Page 51 of Ellie Hayes and the Himbos
“The sharing was the best part,” I admit. “When my heart wasn’t being broken by how little they actually cared about what I was trying to introduce them to. Between that and the unrelenting bureaucratic bull—nonsense,” I say, catching myself from swearing in front of a preschooler. “I ended up so discouraged after one year, I left.”
Grant frowns, and an echo of judgment crawls over my skin. “Whoa. It must have super sucked for you, then, if you decided to split. Cause you don’t do anything withoutreallydeciding to, you know?”
I appreciate his generous interpretation. “There were moments. When they’d get really into an assignment or, like you said, come up with something on their own. Near the end of the year, we coveredRomeo and Juliet. I had a student who hadn’t once spoken up go on a tear about how Romeo comparing his love to the moon wasn’t a good measure, because the moon changes size!” I smile at the memory. “She was fired up about it after, too.”
“And with little kids, that’s what every day must be like!” He cocks his head. “What do they even do in school?”
“Other than learn that sharks exist?”
“Right? They’re getting introduced to everything around them, and themselves, too. But also, not? I mean, beyond basics, and all the puberty stuff in middle school or whatever, do kids even learn about how their bodies work?” He frowns, pausing, and I try to catch up to his stream of consciousness. “Basic nutrition, maybe? Oh, man, don’t get me started on the food pyramid. Diego was showing me what he’s learned about it. It wasn’t even based on science! There weregrain lobbiesinvolved! I didn’t know there were people working for, like,Big Grain, but they’re why there are crackers at the bottom of the pyramid. Those are garbage!”
He cocks his head. “Where was I going with that?”
“Kids learning about their bodies,” Penny supplies.
“Thanks. Yeah, bodies and stuff. So, I don’t think I learned anything beyond ‘muscles move you’ and ‘bones give you structure.’ Nerves—”
—are at risk of being betrayed by another system and corroded to debilitation—
“—relay information?” He shrugs. “Everything else I picked up from Ian. I’d watch him, and would try movements, but also learn how it all came together. It was cool, having that opportunity. Do you know if there’s anything like that in schools?”
“I have no idea,” I answer, increasingly curious about where he’s going with this. “But I could ask around. Heather played volleyball in college, and she’s the coach for the team at the school we worked at. She could probably ask.”
As I speak, I notice that Grant’s spine has straightened, his eyes bright. I continue, “Or… set you up to talk to the PE folks at the high school? Or one of the elementary schools?”
“You think? That would be sick. Maybe I could help out?”
“There would probably be a background check or paperwork to do, but…” I eye him. “Grant, do you want to teach phys ed?”
He rears back. “Oh, I don’t know that I could do that. I’m already so far into kinesiology, and switching would mean a lot more school…” He angles his head, warily. “Right?”
“There would be some for the teaching credential itself, but as far as content, I bet there would be a lot of overlap with your kinesiology courses.”
“Really?” His voice is bright with enthusiasm.
“No harm in asking.”
He nods, but his smile fades. “I dunno. It would still be more work, probably, and I don’t want to let Ian down, y’know?”
“No.” I frown. “Why would that let Ian down?”
“’Cause I’m taking after him? He insisted that I get a degree because Mom would have wanted it. And kinesiology made sense, since I’m training folks.Dude!This is teaching, too!”
“Totally,” I agree. “And you’re really good at it. For a twenty-one-year-old to manage a group of people who are two to three times his age, that’s no small thing. If you can do the same with a bunch of kids, you’d be golden.”
“What, like, here?” he asks. Before I can answer, his jaw drops. “I could do kids classes here! Maybe not ones as young as Penny, but elementary age? Or kids the age I started! Middle or high school? Like, off-season stuff! Sports conditioning!”
“That’s inspired,” I say, and mean it. “It could be a great opportunity for the gym.”
Grant is alight. His smile is huge, and his eyes have gone distant, head bobbing slightly like he’s trying to work out logistics.
“Float it to Ian,” I say. “He’d be more likely to consider the idea if he sees how excited you are about it.”
Grant nods but doesn’t look convinced. He sighs, but a moment later, a wry smile crosses his face. I suspect it’s the expression I’m supposed to look out for, the I’m-about-to-fuck-with-you face.
“Are you sure you can’t ask him? You know, ’cause of yourspecial connection.”
I groan, and he barks a laugh.
