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I’m glad I drove by the school when I first got to town. I hate not knowing where to go. I pull up and see a group of teachers setting a few tents, tables, and chairs in the grass. They look to be wearing mostly shorts and T-shirts. Comfortable that I made a wise choice, I park at the back of the school and head to the playground where everyone seems to be gathering.
I count approximately fifteen to twenty teachers here already. Many are hugging and chatting. I assume this is the first time in a month or more they’ve seen each other. I can sympathize—when you work with children every single day, the other teachers keep your sanity in check. Watching the scene unfold makes me miss home for the first time. I’ll never miss my old job, but I do miss my fellow teachers.
Before I enter the gate surrounding the playground, a woman pops up next to me and scares me half to death.
“Hi! I’m Brooke. I can tell by the look on your face you’re new. Are you? Because I am. Just got a job here—my first. I’m so nervous, but I’m hoping everything is great. Is everything great at this school?”
Holy shit. This chick talks a million miles an hour. She catches me so off guard, I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh and smile. “Actually, yeah, I am new. Well, maybe new. There’s an opening, and I’ve got my fingers crossed. I can’t believe you could tell. Apparently, it’s obvious. My name is Solia. Nice to meet you.” I extend my hand, but she jumps up and down and embraces me.
I guess we’re hugging.
“I love your name. Solia. Like the sun. I get it. Well, I’m happy you’re here. This means I’m not the only newbie. What grade is the opening? I’m third. I’m going to love third grade. The kids will be sweet and love school, but I don’t think they will be fresh.”
This girl’s energy is unlike any I’ve witnessed. Brooke and I are the same height, but she is a complete bombshell with blue eyes and the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. I’d guess she’s twenty-two if this is her first position. I’m hoping the overwhelming energy is just her nerves getting the best of her because she is going to take a lot of getting used to.
“The opening is for grade three as well.”
A high-pitched screech pierces my ears, and Brooke engulfs me in another hug. I guess I can count on one thing—this potential team won’t be short on energy or personality.
Linking her arm with mine, we make our way into the playground. The butterflies dissipate once I sense the chill vibe. A few tables sit scattered under the tent. On one side are four coolers filled with water and sodas, and a small table is lined with trays of sandwiches, chips, and cookies. There appears to be no folder waiting for me on the table, no agenda being passed around. It’s casual and social. I can handle this.
“I’ll catch up with you in a bit. I’m going to get something to drink and introduce myself to some other teachers.”
“Sure thing! I’ll find you later!” Brooke tosses her hair and skips across the playground.Wow, she’s got a ton of spunk.
Bending into the cooler, I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Anything good in there? No adult drinks, I assume.”
I laugh out loud. “Unfortunately, it’s water or soda.” I grab one of each and turn to offer it to the teacher behind me. As I spin around, my jaw drops. “Shannon … Hi! We met the other day.”
Shannon stands there for a minute in silence, as if deciding if she remembers me. “Solia, hi. Oh, jeez, sorry. When you said you were new to town, I never asked whether you were working. I guess Jackson and I never discussed it either. This is crazy.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Shannon takes a step back and pulls her jet-black hair together between her shoulders and stands perfectly straight. “OK, let’s start over. Hi, Solia, remember me? I’m Jackson’s sister and also a second-grade teacher at Meriden Elementary. You must be a new teacher here?”
I appreciate her making light of the moment and restarting on the right foot because there is the possibility of this getting awkward. I laugh and respond with as much wit as I can muster. “Hi, Shannon, I remember you. I am the woman who rode on your brother’s tractor and am also hoping to be hired as a teacher here at Meriden Elementary. I’m supposed to talk to the principal today about a potential opening.”
Shannon giggles and her friendly green eyes flicker in the sunlight, reminding me so much of Jackson’s. “No way. That’s amazing. Yeah, I heard there was a last-minute retirement in grade three. You’ll fit right in, Solia. The principal, teachers, and kids are great. I’m not just saying that. This is going to be my seventh year, and every year seems to top the last.”
“That’s awesome. I’m looking forward to a fresh start. This is a great idea getting everyone together.”
“Right? I thought so too. We’ve never done anything like this before, but we have a few new hires, so I guess they figured it would help break the ice. And it’s always great to see one another without students.”
“Yes, makes perfect sense.”
I follow Shannon as she heads toward a group of women standing together on the other side of the tent. “Have you met Madison?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Well, she is amazing. If you get hired, you’ll love the team. If I didn’t love second grade so much, I would switch just to work with her. She’s a total team player, an awesome teacher, and she doesn’t take herself too seriously.”
Music to my ears. Teaching is definitely a team sport. I’m proud of the great job I do for my students, but to survive the year, you need to connect with other teachers to laugh, scream, and talk through the struggles.
As we reach the group, Shannon stops in front of a tall, slender brunette who has her hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. “Hey, Madison, I want to make sure I introduce you to your potential new team member. This is Solia. She just moved here.”
Madison immediately turns toward me, and I’m greeted by the warmest, most inviting smile. “Hey, Solia, what a beautiful name. I’m so glad you’re here. I met the other new team member, Brooke. The two of you probably think I scared away the rest of my teaching team. But don’t worry, I didn’t. They both decided to retire together—one took a little longer to make her decision final.”
