nose deep in a book and missing that the entire hour has gone by.”

“I will tell you as soon as we pop that cork and pour the wine. So bali bali get it!”

“Alright, alright,” she pops the cork on the Chardonnay and pours both of us a healthy serving, “spill the beans, lady. You have your wine now, cough it up.”

“I have accepted a position as a kindergarten teacher at Rock Stream Elementary in Jasper, Colorado,” I rush out, hoping she doesn’t murder me.

I look up from my wine to find her sitting there with her mouth ajar. I think I might have broken her.

“Okay, okay. That wasn’t exactly what I expected you to say, but it’s not terrible. When do you have to be there?” She says as she takes a sip from her wine.

“See, this next piece of news is the part that you will not like. They would like me to be there by December 15th for an orientation of sorts and to complete the paperwork before the winter break. I know that is really soon, but I have been ready to move long before I even graduated. This is exactly what I was looking for. I want the slow, quiet life a small town offers with a quaint little classroom with 10 to 12 students versus the hustle and bustle of the city life. I don’t want to work in a school full of snotty teens or spoiled children. While I know that is still a risk even in a small town, I just know that it is a lot less likely to happen. I want to be somewhere I can watch these kids grow into adults and have their own children someday as well.”

“I know you have been counting down your days to move away from here. New York City would never be your long-term home. I am going to miss the hell out of you, but I fully support your decision. Who knows, maybe you will convince me to move down there too.”

“I don’t know that I will ever be able to do that, but it won’t stop me from trying for sure. I love youuuusss.”

“I love youuusss too. Well, now that we have that out of the way, let’s relax and watch the latest Christmas romance movies. I don’t know when we will do that again.”

“Let’s do it!”

After finalizing on the cutest little cottage a few days later, having the movers come in to pack not long after, and belongings shipping out this morning, it is finally time to head to Jasper! I am a bundle of nerves, but this is going to be great. The realtor said I was welcome to come any day to move in!

Throughout the entire almost four-hour flight from NYC, I am researching different ways I would love to decorate my new home. Nothing too wild like DIY Demo, but paint colors and the aesthetic I would like to have. I am busy pinning images to my idea board when the Captain dings the announcement button.

We will land in Denver, Colorado, in a few moments. Please buckle your seat belts, stow your large devices, and put up all the tray tables.

It’s time! The descent of the plane triggers a rush of nerves in my stomach that I’ve been trying to ignore. I really hope that this turns out to be everything I have dreamed of and not a huge mistake.

Welcome to Denver, Colorado. The current forecast is 42 degrees and partly cloudy. Thank you for choosing to fly with us.

This is it. There is no going back now! I can’t wait to see my cottage and meet people in town.

After an almost hour taxi drive, the GPS chimes that we are only a few moments away from our destination. Rolling my window down, I take in the surrounding view. Wow, this quaint little town is so peaceful; you can hear the gentle sounds of birds chirping and a nearby stream flowing. The gentle giggles of a group of girls floats across the air. I glimpse what appears to be a diner. I will have to check it out later.

Before too long, the taxi pulls to a stop in front of my cottage with its white shutters and light blue siding. I knew I would be close to downtown; I didn’t realize I would be within walking distance. Thanking the taxi driver, I take my first breath of mountain fresh air and sigh in contentment.

Opening the front door, I roll my suitcase inside. Gosh, the house is so much cuter in person. I can’t wait to fill it with all my furniture and belongings, really making it mine. Even without a single item of my belongings, it already feels more like home than any of my New York City apartments ever did.

Since I don’t have any of my belongings and definitely can’t cook anything. I think I should explore the town and see what I can find to have for dinner. There was that diner I saw on the drive in. I realized, upon glancing at my cell phone, that cell service would clearly be an issue here. A quick google search shows that the diner’s name is You’re Bacon Me Crazy. What a hilarious name for a restaurant. It shows that it is only a five-minute walk from my house.

Wrapping myself up with my coat and a scarf, I take off to explore the town. I love that this town is full of such old world charm and that they haven’t modernized it. Beautiful rose bushes and old-fashioned street lamps, which look like they have candles inside, line the street, offering a last display of color before winter sets in. There are all kinds of unique little shops lining the street that I can’t wait to explore further. There is a coffee shop, thank goodness for that, called Flick the Bean. This town sure knows how to name their businesses. I can’t quit giggling over their names. Walking along the sidewalk, I follow the smells of baked goods. I stumble across the source of the smell. I find myself in front of the window of the bakery, Cinnamon Buns Alot. Giggling, I keep exploring.

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