Chapter 5~
“And that is why the wall was built around our strong City. To more easily reach that Utopiam dream our oldest Elders strived for. Alright you’re dismissed for the day. Don’t forget the 4th graders have a quiz on Tuesday, and we don’t meet Monday for the annual King’s celebration is on that day.”
The hubbub of thirty some students gathering their belongings and jotting down last minute notes is background noise as Cossette collapses into her chair behind her sturdy wooden desk.
“Mary Anne, do you know why Alfred and his younger sister Anna were not in school today?” Cos stops one of her students as they all pile out through the one door.
“No, ma’am. They weren’t at the corner where we meet to walk to school together, maybe they were sick?”
“Thank you, I’ll have to check in on them. Don’t forget about the test, alright? Have a good day!”
“Thanks for the extra help this morning before class, bye ma’am!”
Calla comes up to the front of the desk as Mary Anne shuffles out. On tiptoes his nose peeks over at Cossette.
“School isn’t so bad after a week of getting used to it, is it cutie?” Ruffling his hair she walks around the desk and pulls him into her lap as she sits on the desk.
“Not too bad…” Bear repeats tiredly, rubbing his eye with his fist and cuddling close. “Can we visit Quitter?”
“Now why would you do a thing like that?” The storage room door next to the chalkboard stands open.
“Quitter!!” Calla wiggles out of Cos’ arms and runs to Fin, arms held up. Coal and Lib come from the coatroom in the back with their jackets and practically run to Fin. Quickly hugging the kids he looks at Cos and winks her way.
“No hello hug for me?” That piraty grin melts Cossette’s heart. She slowly stands obviously stunned.
“How did you get in?”
“My dad helped build this schoolhouse, he showed me the secret door in the back. I haven’t seen you in a week and all you do is question me?” His light flirty voice breaks the spell and she throws her arms around Fin’s neck. Wrapping his strong ones around her waist he pulls her close.
“I’ve missed you.” Fin whispers into Cos’ ear. A slight giggle escapes her lips as she smiles and blushes under all the attention.
“Come on lets go home I’m hungry!” Coal cuts in. Cos pushes slightly on Fin’s chest and he loosens his grip.
“Ok I’ve got to make a stop at a student’s house. Fin can you take these kids home? I think there’s some chocolate chip cookies left in the cookie jar to munch on, I’ll be home in fifteen minutes tops!”
“Of course. Come on boys let’s go, Teacher Cos still isn’t off the job yet.” Another wink as he guides the boys to the storage room to show them the secret door. Cos is still blushing as she walks out the front door, which is really on the side wall, and locks it behind her. Practically jogging she runs in the opposite direction of her house, where her Robin Hood waits, to visit two of her students.
Panting and slightly sweaty she knocks on the door. No response. No sound. Knocking a little harder she tries again. A nosey neighbor pokes her head out of her window a house over.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking on a couple of my students. Have you seen the Aldins?”
“Go on home girl, you won’t be seeing them around here.” With that the old spinster slams her window and closes the curtains.
Odd… maybe they moved. I’ll have to check tomorrow at the King’s library and see if they did. Sprinting toward her house she arrives breathless, with pink cheeks and the wind whipping around her hair which hangs down to her waist in a tousled mess. Smells of chicken soup being warmed up on the stove greet her nose.
To her delighted surprise the boys re sitting at the table doing their homework, and Fin is stirring the left over soup he found in the icebox.
“You look out of breath! Did you run all the way there and back?” He walks casually toward her as she shuts the front door. Pulling her into another hug he puts his lips close to her ear. “You look gorgeous; defiantly leave your hair down more often.”
“When did you become such a flirt?” She whispers back.
“When I wasn’t able to see you almost every evening, you visited the boys more then you ever visited me!”
“Oh hush you big baby you know that’s not true.” She says flirtatiously back. “Now let me go I need to help the boys with homework and put some bread in the oven to-”
“Be warmed up for dinner. I know, and already done. But fine, I’ll let you go.” Another pirate smile. Goodness I miss that smile…
“How’s the homework coming?” Walking to an empty chair in between Coal and Lib Cossette’s hips sway slightly.
“Fine, hey Quitter do you remember that big storm last Friday?”
“Yeah Coal, I didn’t expect a thunderstorm this late in the year! Didn’t even see it coming. Was every one ok?” He takes a seat across from her.
“Mhm. We told a story!” Lib chimes in. “It was about a Forest Fairy and snow king and a pig and a treehouse!”
“Nawah! It wasn’t just about that!”
“So? That’s all the important stuff!”
“Lib, Coal stop. You both are tired and hungry, chill for two seconds. And I do believe dinner’s ready. Calla would you help me set the table?”
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