“Did you just move in?”
“Yeah… seven years ago.”
Seven years ago, and he hasn’t set up the TVs?
That sounds like something he won’t want to talk about, so I don’t ask.
“I have this really cool app that plays calming sounds that help you sleep. I can text it to you, if you’d like to check it out. I know it sounds silly, like something for a kid, but I swear when I can’t sleep, it’s a huge help. And it has a timer, so it doesn’t play all night and mess with your phone battery.”
“Like lullabies?”
“Some of them are, but there’s other stuff too. Like waves or rain. Thunder. Birds. There’s a lot to choose from.”
“Okay, sure. Send it over. I’ll check it out.”
I put the phone on speaker to go through my apps and share it with him so he can download it if he wants.
“They give you a free trial. I think it’s a week, unless it changed. I don’t remember it being expensive after that, but to me it’s worth it.”
“Thank you, Miles.”
“You’re welcome.”
I stare into the darkness of my room, waiting for him to say something else. I don’t know what this phone call is for. Maybe he’s just lonely. I think sometimes the only reason I don’t feel lonely is because Audrey and Noah are right downstairs. If I lived in a house all by myself, would I be okay with that?
Maybe JJ wants to talk but doesn’t know where to start, or how to explain what he’s feeling. I don’t want to push him, but if hewantsto talk, I’m here. He could just need to know that someone is here…
I open my mouth to ask if he’s okay, when he says, “I should get to bed. It’s been a long day, and I have work in the morning.”
The disappointment lands hard.
“Yeah, me too. Have a good night.”
“Thanks for talking.”
“Any time.”
“Good night, Miles.”
“Night, JJ.”
He ends the call, and I stare at my phone, at the number he called from. Is it worth saving? Is he going to call again? Is this a one off? I guess I should save it just in case he calls again. At least I’ll know it’s him.
I quickly save the number, plug in my cell, and drift to sleep listening to the low roll of thunder coming from my phone.
I have a lingering headache for reasons I can’t figure out. I got as much sleep as I normally do. Had the same amount of caffeine as usual. I ate breakfast. Noah was a little louder than usual this morning, and come to think of it, so is this classroom of kids. Thank God it’s almost nap time.
“All right, kiddos, it’s time to clean up our messes and put our stuff away,” I call out as I move between the little desks and chairs.
The room is set up with four large circle tables, each with four students. The walls are covered in colorful educational posters and artwork from the kids.
Greenley Elementary is small, one of the oldest in the area. Bigger schools have been built, and the majority of the kids in the area go to those, but there is still a small portion who come here. Mostly, parents choose to send their kids here because it’s where they went. We’re just as good as the others. Each grade has two classrooms with fifteen to twenty kids. There is one teacher per class, and every grade shares a helper. We get her in the afternoon, after nap time.
“Don’t throw your fork at friends, Dante,” I say, shaking my head. He smiles and puts his hand down, but I don’t trust that he won’t do it again. He’s a sneaky one.
“Annalee, that milk carton goes in the trash, not in your backpack. Stewart, please swallow that before you take the last bite. Marie, you do not eat the peel of the banana.” I sigh, going over to help her take off that last bit of peel, which has a bite taken out of it. I toss in the trash for her.
“Is everything cleaned up?” I ask a moment later, looking around the tables.
