by Amie Knight
“Like a poop accident?”
I let out a nervous giggle, my eyes darting around the room to make sure no one else heard him and thankfully, we were still blessedly alone. My ninth graders could be merciless when they went in on me. There were only six of them. They were only thirteen years old, but I was outnumbered and most days outsmarted by my kiddos.
“No, Joshua. I told you it wasn’t a poop accident and I really wish you would stop saying poop. It’s not a nice word.”
I turned my back toward the bathroom that was luckily adjoined to my classroom, a luxury a lot of the special ed teachers didn’t have at The Cottage House. Today I thanked God that this was the case as I backed toward the bathroom, my change of clothes clutched to my chest.
The Cottage House was a private school for children with special needs that ranged from ADD to autism. We had a wide range of children, which made my job all that more important and fun.
I was relieved to see Joshua had moved on and was unpacking his belongings into his desk as I closed the door to the bathroom.
“I’ve already seen the poop, Ms. Lettie. It’s too late.” I heard through the door.
I couldn’t help but smile as I changed my clothes even though I was supremely embarrassed because this was it for me. These kids. They were my life. My everything. They made my days brighter. They were my reason. My momma had told me a long time ago to find a job that gave me a reason to get up every morning. And they were it. Poop talk and all.
I now wore a pair of yoga pants and a The Cottage School sweatshirt, but at least it didn’t look like I’d soiled myself.
The classroom was filling up fast and the laughter and boisterous voices pervaded the space, making my smile wider.
“Hey, Ms. Lettie.” I heard from behind me.
Ella, one of my kiddos with Down syndrome stood there, her soft caramel eyes shining up at me. Her sweet grin melted my heart. I knew we weren’t supposed to play favorites, but I couldn’t help it. Ella was absolutely one of my most favorite people in the entire world. And not just because I’d known her for what felt like forever. She was the beginning of it all for me. She’d been my very first reason.
“Hey, Ellie Bellie!”
She laughed like she always did when I called her that and immediately went in for a hug and I was right there with arms wide-open. If I’d learned anything in my years teaching special needs, it was that lots and lots of cuddles were required. It had taken time for me to get used to all the hugs, but now I was one of those people, a religious hugger, and I knew all the healing properties another person’s arms around you held even if it did take me time to figure it all out.
I held Ella close, cherishing our relationship. It really was one of a kind and even though I was already short on time, I would conjure up some for this. It was a specialty of us teachers, pulling extra time out of thin air. I had student-teacher conferences today during my lunch and planning period, which meant I needed to get my day going right away. And I wasn’t at all nervous about seeing Luk, Ella’s brother, again. After all, I’d only been his tutor in high school. He probably didn’t even remember me. I mean, I barely remembered him. I didn’t think about him at all. Especially late at night when I was in bed. I particularly didn’t think about how big and broad he was or how gorgeous his lips were. It had been ten years. That would be desperate and I definitely wasn’t that.
Pulling out of our hug, I tapped her sweet button nose with my finger and hurried up to the front of the classroom. “Alrighty, friends. Let’s put our things away so we can get started.”
I turned toward the board to write today’s schedule when I heard from behind me in a very poor attempt at a whisper, “Ms. Lettie had an accident in her pants on the way to school.” Quiet giggles broke out across the classroom from behind me.
I snapped my head around, my face one of complete no nonsense, and everyone quieted as my eyes perused the classroom at the pace of a snail. I cleared my throat and turned back to the board slowly to continue writing and barely held in my laughter. These kids always made me laugh even if at often times it was at my expense.
Get The Red Zone here!
The Red Zone
The Heart Series
See Through Heart
A Steel Heart
An Imperfect Heart
The Line
The Stars Duet
Beneath His Stars
In Her Space
Thanks to my husband, Tony and my kiddos, Jackson and Violet. Y’all are my favorite people in the world. I could write a thousand books and it would never compare to how proud I am to call you mine.
Thanks to my momma for reminding me that I can do this and be a good mom.
Kelly, Megan, Miranda, Aly, Ashley, Danielle P., Jamie, Kate and Leigh. I’m stuck your heart! <3
Amor. Thank you for sticking with me. I love you so much, you got your own character. I hope she lived up so the real thing.
Renee McCleary. Three years and you haven’t broken up with me yet. You have the patience of a saint. Thank you for all you do.
And, finally, to all the authors, bloggers, and readers who support me and share and love my books, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Amie Knight has been a reader for as long as she could remember and a romance lover since she could get her hands on her momma’s books. A dedicated wife and mother with a love of music and makeup, she won’t ever be seen leaving the house without her eyebrows and eyelashes done just right. When she isn’t reading and writing, you can catch her jamming out in the car with her two kids to ‘90s R&B, country, and showtunes. Amie draws inspiration from her childhood in Columbia, South Carolina, and can’t imagine living anywhere other than the South.
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