Let Me Burn (Angel Sands 1)

“Um,” Ember pretended to think for a moment. “Because you love kids and you thought it would be easy?”

Rachel groaned. “Who do I have to kill to teach second grade? Should I target Nancy or Diana?”

“They’re indestructible,” Ember said, trying not to smile. Rachel loved her kindergarten students, the same way Ember loved her first graders. It was just sometimes hard to remember that. “Anyway, it’s Monday. Accidents always happen on Mondays. Better days are ahead.”

“Like Saturday and Sunday.” Rachel finished the last of her coffee, twisting the lid so it was closed up. “Anyway, let’s not talk about school. Tell me, how was your mom’s party?”

Ember was about to answer her when Carter came up to them, turned around, and bent over so he could grab his ankles. The two teachers watched wordlessly as he started to gyrate his hips, moving his behind around in a circular motion. “Hey, Miss Kennedy, I’m twerking. Can you see me? I’m really good at it, too.”

“I se

e, Carter. Now you can stop, twerking isn’t allowed in this playground.”

He was still holding his ankles when he looked at them through his legs. He was frowning. “It isn’t?” he asked. “Why not?”

Ember caught Rachel’s gaze. The other teacher was trying not to laugh. She wasn’t trying hard enough though.

“Because it’s suggestive,” Ember said, wishing she hadn’t even started down this line. “And the playground is for playing in, not dancing.”

“Those girls are dancing.” Carter finally stood up. His face was bright red from where he’d been upside down. “Look – they’re holding hands and swinging.”

“But they’re not twerking,” Ember said. “It’s the twerking that’s not allowed.”

“Well that’s no fun.” He stomped off, looking for something else to do, and Rachel finally let her laughter out.

“Oh my god, can you imagine what he’s going to be like when he’s older?” Rachel asked, her eyes following Carter as he made his way over to the swings. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a funny kid. But I was so pleased when he graduated from kindergarten last year and wasn’t my problem anymore.”

“Yeah, well thanks for that. Your loss was my gain.” Ember did a mock grimace. “But you’re right, He’s a good kid.”

“And he can twerk like a pro,” Rachel said, still smiling. “I should know. I was doing some twerking of my own over the weekend.”

Ember was only half-paying attention. She was watching Sally as she stood in front of the playhouse, her arms folded across her chest and a stubborn look on her face. The playhouse was a new addition to the playground that year, bought thanks to parent-teacher fundraising efforts. Another girl – from the other first grade class – tried to get past Sally and into the house, but Sally was refusing to move.

“Hold that thought,” Ember said, passing Rachel her empty coffee mug and walking over to interfere in the potential fight. She hunkered down and looked at them with concern. “What’s going on here?” she asked the two girls.

“Sally won’t let anybody in. She says it’s her house.”

“Come on, Sally, you know that’s not true,” Ember pointed out. “The playhouse belongs to everybody.”

“But they keep ruining my game.” Sally frowned. “They just want to run around in there, and it’s not fair. I’m supposed to be the mom and they’re supposed to listen to me.”

“Well, I’m the teacher and you need to listen to me,” Ember pointed out, keeping her voice light. “And I’d like you to let everybody in.”

“No.” Sally folded her arms across her chest. “It’s not fair,” she said again.

Taking a deep breath, Ember rose up from her crouched position. “There’s only a minute of recess to go. I’d like you to go and wait by the gate.” She pointed to the fence. “And when you’re out here this afternoon, you need to remember to share.”

Sally did as she was told and stomped over to the other side of the playground, Ember following behind. Recess only lasted fifteen minutes and she was already feeling exhausted. That was Mondays for you, full of unexpected turns. When the bell for the end of recess rang and the children came running over to form a line, she could feel her body start to relax.

That feeling only lasted a minute, though. Right until Rachel came up behind her and cleared her throat, causing Ember to turn around and look at her. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Um. We have a situation.”

Ember frowned. “What kind of situation?”

Rachel swallowed, her neck bobbing with the action. “It’s Carter again,” she said, and Ember’s stomach immediately sank.

“What about Carter?” she asked. “Is he twerking again?”