Page 21 of Her Big Bad Wolf
“I know. I’m going to miss all of them so much next year. I do believe this is the best batch of four-year-olds I’ve ever had.”
She sniffled again and elbowed me with a laugh. “You say that every year.”
“Maybe, but this year I mean it.”
We walked inside, following the kids around while they learned all about Kindergarten and big school.
Normally we would end the trip with a stop by the cafeteria where they would eat there. This year I’d changed things up a bit though. We were having an unusually warm spell and I thought some time running around the park might be fun for them and a great way for them to get all their wiggles out before we returned to our school.
So, once they had seen all they needed and experienced a taste of what school would be like next year, we took a quick tour through the cafeteria, pretending to get a tray and eat. We were big on pretend play in the classroom and mimicking real life. I knew the children would understand that it was just practice. With any luck, they would now be ready to confidently face the next biggest step in their young lives.
“Thank you so much,” I told everyone as we said our goodbyes and loaded back onto the bus.
“Did they behave well?” Buz asked me.
“They were perfect today, Mr. Buz.”
“Perfect, eh? So we’re doing that thing?”
“I don’t know. Do you guys think you werethatgood?” I asked them.
They knew I had something special planned out for them if they all behaved at big school, but I hadn’t told them what on the off chance the weather hadn’t cooperated.
As it turned out, it was a beautiful sunny day.
“Yes, Ms. Vanessa,” several of the kids yelled.
“Okay then, let’s dothatthing,” I told Buz.
“In that case, everyone take a seat, keep your arms and legs to yourself and inside the bus at all times. I’m activating the seats to stick to your bottoms in three—two—one.”
At that moment, he closed the door.
I scrambled into my seat quickly and we were off.
A few minutes later we pulled up to the park where Emma was waiting for us with blankets laid out and a stack of lunchboxes we’d had catered by Silver Bells, a 50’s style diner in town. Each box contained a sandwich, bag of chips, grapes, and a brownie. They also provided a cooler full of water and juice boxes, enough for each person to have one of each.
I hadn’t argued with them over the drinks or even bothered to explain there was no way my kids were drinking that much at once. I knew they wouldn’t go to waste and I planned to add what was leftover to the stock for our own cafeteria to use another day.
Emma helped me get everyone seated and pass out the lunches.
The kids were excited after their big adventure and anxious to eat quickly with hopes they could play on the town playground. As long as none of them made a beeline for the pond, I was okay with that. And that was also why Emma was there to assist.
All of the parents knew what I was planning to do and so a few of them started dropping by to hear how everything went. It gave me extra eyes on everyone when I finally cut them loose to run and play.
Of course, there was a group of them that headed straight for the pond.
I yelled for them to come back, but just then the triplet's dad arrived along with a few of his friends on Westin Force’s Bravo team.
“We’ve got eyes on them, Vanessa,” Ben assured me as the team of them ran to intercept the kids.
It marginally calmed my nerves and I still kept a close eye on them anyway as they played throughout the afternoon.
Positioning myself in a strategic spot to see everyone at once, I began constantly counting them in my head. I just couldn’t help it. Over and over again, I would count. When I reached fourteen, I’d start over again as there were fourteen kids in my care in this class.
One
Two
