a teacher arrives

Rebecca carefully set her crayon down, tilting her head as she examined her finished drawing. A tall tree stretched upward on the paper, its branches wide and strong. From one of the branches hung a simple swing, swaying gently in an imagined breeze. She smiled softly, pleased with the outcome, even if it was a little wobbly in places.

Ava, sprawled beside her, leaned closer to peek at the picture. Her romper shifted as she moved, and Rebecca couldn’t help but notice the soft crinkle accompanying the motion. “That’s so good!” Ava exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. She pointed at the swing, her finger nearly smudging the crayon. “I wanna swing there!”

Rebecca chuckled nervously. “Thanks. I just… thought it looked peaceful.”

Ava nodded fervently, her energy almost tangible as she shifted again, bouncing slightly in place. A faint hissing sound broke through the quiet moment, and Rebecca’s eyes darted to Ava’s face. Ava didn’t seem to notice—or perhaps she simply didn’t care. Her smile remained as bright as ever, her attention fully on the drawing.

Before Rebecca could process what she had heard, Mrs. Mallory’s warm presence arrived behind them. “Oh, my goodness, Rebecca,” the caregiver cooed, bending down to inspect the drawing. “What a lovely picture! You’ve captured such a sweet scene.” She reached out to gently lift the paper, holding it up for a better look.

Rebecca’s cheeks flushed pink as Mrs. Mallory beamed. “This would look perfect on our art wall!”

Ava clapped her hands excitedly, the crinkling sound punctuating her movements. “Yes! It’s so pretty! Hang it up, hang it up!” she chirped, bouncing slightly in place again.

Mrs. Mallory chuckled, clearly delighted by their enthusiasm. She turned to Rebecca, her smile softening. “What do you think, sweetheart? Shall we display it for everyone to see?”

Rebecca hesitated, glancing between Mrs. Mallory and Ava. “Um… sure,” she said shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Mrs. Mallory gave an approving nod and strode to the corkboard at the front of the room, carefully pinning the drawing in a central spot. “There we go,” she said, stepping back to admire it. “Doesn’t that look wonderful?”

Ava nodded vigorously, practically bouncing off the rug in excitement. Rebecca couldn’t help but smile, even as her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Before anyone could comment further, the door to the playroom opened, and a tall man entered, carrying a stack of brightly colored books. His striped sweater and glasses gave him an approachable, friendly air. He clapped his hands once, drawing the room’s attention.

“Good morning, everyone!” he said cheerfully, his voice filling the space. “It’s time to settle down and get ready for our morning lesson.”

Rebecca’s stomach fluttered with a mix of nerves and curiosity as the room began to quiet.