What do I do now? I looked at Adam and the tight smile on his face.
He nodded us forward, so I sat, leaving room for him to sit between Jessica and me.
Awkward.
My darling class put on little red noses and sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. They did their hand actions perfectly, and Ialmost teared up. Then they started a song about snow and snowflakes.
Danny frequently looked in our direction, probably at Adam to make sure he was watching, and every time Danny waved, Adam waved right back. They finished with Frosty, including the clapping/stomping part that was Danny’s favorite.
I loved being a teacher. It was seriously amazing.
My class sat, and my heart warmed in my chest as I stared at their cute faces. Jessica’s class stood, and Adam leaned closer to me. I smelled citrus and spice and felt his warm breath on my neck.
“Thanks for getting me today, and sorry Danny was difficult.”
I turned so I could look him in the eyes. His face was inches from mine. I tried to swallow. “Danny is okay. He just got overwhelmed when he didn’t have his Santa hat and had a hard time shifting focus.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “That kid is so stubborn.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Do I bring up testing again?
Will he get mad?
I sat in silence.
He tilted his head and looked at me. “You can say it. I’m a mess. I have no idea how to parent, and it’s all my fault.”
I leaned back in surprise. “Wow, that’s a lot of loaded language. Adam, you’re doing great. Trust me. You care way more than my parents ever did.”
His eyes held questions I could tell he wanted to ask.
I didn’t want to talk about myself, so I guess I’m going to bring up testing. “Do you remember the first meeting I set up?”
Adam raised his right eyebrow. “The one where you made me sit in that tiny chair and I threw a tantrum?”
I blushed. “To be fair, there was an adult chair too, I just got too nervous to say anything once you sat.” I shrugged, I’d opened the conversation, and now I would not push it. Adam’s eyes went wide and then he laughed.
“Shhh!” Jessica leaned forward and glared in our direction.
I flinched and mouthed sorry as I shifted back in my seat and returned my focus to the stage.
“Are you sure being neurodivergent doesn’t just mean you had bad parents?” Adam continued.
Didn’t he see Jessica’s death glare, or did he not care?
I rolled my eyes. “It for sure doesn’t mean that. It isn’t something anyone did wrong. They aren’t bad or wrong either.” My brow furrowed as I tried to think of how to describe it. “It’s maybe like basketball versus football. They are both sports, but different. One isn’t better than the other, but they focus on and practice different things…but both are good?”
His eyebrows raised, and he smirked. “Did you just give me a sports analogy?”
I chuckled. “Well, I tried to anyway, with my very limited sports knowledge. Did it work?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “I think so,” he whispered, and his arm brushed against mine, and I held my breath.
I nodded. “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
“Are we still meeting about the fundraiser today after school for thirty minutes?” Adam asked.
I gazed into his eyes. “If that works?” I whispered.
