nurseryteacher28

[nurseryteacher28]

“Alright class, it's time for reading,” Mrs. Potts said to her class one beautiful sunny day, “Get out your books please and turn to chapter three.”
In the back row, a young Xweetok sighed and slumped his shoulders as he took his time digging through his desk to find his book. He hated reading. Maybe if he just kept low and didn't attract anyone's attention, his teacher wouldn't make him read.
“Traixxes, would you like to start on page thirteen for us?” Mrs. Potts said.
The little Xweetok sighed and flattened his ears with irritation. So much for staying low. He studied the page for a minute then began slowly, “Ricky sat on... on the bank w-waiting for his...” He stared at the long word that had tripped him up. The letters were swimming on the page and danced around each other, making it impossible to decipher.
“Sweetheart,” Mrs. Potts supplied.
Traixxes breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “His sweetheart. He had been waiting there from... for her all day.” He slogged slowly through the rest of the short paragraph, trying to ignore the almost inaudible titters of laughter that came from the kids around him as he stumbled over easy words and mixed up sentences. He finished the last sentence and slammed his book shut, resting his snout on his paws and smouldering with frustration. It wasn't fair. His teacher knew he was dyslexic, why did she keep making him read in front of everybody?
Traixxes stormed through the door that afternoon and dumped his bag carelessly on the hall floor before making a beeline for his room.
“Hey honey, how was your day?” Came a voice from the kitchen.
Traixxes peered round the doorway and saw his mother standing at the sink. He sighed, “Fine,” he snapped before making to leave again.
“Mrs. Potts made you read in class again did she?” Heather asked sympathetically, turning back to the dishes she was washing.
Traixxes huffed, “Yeah, I dunno why she keeps doing that, all the other kids laugh at me 'cause I'm dumb.”
Heather put the plate she was scrubbing down and rinsed her hands of soap. Drying them on her apron, she approached her young son and grasped both his forepaws, forcing him back onto his haunches. “Come on,” she said with a sad smile, “You know you're not dumb, you can't help being dyslexic, it's just something that happens to some people, that's all. Just because you have trouble reading doesn't mean you aren't great at other stuff. You're probably the best in your class at math right?”
Traixxes looked away and shrugged non-committally, “I dunno, I guess.”
“See?” Heather smiled, “Reading's only a small part of school, don't let it ruin it for you. Why don't you go ask Uchida how he deals with his dyslexia? Maybe he can give you a few pointers.”
Traixxes thought of the older Kougra; he had the same problem as Traixxes, but he'd somehow managed to compensate for it; maybe he really could help. He looked at his mother and nodded, then pulled his paws from her hands and went upstairs to find his brother.

[nurseryteacher28]

Lucy tugged eagerly at my trousler leg, “What's it say Papa? What's it say?” She demanded.
I put Luna, who had stopped crying, back in her cot and herded the menagerie of babies downstairs. Gathering everyone on the sofa, I read, “Dear Mr. Roberts, it has come to our attention via the National Preschool Accuplacer (NPA) that your children, Lucy and Danby, may be qualified to test for enrollment at Brightvale's School for Gifted Children. If you wish to register for testing, please send a neomail with the enclosed forms completed by Tuesday, September 17th, and report to the school at eight A.M the following day. If you have any questions, please contact our secretary's office,
Yours sincerely,
The National Neopian School Board”
I looked up from the letter and stared at Heather. Was this really happening?
Shasta rested both forepaws on my knee, “What's the MDA?” He asked.
I chuckled, “You mean the NPA? Don't you remember that test Miss Ellie did with you all a few weeks ago, with the shapes and the colours and letters?”
Danby smiled and nodded, “Oh sure, I remember that, it was easy. I already know all my letters 'cause Katnise taught me. 'Member Lucy? She taught you too.”
Lucy scoffed, “Of course I remember,” she said, “Anyways I thought that test was dumb. Everybody knows colours an' shapes by the time they're our age, an' that thing where we had'ta find the rhyming words? That was silly too.”
I regarded her intently. Were my children really gifted and I had never noticed?
Tyto pressed his cheek anxiously into my shoulder, “Are-are Lucy an' Danby gonna go away?” He asked, “Brightvale sure is a long ways away.”
I smiled and pulled him onto my lap, “No silly, they're still going to live with us, but if they get in, they'll just be going to a different school from you and Shasta, that's all.”
“Yeah,” Indigo piped up, “A school for super smart kids!”
Tyto looked worriedly at me again, “But me an' Shasta di'n't get in, does that mean we're not smart?”
I beckoned Shasta onto my lap beside his brother, “Of course not baby, it just means you're smart in a different way, that's all, and that's a good thing, we can't all be good at reading and maths, some of us have to be good at cooking or building things, otherwise a lot of neopets would go cold and hungry, see?”
Tyto nodded reluctantly, “I guess,” he said.

