Chapter Fifteen: Poppy:

This afternoon changed in its pace when Poppy showed up. I was out in the front looking for some more books to read to the kids when I heard the door swing open. I turned to see a short woman standing in the doorway.

“Is the Summer Reading Program today?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said. I narrowed my eyes at her.  She looked like her head would come up to my chest. Her bleached blonde her looked almost white. Her shorts were ripped up. The logo of Boston University rested on her chest.

“Poppy, right?” I asked.

“That’s me!” she said. I started to have flashbacks about my former students for a moment. I blinked and shook my head.

“Oh,” I said. “Okay. Good. So glad you are here.” She walked up to the front desk.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said. “I had to drop my little brother off at his school.” I blinked at first.

“School?” I asked.

“Oh. It’s a special needs school,” Poppy said. “He has autism.”

“Oh! I see,” I said. She giggled and grinned. I started to get vibes from my students again. I tried to shake off that thought.

“So you are on the afternoon shift?” I asked.

“That’s right,” she said. She bounced as she spoke. I could see Tobi in for a moment. I blinked and shook my head.

“Is something wrong?” Poppy asked.

“What? No,” I said. “Nothing at all.” I slid the clipboard over to her.

“Just sign in,” I said.

“Right,” she replied. Poppy picked up a pen and filled out her time in.

“Now what?” she asked. I pointed to the auditorium behind me.

“We’re about to get ready for the next group,” I said. “Just grab some children’s books and follow me.”

“Okay,” she said. I picked up some children’s books and walked back to the auditorium. If she was much younger, I would’ve thought that she was one of my students.

Poppy turned out to be a good fit for the children. They loved her energy and enthusiasm.

“Good afternoon!” she greeted the afternoon group.

“Good afternoon!” the children shouted back. Wow, they were much better than the morning group. Maybe it’s the time of day.

“How is everyone today?” Poppy asked.

“Great!” the children said. She clapped her hands together.

“Excellent!” she said. “My name is Poppy, and these are my friends Nathan, Heather, and Ronald!” I just let her have this one. She’s got it after all.

“She’s really good with the kids, isn’t she?” Heather asked as the kids were in their arts and crafts section of the program.

“Yeah,” I said. She reminded me of one of my students. That thought slipped out of my mouth.

“She reminds me of one of my students,” I said aloud. Heather looked up at me. It donned on me what I said.

“Oh…” I said.

“No, it’s fine,” Heather said. “We might need more people like her for this program.” I turned my attention back to Poppy sitting at a table with kids as they were coloring.

“Yeah,” I said. “I guess we do.” My mind with back to my classroom. I didn’t get to finish Ulysses with them. I sighed and shook my head.

“Are you okay, Nathan?” Heather asked next to me. I didn’t even look at her as I dropped my shoulders. I walked back over to my table of children. I still didn’t know what to do with myself.