ILBA - Chapter 4

Kinda a exposition chapter - gotta establish the setting, and meet the characters. Getting closer to the true adventures.

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“You two,” Angeline started, her voice slowly rising, “Are so CUTE!” She hit a pitch so high that everyone around her either leaned, or took a step away.

I didn’t mind, I stood on display for everyone wearing my first day of school outfit. Frog hoodie, pants, and froggy backpack. Lulu was with me, slightly cowering behind me since everyone was staring, but not outright hiding.

“I got all the pictures so we can remember this day!” Jane declared.

“But… we’re going to be going to school everyday, why is this so special?” I asked.

“Sweety, today is your first day, of course it’s special,” Jane coo’d as she swept in to take more pictures.

“I don’t get it…” I mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it pipsqueak,” Teddy said from the back of the group. “All you need to know is you won’t have to put up with this every day.”

I nodded uncertainty. 

“Come on,” Teddy continued, holding out her hand. “An adult will walk you to school all this week, but next week it’ll just be you two, Alan, and Jenifer, along with a couple squirrels.”

“You know we don’t need the squirrels either,” Alan pouted. “We’re old enough to go on our own.”

“You’re eight,” Jane replied, bonking him on the head. “Even if you were responsible, we’d still want to keep some squirrels to keep an eye on you, just in case.”

While Alan grumbled, and rubbed his head, Angeline swooped down, and picked up Lulu. “Let’s go everyone, you wouldn’t want to be late for your first day of school,” she said with a smile.

The school actually wasn’t that far away, only about three blocks. I’d been there many times before, when Jane went to pick up Jenifer or Alan, but this was my first time entering the gate, never mind attending. The brick wall surrounding the school yard was intimidating, as was the huge iron gate. I only hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, my head held high. With so many adults around there was nothing to be afraid of.

Inside there were a couple dozen big kids running around playing. Jenifer and Eddie almost immediately split off, so I gripped both Teddy’s hand and Sir Froggington tighter, to make sure I didn’t lose track of either.

Instead of heading inside, Teddy led our little group over to a quiet corner of the school yard, where there was a woman with a humongous hat, bright orange hair, and a colorful sundress standing before a small playground. 

“Miss Mayberry, I’d like to introduce you to Isabelle and Lucille,” Teddy said as she gently let go of my hand and pushed me forward. I looked back at her, questioningly. “This is your teacher for the first year, Miss Mayberry,” she explained.

“And I’m so glad to meet you both,” Miss Mulberry said with a smile. She had kind eyes. “I met you parents briefly earlier this week, and arranged to meet you out here so you wouldn’t be overwhelmed on your first day,” she explained.

“Pleased to meet you,” I mumbled. She wasn’t exactly intimidating, but she was a new adult I didn’t know yet, so it was hard to be confident.

“We need to wait for the other children, and once they arrive I’ll take you in to see the classroom. Would you like to play while we wait? I have a few things to talk to your caregivers about” Miss Mulberry asked.

I glanced over at Lulu, who was still clutching her mom’s coat, and we nodded to each other. She ran over, took my hand, and I led her into the small gravel filled play area. 

“She seems… nice…” Lulu said hesitantly, “What do you think she wants to talk to mommy about.”

“Adult things,” I replied confidently. “Using big words.”

She nodded as we stepped into the playground. There was plenty to try, a jungle gym, a pair of slides, a whirly thing, swings, and even a little fort. 

As we made our way over towards the swings Lulu pulled on my jacket and pointed towards the top of the fort. To my surprise there was a girl there, about our age, with frizzy orange hair and a oversized green jacket just sitting on top of the fort, letting her feet dangle.

“Hullo, are you here for grade one too?” I asked cautiously. She just nodded, but her confirmation gave me confidence. “Then we’ll be classmates! I’m Issi, and this is Lulu. What’s your name?”

“Melody,” she replied quietly. 

“Nice to meet you! Do you want to play together before we go into class?” I asked. Lulu clutched at my jacket, but I just patted her hand to reassure her. This was a new classmate, how bad could she be.

Melody seemed to consider my offer for a minute, looking over Lulu and I, before saying, “Maybe later.” She immediately started kicking her feet again.

“Alright, if you’re sure,” I replied. I waited a moment, and saw her nod, before leading Lulu over to the swings.

“She doesn’t seem that scary,” Lulu confided in me as I helped her slide out of her backpack.

“She’s in our class, of course she’s not scary. They wouldn’t put scary people with us… I think,” I replied. 

Lulu shot me a horrified look.

“I’m ninety percent sure!” I said, trying to comfort her after my previous slipup, “Do you think your mom would let us go here if there was someone scary?”

“No, she wouldn’t,” Lulu admitted as she slipped onto one of the swings. 

We sat there, watching the playground as it slowly filled up with other kids. There was the red headed boy with the runny nose, who constantly seemed to be talking to himself, the tough looking girl who was wearing overalls, and had a head of messy black hair, and finally the skinny grey haired boy. He was the most interesting one to watch, because as soon as he stepped next to the nearest tree a pair of squirrels came down and started chasing him. Lulu giggled at his antics as he ran back and forth across the playground, trying to avoid them.

A few minutes after he arrived, Miss Mayberry stepped onto the playground and clapped her hands. “Alright children, now that everyone is here I’m going to take you to our classroom,” she announced. “You should try and remember the way, but if you forget you can ask any of the adults in the school to help you, alright?” she said with a smile. “Now, can you please line up in two lines in front of me? Let's try to be a little organized.” 

I jumped off the swing, and ran over to where Lulu and I left our bags. Carefully helping her put her backpack back before pulling my own on. I snatched Sir Froggington, and held him tight to my chest as the two of us ran to catch up to everyone. As we slipped into the end of the lines Miss Mayberry nodded. “Very good, follow me.”

I hadn’t noticed but all the bigger kids had already disappeared. They’d probably all gone inside earlier, I was just happy that we didn’t have to push to get through the school yard. As we entered the school Miss Mayberry led us down the right hallway, and to the first door on the left. It was decorated with plenty of multicolored flowers all over the window and had a giant number one over top. As we stepped inside I couldn’t help but wonder who would get lost.

Inside the room there was a ton of things to look at. At the front of the room was a massive desk, probably for Miss Mayberry, with some sort of board behind it. There were six small desks, evenly spaced out in a semi circle around it. At the back of the room there were numerous shelves filled with nicknacks, books and a handful of cubbies with names above them. I could see mine, it was right next to Lulu’s.

“This will be your main classroom for the year. You may take additional classes elsewhere, but this is where you’ll come first thing every morning,” Miss Mayberry explained. “As you can see you each have a place to store your things at the back of the class, and you each have your own desk, which are labeled. Now, since this is our first day we won’t do anything complicated, how about you put your things away and find your desks. Let’s start by having everyone introduce themselves, shall we?”