• ~~
    I sat under my umberella waiting for the traffic to die down so I could cross the street. But it seemed to just keep coming. And it was getting really anoying. I sigh and check my watch.
    Noon already? Gee... Time really flies...
    I was on my way to the store to buy food, I had just ran out of pretty much everything... So I have to go, or I'll die of starvation...
    The store was only two blocks away, but you had to cross two very busy streets to get there. My house was actually an apartment, it was rather small, but I could afford it, and I had come to call it mine proudly. I worked as a school teacher for the local elementary school. I taught third grade and this was going to be my first year at this school.
    It was only two weeks before the first day of school, so I was getting nervous about meeting the other teachers and my students.
    Just the thought made my stomach cramp up.
    I was very sensitive and got nervous easily... Girlish, you could say. {No offense}
    There was no woman in my life, I was never able to go out and find one... So I lived alone and I seemed to act like a woman when it comes to things like meeting people and changing my scenery.
    I had changed schools because the last school I worked at closed due to illnesses that seemed to be going around...
    Here's the story:
    A student comes to school with a simple cold, nothing to be worried about, right? Only a few hours later the student began vomiting and falling over from dizziness. When he was taken to the nurse they found out the student had actually received a contageous illness that attacks the stomach. I don't remember what it was called, but it was stubborn enough for the school board to have to closs it down.
    So I moved from that school to the newest built one. Hopefully this ones cleaner...
    The traffic lightened up suddenly, allowing me to cross.
    I quickly sprinted across the street and stopped when I got to the sidewalk. I smiled, begining walking down the cement pathway to the shops.
    It had been raining almost all day and it was suppost to rain for two more weeks... I didn't mind the rain or anything, but it wasn't helping my mood much...
    The shop was only a few feet away so I felt satisfied enough to sigh in content.

    After I got what I needed and I was at home and everything was put away I sat down in front of my computer. Turning it on.
    The computer hummed it's self awake and the screen buzzed on quickly after.
    No messages. Was all my email box said.
    I sighed and leaned back in the chair. "Nothing..." I say scratching the back of my neck. I had been waiting for a reply from the school for information about what class room I had and the names of my students. But they had yet to reply back...
    What if they changed their minds last minute and decided to go with another teacher? And when I walk in there to find this out I'll look like a complete fool... I think scary the crap out of myself.
    I shook my head and stood up, getting myself something to eat, having forgotten about my hunger.

    A week later I checked my messages and saw that I had a new message.

    Dear Nicholas Hart,
    We are delighted to have you joining our staff. We are possitive that the students will enjoy meeting you, just as much as we will.
    You will be but in room 28 on the east side of the school. We are not able to hand out students names at this time. Forgive the inconvenience. But we are just not able to do that yet. It will be handed out a few days before the school year begins.

    Sincerly,
    Bob Shwan.

    I read over the name of my new boss.
    Bob Shwan...
    I sighed and stood up, going to the kitchen to fetch a cold bear, feeling rather drawn from reading the message.

    ~~
    My hands were shaking and I could feeling my heart pounding in my ears, and I could feel it smashing around in my ribs.
    I stood at the front of the room, before the students even arrived and stared at the small desks in front of me.
    What are they going to think of me? What if they don't like me? What if I make a complete butt of myself? What if I embaress myself? What if they think I'm weird?
    I put my hand on my chin and narrowed my eyes at one desk in particular. I don't know why, but I suddenly felt angry at myself.
    No. They will like me! I will not be the weird teacher! That will not be exceptable! I think standing straight and taking in a deep breath. Get a hold of yourself, Nicholas!
    The bell suddenly rang and a few teachers were seen from the doorway walking to their classrooms.
    My nerve split. I swallowed in total fear.
    These are my co-workers... I tell myself as I watch more people go by. Most of them were women, so I guess that's good... Maybe I'll find my future wife out of these women?
    None of them turned my way, they just kept walking to their class rooms.
    I was one of the very first class rooms, even though I'm room 28. The hall way is in the shape of a capital T. And I was on the east side of the school, so the first classrooms were on the other side. Make sense? {Probably not...}
    The students will be ariving soon... I think taking in a deep breath again and trying to calm myself down.
    I get like this every time I get new students, but it was even worse now that I've changed schools.
    A loud hum of talking and walking came from down the hall way, alarming all others that the students were coming.
    Please god, help me out here. Just this once I want you to help me. Please?
    A few students walked in and looked around.
    Their faces curious.
    I smiled at them. "Good morning."
    They looked at me and blinked in confusion.
    "Eh?" One of them said taking a step back.
    "This is our teacher?" Another said tilting her head.
    I blinked back at them. "Well... Yeah..."
    Their eyes widened. "We don't have many guy teachers... And your so young..."
    One of them walked up to me and pulled on my sleeve. "How old are you?"
    I smiled. "Older then you are."
    "But... How old are you?" She says seeming frustered.
    I chuckled. "You should never ask someone their age. It's rude."
    She blushed and took a step back. "I'm sorry."
    I nodded. "Of course." I say.
    The students that had first walked in began to mingle with themselves and talk to each other casually.
    These are my students. I hope not all of them though...
    As if to prove to me that I had more students I saw more walk in.
    It was a pair of three girls that were all laughing.