[nurseryteacher28]

“She did what?!” My baby Ogrin gaped at me from where he stood on the sofa. “But she has thirty already!”
I shrugged and smiled, “More than that little one, but Heather knows what she's doing; she's the only person I've ever met who can take care of that many pets all by herself, and now it sounds like she's got another one. Her name's Yvina, and I don't know what species she is, but apparently she's a little like Katnise, Christmas and Cutey, you know... different.” My friend Heather looked after a number of physically disabled pets, all of whom had become good friends with my four preschoolers.
Tyto, my baby Grarrl, looked up from his block tower at me anxiously. “What's wrong with her Papa?” He asked uncertainly; even after all this time, anyone different made Tyto nervous.
I looked at him, “I don't know,” I said, “But she's coming over this afternoon so you can meet her.”
Tyto regarded me silently, his unease plain on his face.
I laughed, “Oh Tyto, don't look so worried, everything's going to be fine, I'm sure Yvina is perfectly nice. Remember how you got on so well with Christmas? She can't see, but she could still play with you, and you guys had a great time.”
Tyto sighed, “Yeah, I guess,” he said, then fell silent, apparently dropping the matter.
Danby, my baby Shoyru bounded up, “Is Katnise coming too? I wanna show her how good I can read now!”
I smiled as I remembered how Katnise, a little Kacheek with a severe stutter, had taught my son to read so he could better communicate with her when she didn't feel like talking. I picked Danby up, “I'm not sure who Heather's bringing with her this time, we'll just have to wait and see.”

[purple]

Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. I smiled as I heard the hustle and bustle of 12 pets outside, followed by the patient, but tired voice from my dear friend, Heather. I was about to greet them when I heard the sound of bells jingling. I stopped and stared. There before me was Yvonne, a tiny little Christmas Ixi who buried her face shyly into her mother’s jeans. She had on thick School Girl Classes, and silver bells wore around her white shirt and bleated blue skirt. Lucas, a 13 year old Shadow Ogrin, and eldest of the brood, gently pried her from her mother’s jeans and turned her to face me. He signed something to her and handed her a notepad. Misty, a 11 year old Brown Xweetok smiled politely, holding Katnise.
She scribbled something quickly on the notepad and showed me the note, smiling shyly.
I took the notepad and read

“Hello, I’m Yvi, and I’m partially deaf and blind. And I’m a great speller. How are you? I wish I could talk to you….”

I smiled sadly at the little pet. So that what was wrong with her. I was about to say something when Traixxes and Dondl, a Faerie Xweetok and Electric Xweetok ran by, and shoved her aside.

“Move it freak!” We’re movin’ here!” yelled Dondl, who was snobby and stuck-up. Traixxes shot her a guilty look, but said nothing as they passed by. They were stopped by Uchiha, a 10 year old Biscuit Kougra. He had quiet matured from the 7 year old boy I once met. He gave them a furious glare as Yvi let out a piercing cry.

“Who do you two think you are? You’re no better than her. I think you two are the weird ones. And jerks. He stormed off to build a tower with Lucy and Indigo, a three year old Baby Cybunny.

[purple]

Indigo gave him a smug smile and said “To bad you’re too dumb to be in our school. Only we smart kids, and not dumb babies get to go”
“Indigo!” Heather yelled, picking up a crying Tyto. “That was not nice. Now apology”
The little Baby Cybunny looked at her feet guiltily and murmured “Sorry”

We both sighed. I hope this wasn’t going to divide my kids.

~*****~
I stirred my coffee slowly and bounced Luna on one knee. Her and Twilight, lived with my cousin Emily, but they were still considered my children. They were here for a visit. I stared at the letter again. Should I really send them there? It was awfully far away, and Lucy and Danby would miss their old friends.

I pondered this I glanced at the clock and sighed. My kids were growing up so fast. It was hard to imagine them when they were little. Luna let out a squeal and clapped her hands.
“Love you Dada!” she yelled, gurgling and laughing. I snuggled her nose and smiled. Maybe it wasn’t to hard to remember.