Page 27 of 3 Daddies to Go
That’s where Auburn is headed. She could be a voice actress if she wanted. The woman can do any voice you could ever imagine. The kids love when she reads to them because she brings the characters alive. Plus, leading the reading activity means not a lot of physical strain on Auburn. As she progresses in her pregnancy, she needs more time to rest. Sitting in a comfy rocking chair reading pictures books to eager children is a great reprieve.
We have fifty total volunteers every day. Five of them are in the nursery, but the rest of us split ourselves between cooking, activities, and the picnic tables, until everyone is done eating. We also have a nurse who volunteers with us. We got really lucky that the old school nurse retired but still wanted to work with kids, so she comes in regularly. I know that the program closer to Atlanta relies on nursing students to come so that they’re not breaking any rules. With a program like this, trained medical professionals must always be on hand in case of an emergency. Every volunteer goes through mandatory first aid training too.
There are fourteen volunteers, aside from me, still watching the breakfast crowd. The other twenty-five have dispersed for morning activities. Behind me, a few are setting up a kickball field. Inside, I’m sure someone is getting paints and other crafting supplies ready for the kids to make art.
Every time a few more kids finish their food, a few more volunteers head towards activities. Damian is still enjoying his meal, so I’m going to stick around until he’s done. I really do want to see him conquer the monkey bars.
As we get closer to ten, my mind starts to wander. There are only about twenty kids still seated at the picnic tables and six other chaperones keeping an eye on them.
Did Tag, Tanner, and Trace really ask me to be their tour guide yesterday? At first, I thought they were only doing it to get a rise out of Monica. It certainly worked. She was pissed that they chose me over her. I heard all about it via text after I left. It got so bad that I had to block her number. There are only so many times you can read someone calling you an ugly bitch before it gets to be too much.
The guys weren’t joking, though. I got a text from them this morning asking if we could start our tour today. I should have told them I was too busy. Instead, I said I could meet them after one. I get done here at noon, when the next batch of volunteers gets in. I’m off from work today because the office is closed on Mondays. Our journalists spend the day on assignment instead of sitting at their desks. That means I’ll be able to go home and shower before I head to the hotel where the guys are staying.
My hands shake. Am I really going to see them again? This time, it will be just us. Of course, we’ll be walking around town, but still! What will happen? Will there be a repeat of Saturday night?
I force the thought from my head. That is the last thing I should be thinking about when I’m supposed to be focusing on the kids.
Thankfully, Damian tosses his plate into the bin and comes to find me. “Are you ready to watch me do the monkey bars?”
I nod, grateful for the distraction. I need to actually do something, or I’ll get lost in thoughts again. If anyone here knew where my mind went, I’d be sent home, and I don’t think they’d let me back.
“Let’s go, kiddo. Show me what you’ve got.”
Damian drags me over to the monkey bars. None of the other kids use the antiquated metal contraption, but Damian was drawn to it even as a toddler.
“Watch me!”
“I’m watching!”
I stand anxiously below the six-foot structure as Damian climbs the ladder. He carefully grabs onto the first rung and drops off the metal bars holding his feet. His face is scrunched in concentration as he removes one hand and swings himself to the next bar. His other hand joins the first, and he’s moved one bar!
“You’re doing great, Damian!”
Another one of my favorite volunteers, Linda, joins us. “Damian, look at you! Keep going, buddy!”
The small crowd energizes him. He gets to the middle of the monkey bars quickly. He stumbles a few times, nearly losing his grip, but he never falls. After a few more swings, he makes it to the end and jumps down.
“You did it!” I cry, pulling him in for a hug. “I’m so proud of you!”
Linda gives him a hug, too. “We knew you could do it, buddy! All your hard work has paid off.”
Damian blushes, his skin matching his bright red hair. “Aw, shucks, Ms. Linda.”
Despite his bashfulness, Damian is proud. As he should be. I definitely couldn’t do the monkey bars at his age, let alone now. I prefer my feet firmly on the ground, thank you very much.
“I’m gonna go play kickball now,” Damian says, his moment to shine over. “Maybe I’ll do it again later, though!”
“Have fun, kiddo.”
He runs off, leaving Linda and me to watch after him. No one else is using the playground equipment, so we walk over to the blacktop where some girls have a game of hopscotch going. They invite Linda and me to play along, so we do. I haven’t done this since elementary school. It’s fun to act like a kid again, and it makes me forget what I’m going to do later.
As the clock nears noon, I check the main office to make sure our new group of volunteers has arrived. Most of them are there, so I give the morning crew the go-ahead to leave. The PA system at the school still works, so I can make the announcement over the loudspeaker. It kind of makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong, since the system was always reserved for school officials only.
“You’re a natural leader,” a voice says behind me as I’m leaving the main office. I turn to find Margot leaning out of the old vice principal’s office. “I really wish we could have you as paid staff. You’re an invaluable asset to this team.”
“I didn’t know you’d be here today!” I say. I give her a hug. Margot is around the same age as my mom, and she’s always treated me like a daughter. “I’m okay with being a volunteer. I like that the program gets most of the money, you know?”
She nods.