59 NEED A RIDE? (1/2)
And yep! Ash was the first to notice.
”Oy Cassidy. You hiding something in there?”
I glared at him. Nope. I am not gonna answer him.
”Ash, we have children to teach. Go get moving. Chop chop.”
And the morning went on.
So during lunch time, one of the kids, Gary, approached Ash and I.
”Ms. Cass, why were there too many people at the hospital?”
Oh no. Ash and I shared a look. We haven't told them yet. I guess we can't postpone it anymore. One of us has to volunteer and tell the kids.
Gary added, ”Did something bad happen?”
I sighed, ”We'll tell you all later okay? Finish your meal first.”
When Gary went back to his seat, I nudged Ash, ”You tell them.”
”What? No, you go tell.”
”Okay fine.So how are we going to tell them?”
”I don't know. But they're brave and strong kids. So I guess the plain truth would be good.”
”Yeah, we can't sugarcoat. They'd be more confused. And we tell the parents later also. So that they could accompany them.”
”Sounds good.”
”Okay I'll tell them, but just in case, back me up.”
He answered with a thumbs up.
Whoooo.
***
After the kids' playtime, I gathered them back to the classroom for the news.
”Uhm, so Gary asked me earlier about the commotion at the hospital. So, kids do you remember Layla?”
”She's gone?” Lily asked.
They already knew.
”Yes. She said goodbye yesterday.”
The kids turned eerily silent. And them small cries erupted. I knelt and hugged them. Ash joined our mini group hug.
I can't help but cry with them too. She was there friend for a time, and losing friends at this age feels so devastating.
Ash and I comforted and consoled the kids. They may have accepted it but it still hurts, losing a playmate, losing a friend, losing a sister.
When the first of the parents arrived, we relayed to them the news and the sentiments of the children. They wanted to visit Layla since they knew her too.
We were deciding on how to get there since not everyone have cars. Some parents, who have no cars, decided to just hail a cab to get there. Others, offered their cars since it could still sit a couple of kids or two.
Just then, a white van entered the school gate. It stopped right before us.
A ray of light flashed in my eyes. I knew that silhouette.
As the driver got down, he winked at me and said, ”Need a ride?”
***