Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
With my heart pounding like a snare drum in my chest, my laptop starts to chime, indicating I have a call. The kids all respond excitedly, but before I connect, I turn around and place my index finger to my lips. “Shhhhh,” I say softly. “Remember, we have to be quiet when the call connects. You’ll each have an opportunity to speak in just a few minutes.”
My class nods… and wiggles.
Man, I love teaching kindergarten.
I press the button and wait two very long seconds for my husband’s face to fill the screen. As soon as I see him, tears fill my eyes, and a huge smile breaks out across my lips. “Hi,” I croak, my throat suddenly incredibly dry.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs softly, reaching out and touching the screen. In that moment, it’s as if he’s touching me, running his calloused finger across my cheek.
Giggles erupt behind me, and I can’t help but blush. For a brief second, it felt like we were the only two in the world, despite being so far apart.
I step back, looking up at the projection screen over my desk and make sure it’s connected. The front classroom lights are off so the kids can see better, and since everything looks to be set, I move to the back of the group and stand behind my kids.
As I look at the screen, I realize Chad has several people behind him. Not just a couple like he indicated before. There are more than a dozen all standing there, all smiling at the camera. “Oh my goodness, I thought there was just going to be a few of you,” I reply awkwardly.
Chad grins. “Everyone wanted to be a part of this.”
“Wow, okay,” I reply, clearing my throat. Suddenly, the plan I had come up with just vacates my head, and all I can do is stand here and stare at the man I love.
“Can we do the ’legiance now?” Frankie asks.
“Yes, let’s start,” I reply, finally finding the words. To my class, I ask, “Are you ready?”
I get a mixture of replies, as well as a lot of movers and shakers as they all place their hands over their hearts. Frankie was chosen as leader for the day because his dad is serving in the military, stationed in Japan for a brief time. He’s expected to be home within the next month or two, and I made sure his unit was included in the list of care packages sent out by the school.
“You may begin, Frankie,” I tell him, placing my hand over my heart.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag…”
As the kindergarteners start the Pledge of Allegiance, I watch as Chad and his unit stand at attention, place their hands over their hearts, and recite the pledge along with us. Once again, tears fill my eyes as I watch these little five- and six-year-olds interact with members of the military.
This is a moment I will never forget.
When we’ve completed the pledge, I say, “All right, class. Have a seat.”
They all drop down, getting comfortable.
“The guys and I just wanted to tell you all how grateful we are for the care packages you sent us. I wish I could show you now, but we have your drawings all hanging around the bunk. It brightens up the tent and gives all of us a piece of home,” Chad says.
“We had a lot of fun with this project, didn’t we, kids?”
They all reply, “Yes!” or some version of it.
“The kids have a few questions for you guys. Is it okay if they ask?”
“Of course,” Chad and a few others all reply.
“Well, the main question they have is what do you do during the day?” I ask.
“We all do a variety of jobs, but one of the main ones is research,” Chad starts. “We also do a little work for another unit and help keep the area we’re in secure. I can’t give you too many more details, but I can tell you it’s very hot where we’re at and there’s lots of sand, kinda like the Mojave Desert back home where you guys are.”
We spend the next twenty minutes talking. Many kids ask questions, and the service men and women do their best to answer them. Some are silly, like “Do you have cats there? We have cats running around that get in the trash and make Daddy mad.” Or slightly inappropriate questions, like “Do you shoot bad guys?”
Too soon, it’s time to sign off so Chad and his unit can go eat breakfast. Sadness washes over me at the thought of disconnecting. Now that I have him on screen, I want to keep him there.
“Okay, class, can you tell everyone thank you for serving our country?” I ask, emotions already welling up in my eyes and throat.
“Thank you!” they holler collectively, and many start waving.