Nobody POV:
Another day as usual for all the students heading into the school on a Friday morning. Katie and Marisa sit in class next to each other as Mrs. Mandy teaches the class. Marisa and Katie are catching up about the weekend, and how both of their families tend to embarrass them in front of their friends.
Mrs. Mandy POV:
I announce to the class the following: "Alright everyone! Listen up please. Today we are writing an essay about ourselves and our families. You can type it or write it by hand. Please be sure to include detail. I will write the question on the board you must follow. You have a week to finish it."
As I write the question "What do you and your families have in common?" on the board, the fire alarm unexpectedly goes off.
"Alright everyone, remain calm and line up single file please. Katie please grab the bag and Marisa please grab the attendance sheet and follow at the front of the line. I will carry the sign." I say to the class calmly.
I see Marisa and Katie following instructions and I walk to a few students talking on their phones and ask that they give me them and remain quiet as this goes on. They hand me their phones and listen. Katie and Marisa help lead the class to our safe location and I take attendance again to ensure everyone is accounted for. I then instruct a student to take the sheet up to the principal standing in the center of the grass field. We then remain calm as the firefighters extinguish the fire in the kitchen. They then get an "all clear" signal to head back to the classrooms.
As we head back, I hear a student call my name. "Mrs. Mandy, may I ask you something?" I hear the student say.
"Sure, Johnny. What's your question?" I responded.
"How are you so calm during this? I am nervous as this is my first fire in a school setting." He says quietly.
"I just learned to not panic because if I do, it will frighten others and cause more issues in the end. I honestly haven't experienced a real fire at school either but my mother taught me to stay calm when I was around your age. She said that it was important to remain calm and to not panic so that the firefighters can get the job done efficiently and quickly."
Johnny sighs and says "I get you. Do you think maybe during our free day you can teach the class how to be calm? I think it would benefit all of us in the end. Just an idea. You don't have to."
I stand there as the students enter the class and reflect on what Johnny suggested. Before the lunch bell rings, I ask the students their opinions on what Johnny suggested. I pass out forms with the question "Should I teach in the free period every week for the next 6 weeks, every 10 minutes of class remaining, about fire safety and why it's important to stay calm?" I let them fill it out and take it to a box in the front of the classroom to place the papers in it. They all come up and place them in and just as the last student puts hers in, the lunch bell rings. I dismiss them and tally the results on my board.
*The lunch bell then rings and I dismiss the students to lunch*
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*At Lunch*
Marisa POV:
I see everyone at lunch in line and go to take a seat at an open table. Marisa then comes up to me and sits. We talk until the bell rings, dismissing us to our next class.
"See you after school today girly! Hey! Before you go, do you need a ride to my house?" I ask her
"Uhhh, let me ask my mom and I'll get back to you on that. But most likely, yes." Katie replies to me.
"Okay, I'll let my mom know to be prepared for that. See you soon!" I say.
As the bell rings dismissing us to our next class, also known as our free periods to get homework or assignments done, I text Katie and ask the following question: "Any word from your mom yet?"
I set my phone down after that. As I am reading my assignment for Mrs. Mandy's class from my notebook checklist, I hear my phone vibrate on the desk. I lift it up and see that Katie has texted me back.
"Hey girl, Yeah my mom has to work late tonight. She just called to let me know. Where should we meet so your mom can pick us up? Also, my mom says I have to be home by 11pm tonight unless we can have a sleepover if you and your mom are okay with it."
I text her back saying "Sure, let me ask my mom if you can spend the night at my place. We will have to stop by your house to get you an overnight bag though. You have a spare key to your house? If not, don't worry. I should have clothes that will fit you."
Again, I set my phone down and start to write my rough draft for the essay in my English class. I then hear the bell ring. I then turn my phone on full volume to listen for my mom to call. Right after I put it in my pocket, I hear it start to ring. "Katie C :)* is calling you," I hear my phone say. I quickly pick up and ask her where she is so we can meet in a place for my mom to pick her up with me. She says she's near the school flagpole and I head there to see her standing there on her phone talking to me.
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*At the Flagpole*
"Hey girl!" I hear her say. "Ready for me to meet your mom?"
I smile and giggle "Yeah, I am. But I'm nervous for you to meet her. She can be a little weird and embarrassing"
"Haha, I'll be prepare for that. Thanks for the warning!" She giggles as she replies to me.
I see my mom pull up and wave to greet us and my nerves go out the roof. I lead Katie to the car and say hi to my mom.
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"Hey Marisa, How was school" She says to me.
"Good mom. So, are we able to swing by Katie's house to get her some clothes for the night? She has a spare key." I say in response.
"Yeah! Hunny, can I get your address so I can get there." She looks and says to Katie.
"Sure, Ms. Carlton. This is my address." She says as she gives it to her.
"Thanks Hun. Also, you are more than welcome to call me Angie. But I love your manners." She says.
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We get to her house and get ready for the sleepover tonight. I remind her to close and lock the door quietly so she doesn't wake up her father. She then closes it with ease and we head back to my house and get ready to enjoy the dinner my mom made.
We get to the house and set the table while my mom comes out with dinner rolls, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. She sets it down on the table on a pot holder.
We then eat and go get ready for bed. I lead Katie to the bathroom so she can brush her teeth and take a shower. She comes out and I go in to do the same. I come out and she is in her pajamas doing a face mask.
"Hey girl, wanna do a face mask with me? They're really fun!" She says patting the floor next to her.
"Sure. Why not!" I say with excitement.
I sit there letting her put it on for me and afterwards, we take pictures for our scrapbooks.
We then go to wash it off after 30 minutes and get our beds ready.
"All good over there?" I say looking to the other side of the room.
"Yeah, you?" Katie says to me.
"Yep, all good here. Night girly!" I say reaching for the light switch to shut it off.
*1 hour later*
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I am sitting up on my bed looking at my polaroid pictures in my scrapbook. I then faintly smile and catch myself smiling. Again I wonder, "What is this feeling? It's like one I've never felt before." I sigh and lay my head down and look over to Katie already fast asleep and smile.
"Night, Katie. See you in the morning." I whisper to myself smiling.
I close my eyes and start to drift off to sleep.