Allie stood in front of the classroom, clutching a lesson plan that was more about smoke and mirrors than actual education. Her cardigan, a tragic shade of beige, made a return appearance, completing the look of a woman who clearly "tried her best with what little life had given her."
But inside, Allie was vibrating with a mix of nerves and excitement. Today wasn't just any first day of work. Today was the day she'd finally get to meet her son—her Max —as his new teacher.
A part of her wanted to leap over the desks, scoop him up, and declare, "Mommy's back!" But no, she had to play it cool. Cool, beige, and pitiful.
She inhaled deeply and walked into the classroom, where ten pairs of tiny, curious eyes stared at her. Among them was a little boy with a pout so perfect it could stop traffic. Max. Her Max.
He was even cuter than she remembered, with his mop of slightly messy hair and a face that screamed, "I'm in charge here." Allie had to bite her tongue to keep from squealing.
"Good morning, everyone," she said, pasting on a smile that was appropriately shy. "My name is Miss Nancy, and I'll be your new teacher."
The kids looked her up and down like a pack of baby wolves evaluating a new alpha. One boy in the back raised his hand.
"Are you poor?" he asked bluntly.
Allie blinked. "Excuse me?"
"My mommy says only poor people wear clothes like that," the boy clarified.
"Well, your mommy must be very insightful," Allie said, clasping her hands together. "But let's talk about something more exciting, like all the fun we're going to have this year!"
The boy shrugged, unimpressed, and Max, sitting in the front row, folded his little arms. Allie could already tell he was the ringleader of this tiny gang. She adored him even more for it.
"Why don't we start by getting to know each other?" she said, pulling out a stack of blank name tags. "I'll write your names, and you can tell me one fun fact about yourself."
The kids groaned. "Do we have to?" one girl whined.
"Yes, because it's fun," Allie said, her smile tightening. "And because I said so."
She went around the room, dutifully writing down names and pretending to be fascinated by each child's "fun fact." ("I can burp the alphabet," "I have three ponies," "My daddy owns this school.") Then she got to Max.
"And what's your name?" she asked, even though she already knew it better than her own.
He stared at her suspiciously. "Max Carter," he said.
"What a strong name," Allie said, her voice wobbling just a little. "And what's a fun fact about you?"
"I don't like new teachers," he said flatly.
Allie's heart melted into a puddle. Even his sass was adorable. "Well," she said gently, "I hope I can change your mind."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of crayons, glitter, and mild chaos. Allie discovered that one child, Sophie, was an expert in throwing tantrums so dramatic they should come with a soundtrack. Another boy, Timothy, had an unfortunate habit of licking things that should never be licked. And then there was Max, who sat at his desk like a tiny emperor, occasionally giving her a side-eye that said, "I'm onto you."
During snack time, Allie strategically positioned herself near Max. He was nibbling on a cookie, his legs swinging under the table.
"Do you like cookies?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
He shrugged. "They're okay."
"What's your favorite snack?"
"Grapes," he said after a long pause. "But only the green ones. The purple ones are gross."
Allie nodded solemnly. "Green grapes are superior. That's just science."
He glanced at her, the tiniest flicker of approval in his eyes. It was a small victory, but Allie would take it.
After snack time came recess, during which Allie got to witness Max's leadership skills in action. He organized the other kids into a highly competitive game of tag, barking orders like a tiny drill sergeant. Allie watched from the sidelines, her chest swelling with pride.
That's my boy, she thought. A natural-born leader.
But recess also brought its challenges. At one point, Sophie threw sand at Timothy, who responded by licking her arm. Allie had to step in before things escalated. "No throwing sand," she said firmly. "And no licking people."
"But she started it!" Timothy whined.
"And I'm ending it," Allie said, her big girl teacher voice finally kicking in. "Both of you, apologize."
She was perfectly suited to be the boss of a bunch of tiny tots. After all, she was big enough, and reckless enough, to hit one who needed it.
They grumbled but complied, and Allie gave herself a mental high-five. Crisis averted.
By the end of the day, Allie was exhausted but exhilarated. As the kids lined up to leave, she knelt down to Max's level.
"Did you have a good day?" she asked.
He looked at her for a long moment, then gave a small nod. "You're okay," he said grudgingly.
It was the highest praise she could've hoped for. "Thanks, Max. See you tomorrow."
As he walked away, Allie felt a lump in her throat. Today had been just a small step, but it was a step nonetheless. She was in his life now, and she wasn't going anywhere.