Mrs Rocky wasn't here today.
She hasn't been here since last Friday.
It's Friday again.
She usually wasn't gone for this long.
Maybe she was on a trip.
Yeah.....just a trip.
Even then I was skeptical with myself.
I yawned as the substitute teacher, Mr Browns, droned on about the Civil War. I'm not really sure to be honest.
I took a glance out of the window feeling the warmth of the suns rays cast onto my face making me yawn even more.
I stretched and slouched in my seat.
Then the slam of a door jolted me awake making me sit upright in fright.
It was Principal Goode.
Her short brown hair was messy falling over her slightly flushed face. She smoothed imaginary wrinkles on her pantsuit and tried to give a gentle smile to us.
It came out more as a grimace.
She slowly turned her head towards the substitute. "I'm so sorry to be barging in at this time, but I need to speak to the students about something quite important."
Mr Brown's thick mustache twitched into a small frown and he grunted. " It's quite alright. Please take your time."
He waddled toward Mrs Rocky's desk and sat down with a sigh.
Principal Goode smiled at him giving him a silent thank you and then turned toward us.
She leaned against the edge of the desk and sighed.
" Well everyone I bet your wondering why your teacher, Mrs Rocky, hasn't shown up for sometime. Well unfortunately for personal reasons she has retired."
Everyone sat in shock. Including me.
Mrs Rocky had always been my favorite teacher. She always loved her job and us. She may have been tough, but she was a sweet woman. To retire? It just seemed illogical.
Madison Hallaway raised her hand with a confused and sad look on her face.
" Why did Mrs Rocky retire? I mean I know you said for personal reasons, but why? What were they?" she asked.
The rest of the children nodded and Principal Goode sighed.
"I'm sorry but I cannot disclose that information. I just wanted to let you guys know Mrs Rocky isn't coming back and that you will be getting a new teacher by the end of next week."
Nobody was able to get any further questions asked because at that exact moment the bell rang.
This time however no one jumped from their seats with a smile rushing to make it to there bus or ride home so they could spend their weekend doing what they wanted.
Everyone instead still sat with stunned looks on their faces and the silence was defaning tot he point you could hear a pin drop.
Principal Goode sighed and stood up her clothes rustling loudly. " Have a good weekend everyone."
That was the cue that made everyone stand up and slowly collect there things.
There was no talking.
No shouting.
Just shocked and confused looks.
I stood up collecting my own things and slowly walking out of the classroom door with everyone else.
It was just plain illogical.
***
"Hi honey! How was school?"
I looked at my mother who was smiling at me at the moment while the T.V played softly behind her.
I sighed and flopped onto the couch beside her making sure I didn't fall on her IPad. She glared at me.
I laughed slowly. " Sorry."
She rolled her eyes. " Well? How was school?"
I sighed again. " My teacher retired."
She was silent for a minute. "That sucks. I know that you really liked her."
I couldn't help but laugh at her response.
"Yeah I did. I really really did."
We sat in comfortable silence for a little while and my attention had shifted to the T.V at that point by the time my mom spoke up again.
" Well do you have any homework?"
I shook my head. " No. It's Friday. Nobody gets homework on Fridays."
She chuckled. " Well I think you kids shouldn't have any weekends off in my opinion. You kids should be in school not lounging around the house not doing any goddamn chores."
I frowned and put a hand to my heart in mock-hurt. "Mom! That's a horrible thing to say! I thought you loved having me around."
" Yeah when your in school." she mumbled pushing my head back as she made her way upstairs.
" Well whatever! I'm just gonna annoy you this weekend for that comment!" I shouted as the pitter-pater of her feet got quieter as she disappeared up the stairs.
" We'll see about that!" she said her voice faint as it carried down the stairs.
I quietly chuckled to myself. Standing up, I hoisted my bag onto my shoulders and ran up the stairs to my bedroom.
Throwing my bag on my unmade bed, I grabbed a pillow and quietly walked down the hallway to my brothers room.
Opening it slowly, I smirked as he laughed loudly to one of his favorite cartoons. Good. He wouldn't hear me or see me if he didn't look up.
I slowly crept inside with the pillow high over my head and brought it down with enough force to shake the bed onto my brother.
He shrieked loudly and I laughed as he shot me a dirty look.
" What was that for?!" he said taking his headphones off.
I just laughed harder. " Because I felt like it."
He rolled his eyes at me. " Wait until I get you back."
I just ran out of his room with a chuckle in his direction. "I don't count in it! You couldn't kill a fly if you wanted to!"
I didn't hear his response because at that moment my dad came through the door. I was about to go greet him, but it died on my lips as fast as it had been thought of.
My dad wasn't smiling.
Well he doesn't always smile, but usually when he's coming through the door he has a small grin on is face.
This time he looked more horrified than happy.
I tilted my head curiously and approached him slowly.
" What's wrong Daddy?"
He jumped and stared at me with frightful eyes, but then immediately relaxed the moment he saw me.
" Oh hi sweetie. It's nothing. Just a little tired."
I hummed suspiciously, but I didn't prompt further. I just ran to him and put my arms around his waist burying my face into his hospital uniform.
He hugged back just as tight.
" Hey sweetie do you want to do something fun tomorrow?" he said breaking the silence.
" What are we gonna do?" I asked looking at him.
That's when he grinned. " You'll find out tomorrow."
I nodded and kissed him on the cheek before running back upstairs.
***
"-horrible"
I opened my eyes and yawned stretching into the soft mattress. I rubbed my sleep filled eyes and glanced at the clock.
11:00 P.M704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRcBR0nR0v
" -Mrs Rocky."704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArr7zfiPDM
That was Daddy's voice. What did he now about Mrs Rocky? Maybe he knows the reason why she retired so suddenly.
I quietly crept out of my bed careful not to step on any creaky floorboards and opened the door to my bedroom. Now I could hear the voices better.704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PaOzudsum
" I think it's this goddamn Virus that's been spreading around lately Elle. I think it finally reached the U.S and contaminated someone. We have Mrs Rocky in quarantine at the moment, but I don't think she's going to survive."
My eyes widened in surprise. So that's why Mrs Rocky retired?
" That's horrible to go through something like that."
That was mom.
Then there was silence.
" What's going to happen?"
Silence again. Then my dad's voice.
" I don't know. I wish I could tell you a different story, but I don't know."
I heard footsteps approaching and I quickly closed my door as my parents footsteps approached my door and walked on to their bedroom closing the door with an audible click.
I ran to my bedroom and buried myself under the covers my harsh breathing penetrating the air.
What did Mrs Rocky go through? Is going through?
What is this Virus?
I furrowed my brows I remembered hearing about it, but where?
My thought continued to plague me until the wee hours of night.
That's when sleep finally took ahold of me.
***
So sorry this is late! I had meant to finish this ages ago, but I never really got around to it. At least it's here now though. Next chapter should be uploaded this coming Friday and if it isn't then you can throw virtual tomatoes at me kay? Also I know things are moving slow and there isn't a lot of action at the moment, but it will come soon and you will learn more about this "Virus". See you in the next chapter! Bye. :-)704Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tgtvefG70
