5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Winnie

Finally, I'm in the library! My eyes light up at the shelves and the display cases of artifacts. There are pieces on the walls from the past. I don't know a lot about this city's past, but these are so interesting. I'll have to spare time to read all the descriptions on the display board.

Everything is new to me, and I enjoy it a ton. I'm alone for now, when kids are in the classroom or respective activity spaces, so it makes for a good time walking down the shelves.

There are rows and rows of shelves where I can easily spend the whole day here, even though most books are catered to young kids.

Walking past the shelves, there are bean bags on the floor for beings to sit on. It is a wide space that can easily fit twenty kids sitting and doing activities over there. There are chairs to the side, next to the wall. Maybe those aren't used a ton and are only there just in case.

I can already imagine myself sitting in the front of the room, telling stories with the kids or teaching them about the sorting system in libraries. Maybe some of them are like me and will enjoy putting books into order and enjoying the smell of books.

Next to the area of beanbags there are signs that remind beings with horns or spikes somewhere on them to be careful. I suppose no kid would want to draw attention by accidentally damaging the beanbags.

I head back to the counter where I will sit near the door. My seat watches over the two rows of tables with tablets. Some beings bring their own devices, but the ones from the school have different movies and books loaded, which they may enjoy too.

I turn on the light and make sure everything works as expected. Now... It won't take long before the kids attending my first class in this school arrive.

I tap on my tablet, which the school provides. The story I will tell the kids is loaded, so I bring it over to the beanbag area to get ready.

My heart races and my palms sweat. Even though I like books, I'm not sure whether I am certain that I want to be right there in front of the kids.

The longer I wait, the more uncertain I am.

What if they don't like the story I picked out for them?

And what if they find me weird?

If they find out that this is my first day teaching ever, will they look down on me?

They are just kids, right? They won't be judging me... right?

Maybe I really should stop overthinking it and...

"You are already here!"

I turn around to find Telke at the shelves, heading my way. I put up a smile, not knowing why he is here. "Hi, how's your day?"

"All good. I just finished a lesson. How about you?"

"I'm doing well, getting ready for the kids who will be arriving soon. Do you need anything from the library?"

He pauses for a second before he starts fixing his hair. "Nothing much, I'm just... walking around. I don't like the strong air-conditioning in the staff room right after sports lessons."

It sounds like he is making an excuse to be here when there's air-conditioning here too. I shrug. "I see. Let me know if you need anything. I have to get the screen and projection ready."

"Let me help you." He hurries over to the counter.

I roll my eyes when he can't see my face. "I've already gotten the remote control."

"Oh, you did? That's good. I wasn't sure whether you knew where to find it."

Somehow... Maybe he just wants to help. Even though it feels like that's his excuse to hang around me. Weird.

I press the button on the remote control to get the projector to display on the wall. He is back by my side again. He is a few steps away, leaving enough room to myself. But... His presence is still a bit too strong for me to ignore him. I ask, "Do you need anything? Anything I can help you with?"

He blinks. "Oh, nothing. I'm leaving."

I glance at him as he gets out of the library. Maybe... Am I a bit too mean to him? Maybe he just wants to make sure I'm doing fine. It is my first day here, after all, and my seat is next to his. Maybe he is one of those who are just happy to help everyone and feels like he should make sure I get comfortable around here.

The bell rings and the kids are getting into the library. I don't have to think about him for a bit, which I don't miss a ton at this moment.

But those arms...

The kids are racing to secure a seat on the beanbag. I guess coasting time is over. No one gets to fight inside the library.