    After they all settled and the bell rang, telling the whole school that it was time to begin class.
    I smiled at all my students and waved. "Hello, I'm Mister Hart. You call me Hart or Nicholas. I don't care which one you choose." I say.
    They all smile at me.
    My heart filled with joy.
    They like me!
    "Now. I will be teaching you Math, English, Science, History and maybe how to play a few games I'm sure none of you have played before." I beam.
    They all sat up in excitement and curiousity.
    I could tell what they were all thinking. 'Games!? We get to play games in school!? How awesome!' Or something on the lines of that, anyway...
    The door slowly opened.
    I looked at the moving peice of wood and smiled. "Hello."
    A small and short girl with light brown hair stood with her body dripping wet from the rain, her eyes on the floor. "H-hello..." She muttered.
    I pointed to a desk in the corner far in the back. "Would you please take a seat? I was just telling everyone about what I'll be teaching you."
    She nodded and slowly made her way into the class room.
    Students stared at her and began to whisper.
    I waved my hands in the air. "Oi. Come on, kids. Please, don't bother with conversations so early."
    They looked up at me.
    I smiled. "Thank you. Like I was saying. I will be teaching you mainly everything you need to know about our country and what you'll need to know in order to move along easily in the world."
    The girl sat down in the seat I had pointed out and put her back pack on the floor.
    "Now. Does anyone have any questions?" I ask looking over the new faces.
    A girl raised her hand.
    I pointed at her. "Yes?"
    "Mister Hart? Why isn't the old teacher here?" She asks stirring up her other classmates with curiousity.
    I shrugged. "I don't know. You'll have to ask other teachers. I just moved into this school, so I really have no idea."
    She nodded.
    A girl in the very front raised her hand.
    I smiled at the girl. "Yes?"
    "What games will we be playing?" She asks tilting her head.
    I chuckled. "Well, we can play chess, monopoly, Solitaire, maybe poker {Only if you guys are good though}." I grin.
    They smile and sit up in their seats.
    A short arm came up slowly in the back.
    I looked up and saw it was the girl that came in late. "Yes?"
    She kept her eyes on the desk. "What if someone has already played those games?"
    I shrugged. "Then you can something else with me."
    The students looked back at the girl and seemed to scan her over.

    The begining of the day went perfectly.
    I started them off by having them write a few things about themselves down on a questionare I handed out.
    Then I had them start painting a picture of their families.
    After that I had them talk about a good experience they had last year with their old teacher.
    But now it was time for lunch. And I was told that they each lunch in the class room, so I told them to get up and get their food. If they didn't bring one they were to go to the cafeteria and buy one.
    They all scrambled and the room filled with clattering and chatter.
    I sighed contently and looked around the room. Catching the sight of a student who hadn't moved at all.
    She just sat there with her chin on her folded arms on the table and her eyes staring off blankly.
    I smiled and walked over to her. "Are you going to get your lunch?"
    She shook her head, not looking away from where ever her eyes were planted on.
    I tilted my head. "Are you going to buy one?"
    She shook her head again.
    I wrinkled my brow. "Why not?"
    She shrugged. "Dunno."
    "Aren't you hungry?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest.
    The work I had given her was laying out flatly over the girls desk. They were all blank except for the neat letters in the right hand corner. Spelling her name.
    "Samual?" I ask squinting.
    She nodded. "It's my name."
    "But it's a boys name..." I say kneeling down and picking up the paper, looking at it closer.
    She nodded again. "Of course."
    I looked at her. "But..."
    She looked at me and seemed to stare the same way she was earlier, blankly, almost dull. "What?"
    I looked at what she was wearing.
    Black tight pants that slacked slightly and a shirt that had a chained heart decorated on it.
    Certainly this is a girl... It has to be...
    "Your a boy?" I ask rudely.
    She blinked. "Of course."
    I blinked in shock. "Oh. Erm. My apologies. I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I guess I just didn't get a good look at you." I say feeling stupid.
    He nodded slowly. "Oh... It's okay. I've had people think I was a girl before." He says smirking slightly.
    I sighed. "Do you want a lunch for today?"
    He nodded. "Yes. But... I don't have any money in my account." He says looking down at his lap and seeming to mourn something.
    I smiled. "Then let my get you a lunch. I was going to go get one anyway."
    His eyes widened and he looked at me in astonishment. "Really!?"
    I nodded and stood up straight. "Sure. Just as long as you do your work for me." I say holding out my hand.
    He nodded and shook my hand. "Yeah. Of course."
    I'm such an idiot... How could I think he was a girl!?
    I grinned.
    He stood up, but didn't let go of my hand. "What is there for lunch?"
    I shrugged and began walking to the door. "I have no idea."
    He smiled and held my hand tighter. "Oh... I thought teachers knew everything."
    I chuckled. "Not everything."
    "Almost everything?"
    I shook my head. "No."
    "Well... Then what do you know?" He asks tilting his head.
    I squeezed his hand. "I know that I'm getting hungry and that the food here better be good."
    He smiled. "It is."
    I sighed in relief. "Oh thank god."
    He laughed as we walked down the hall way to the cafeteria.
    I grabbed a tray for me and then grabbed another for Samual. "Here ya' go."
    He took it and smiled. "Thank you."

    The whole time we were getting our food he never let my hand go. Not once. I had to set my tray down just to type in my acount number to buy my food. And then I had to do it again to buy Samuals food.
    He looked at the food in awe as we walked out of the line.
    I smirked, squeezing his hand. "Samual?"
    He blushed and tried to look in my eyes, but ended up looking at my shirt. "T-thank you. For buying me food and everything. Thank you..."
    I nodded and smiled. "Your welcome."
    He swallowed and looked down at his food again.
    What a strange kid...