1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Winnie

I take a deep breath as the principal calls my name from the stage. It feels like I'm back at school once again.

Technically, I'm at school, but I'm no longer a student.

I stand. Despite my racing heart, I have to make myself move to the stage.

There are a lot of eyes on me as soon as I stand. Most of them are from students, who are young kids of all kinds of species.

Maybe it is a bad idea to become a librarian in a school when I want nothing to do with the attention.

It's going to be fine, I chant to myself. This is the first day of the school, and therefore it only makes sense for the principal to introduce me to everyone in the school during assembly.

My heart races as I take the steps up the stairs and get to the stage. The principal is a very nice male daecolus. His curled horns seem to be well-polished for the big day. Or maybe it is the spotlight on the stage that gives the glint.

He gestures to me, telling everyone that I'm going to be in charge of the library from now on. I think I would love the job, but part of me wishes this introduction would be over already. Students and teachers can get to know me during normal school hours. There should be no need to be standing on the stage with everyone watching.

I suppose these students are good students. If I were them, I'd fall asleep during assembly times. I've never been a good student in the sense that I've always been busy daydreaming during lesson times. But all of these seem to be highly attentive and a bit too curious about the new librarian.

Worse, I'm the only new staff this year, so there won't even be someone else to "share" the spotlight on the stage that I can't wait to give away.

Finally, the principal is done with his longer-than-needed introduction about me. I'm going to walk off the stage when he gestures for me to go over to the mic.

"Now, I'll let Miss Bailey have a few words with you." He grins and steps to the side, expecting me to take the stage and actually say something.

Oh, fuck... He should have warned me... He said he would introduce me, but that was all I expected... Fuck...

I'm a book nerd, not a public speaker, even though hosting story-telling sessions for kids is in my job description. I take a deep breath. I'll survive this.

I tap the mic, even though it should be working when the principal has been using it for the past hour. I'll cut to the chase, drop a few words, and call it a day. I don't think any kid is eagerly looking to hear a speech from me. If they were anything like me when I was a kid, they'd want this to be over already so they can dive into the library or wherever that's not the assembly hall.

"Thank you for the warm welcome from everyone. I look forward to meeting everyone. Feel free to drop by in the library and I can't wait to share with you stories and the joy of reading."

Everyone claps and my cheeks are burning. They are just being nice and doing what they do when beings are done talking, but that is enough to make me want to hide. There have to be better ways to welcome new staff instead of embarrassing them in front of everyone.

The principal comes over and takes the stage again. I head to the other side of the stage and the stairs as quickly as I can manage without looking as if I'm fleeing the stage; even though I really am.

I get back to my own seat among other teaching staff. The guy sitting next to me is a big, bulky male kot'oll. He is in a suit, which is like all the others because it is the start of a new school year. The shirt under his suit jacket is apparently a size or two smaller than he should wear. Or maybe it is his way of looking better than otherwise. More importantly, his four arms are there, taking up space. It feels like he is going to squeeze the air out of me when I take a seat on the chair by his side.

It isn't his fault anyway. The problem lies in how crowded the assembly hall is. I suppose this is part of the school's attempt to make it feel cozy and at home... which... is really not my thing...

He gives me a warm smile. He is a pretty handsome one with his spiky black hair. He is staying in his seat and allocated space, not letting his strong arms get into my space. I suppose he just has a very strong presence that makes it feel like he is pressing against me while he really isn't doing that.

At least he looks like a nice guy.

I stare at the stage again, hoping the assembly will be over already. I bet the kids can spend more time getting to know the facilities in the school instead of sitting here and doing nothing.

I want to be in the library again. It almost feels like I'm back in school as a student once again. Maybe it really isn't a good idea to become a part of the teaching staff when I'm not someone who loves to interact with others. I like kids and I like stories, that's pretty much all I can manage to do.

I take a breath, letting my heart rate fall from its height. At least I don't see myself standing on the stage anytime soon.

It doesn't take long before everyone stands and gets back to the routine of a school day. I think it means I can go back to the library now, which will be my office.

At the door of the assembly hall, the principal is standing there with another teacher. I wonder whether I should stay there and wait for instruction, or whether I should sneak away, just like I used to when I was a kid.

But I'm no longer a kid and I have to be more like an adult when there are kids all around, whatever that means.

The principal sees me and waves for me to join him. "Here you are, I've been waiting for you!" He tells the other teacher to talk to him later and turns his attention to me, which...

I take another breath, trying to stand tall. This is what others have been telling me to do more. Humans are already shorter than most beings out there, so it will help to make ourselves look bigger, even if it just means we look more confident than otherwise.

He says, "Hope you're enjoying your time in the school. Everyone's more than happy to have you join us." He heads to the lift, so I hurry to follow. The class teachers are bringing the kids to their respective classrooms. For now, I'm glad I don't have to be them. The few words on the stage drained almost all my energy for the day.

I really don't like talking to others when I don't have to. Let alone the whole school.

The principal continues, "I'll show you around the school, then bring you to the staff office so you'll check out your seat and other staff."

Wait... I thought I was going to the station in the library. Do I really have to be with other staff? That's going to be a bit too much interaction for my own good.

The principal seems to see something in me. "Is everything alright? Are you feeling well?"

I shake my head. "All is well. Thanks for asking. I'm just admiring the building."

"Oh, I see. Yeah, this teaching building was established only a few years ago. I like how everything is brand new here." He sniffs as if he is enjoying the smell of new paint, which there isn't any.

Where there should be walls, those are windows. Those are big ones that spread from the floor all the way to the ceiling. Either this floor is like this, or the whole building is like this. It makes it easy to admire the greenery outside.

Out of the window and downstairs, there is a playground for kids. Next to the playground, there's plenty of room for all kinds of sports. I think I like this place. We are still indoors, which is going to be better for me than if I have to survive the heat outside. For me, looking at nature is better than being out in nature myself.

I follow him down the corridor and visit places. He seems to have so much energy. The longer I stay here with him, the more it feels like I've made a mistake working here. But he hired me, so I guess he thinks that I'm suitable for the job. but... He can be wrong, right?

Maybe this is what I have to do just so I can stay in this city. Moving from place to place has never been easy...