Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“If you’ll all open your textbooks, we’re going to continue on with some reading this morning. But not before we do our morning song; who is going to take it away today?”
A student by the name of Ben shoots his hand up into the air, his big toothy grin eager.
I laugh. “Go on, Ben.”
Standing up, Ben puffs his little chest out and, in his biggest voice, he sings the class the song we wrote together on the first day of school. It’s their favorite part of the day, and hearing their little voices sing along is the highlight of mine.
“Welcome welcome, kids and pals, to Miss Parker’s class. Together here we’re all friends, bound together by our hearts. We love to learn, and we love to read, but mostly we love when we are freed, into the playground we go, swings and sand, joining hands. It’s our happy place, it’s our happy place, where we sit all day, with big smiles on our face.”
As they finish up the song, I can see Hope is looking up now, her head fully risen. She is glancing around the classroom, her eyes taking in the beautiful colored paintings on the walls and lights hanging from the ceiling. I made it my mission to make my classroom fun, to ensure that it has an abundance of life for the kids to enjoy. We have fish tanks and colored mats, tents, and blocks.
It’s my happy place.
Because when I go home, into the darkness of my marriage, I’m no longer free.
This is the only world where I can truly be myself and, without it, I don’t think I could go on.
“Are we ready to learn?”
The class cheers, and just like that, my day is bright.
For now.
“HI, BONNIE, IS IT?”
The woman who brought Hope in to school this morning is fetching her things in the afternoon when I approach her. She’s polite and kind, but I know that Hope isn’t her child. As far as I know, she’s filling in for someone, but I’d like to get the full story so I’m able to figure out her situation.
Bonnie turns, her face lighting up with a smile. “Yes, that’s me. I’m so sorry I didn’t get much of a chance to chat this morning. I’m new to all of this.”
Bonnie and I appear to be of a similar age. I’m a young teacher, but the students seem to love that, and, because of it, I feel as though I connect with them better. I recognize Bonnie from a few stories that happened a while back. I know she’s a reporter who got involved in a biker club and ended up clearing the name of the town’s biggest criminal. At least, what the town thought was their biggest criminal. Turns out, it was the people meant to protect us who were the dangerous ones.
Isn’t that always the way?
“That’s okay. I just wanted to get the backstory on Hope so that I’m able to help her a little better. She’s a lovely little girl. is she related to you?”
Bonnie shakes her head. “No, she’s a friend of mine’s niece. Her mother, unfortunately, is in prison and so she was sent to live with her uncle until it can be worked out. He is the only other family she has, but they’re not really familiar with each other. I feel so sorry for her, she’s really lost.”
Poor Hope.
It’s hard enough for her mother to be taken away, let alone to be sent to someone she doesn’t know. Kids have a level of love for their mothers, even if they do bad things, and I know how utterly heartbreaking it can be for them to have that taken from their lives. It’s truly awful.
“Does her uncle work?”
Bonnie gives me a sheepish smile. “Oh. You don’t know who her uncle is ...”
Now I’m curious. “I don’t, but you know I’m going to ask ...”
“His name is Ford, he’s a member of the Prisoners of Purgatory Motorcycle Club.”
Oh.
Oh.
Well, that explains a lot.
“Her uncle is ... a biker?”
Bonnie nods.
“Is she living at the clubhouse?” I gasp, praying her answer is no.
“No, she is staying next door with a wonderful lady who is in a relationship with a guy there. I know it sounds bad, but I promise you they’re really good people and she isn’t being treated poorly.”
I want to tell her that I’m finding that difficult to believe, but talking to her is making me doubt myself. She is lovely and kind, and maybe Hope is being taken care of properly, at least by the ladies. Still, the idea of her spending her time with bikers is concerning. I can’t help but feel that way, it’s not like they have a fantastic reputation. Everyone knows what goes on behind closed doors in that place.
It's not up to me to decide where she lives, though.