I locked my phone and tossed it on the bed before going to take a long, hot shower. I brushed my teeth when I was out and got in the bed right after. A nigga had a long ass weekend ahead of me, so I needed to sleep in order to prepare.
TWO
Diamond Scott.
“Yay!” I clapped when my student, Collin, tied his shoe successfully.
I’d been working at Little Wonders, an early childhood development center in Atlyn City, for the last five years, and had been one of Collin’s instructors since he was six months.
“I did it, Ms. D! I did it!”
“You did!” I beamed, pulling him into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you!”
“Do I get to go in the prize box?”
“You sure do.” I giggled. “Go ahead.”
He ran off just as another one of my babies ran up.
“Ms. D, Imani hit me.” Essence whined.
I looked past her at a pouting Imani.
“Imani, you know hitting isn’t nice.”
“She said I was ugly,” she pouted.
“She’s your twin, baby.” I smiled.
“So, she’s ugly too?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the pleading look on her face.
“No, sweetie, you’re both beautiful.” I smiled, grabbing each of their hands. “And you’re sisters, so be nice. Okay?” I lookedbetween both of them until they both nodded. “Alright, now you both have to go to the thinking chairs for fifteen minutes.”
“But…”
I cut Essence off, holding up my index finger. “No, buts. Go.”
They both had the cutest little pouts on their faces before heading to two small chairs that were in the quiet corner. They knew they had to sit there and hold hands, and how to set the timer for the duration they had to be there, so once I saw they were settled, I went to finish up what I was doing.
At the end of every school day, I let my babies get a snack then I’d let them either go out and play or have free time in my classroom. It was raining today, so we did the latter.
I cleaned up all of the trash that the kids had lying around and helped get them ready for pick up. I was thankful that everyone had come on time, so I was able to head out once they were gone.
“Let’s go to happy hour,” my best friend, Kabria, said as soon as I answered her call. I knew she was going to call as soon as I got off because she did every day. “You don’t have to work tomorrow, so you don’t have an excuse.”
“I’ve been working all week, Kabria. Friday nights are my time to chill and unwind for the week.”
“No better way to do that other than drinks and food?”
I chuckled as I turned out of the parking lot of my job. “Where, Kabria?”
“It doesn’t matter. Heat has fifty cent wings until eight and Hall of Fame has half off margaritas all day.”
“No, not Hall of Fame.” I shook my head. “I don’t feel like fighting off the Unc’s.”
Hall of Fame was a sports bar and always a good time, but on Friday’s there was always an older crowd in there. It usually worked in our favor because we never had to spend money onanything since the men were always so generous, but I wasn’t in the mood to entertain the way I would have had to.
