School Time

“And who can tell me which color goes over the picture of the volcano shroom?” Miss Shiow said brightly.

Orchid’s hand shot up. Of course she knew the answer, volcano shrooms were her favorite. (And she was no dummy.) She waggled her little fingers in the air.

Miss Shiow looked around for a moment. “Braeyly, who color are volcanic shrooms?”

Braeyly set up in his seat. “Oh, uh, seven?” He guessed. The other children giggled. Orchid wiggled her fingers more. It had been a while since she had answered a question, and now was her shot to get an easy one so she could get back to drawing. She was on an invention streak, coming up with futuristic contraptions and designs in her notebook whenever she could and class was rather disruptive to her pursuits.

Miss Shiow’s big smile waved for a moment. “No, Braeyly, we’re working on colors now. What color are volcanic shrooms?”

”Um, lava... colored?”

”Red.” Miss Shiow sighed, moving the red magnet on the board beneath the corresponding picture.

Orchid dropped her hand, disappointed. Then she buried her head in her notebook until lunchtime. Miss Shiow gave up on the color wheel for the moment and directed them to collect their lunch boxes. Orchid flipped hers open with excitement. Both her parents were talented chefs, so needless to say her lunches were something special. Today her father had made for her a bowl of vegetable soup, with a tiny home baked baguette, and a fresh raspberry tart. The other children gave her funny looks as they munched on their sandwiches. After lunch came free time. Orchid wedged herself into the beanbag in the corner, squished between a wall and a bookshelf. She propped her notebook up on her knees and resumed her project. At the beginning of the school year, she had been excited. Everyone always called her a clever girl, school was supposed to be a place for her to excel. But really, school was so boring. Orchid preferred spending time on the food truck with her parents. There were so many sights and smells, plus lots of people to meet. Once a month or so the queen would stop by. She was such a regal and beautiful lady, Orchid liked drawing her. In school, it was just the same seventeen kids and Miss Shiow every day. Everything was structured into time blocks that never varied. Plus, Orchid already knew her colors and numbers. One time she had made the mistake of telling Miss Shiow that, and had gotten her free time taken away. (She still didn’t understand why.) Worst of all, they did so many group activities. Why couldn’t she just play or learn by herself? Avia was her best friend, but Miss Shiow didn’t always let them work together. “You have to learn to work with all kinds of people.” Miss Shiow would say. But Orchid preferred to work by herself. It didn’t take five people to read a book.

”Okay everyone, free time is over. Let’s clean up and return to our desks for social studies.” Miss Shiow said.

Orchid reluctantly put her notebook away and went back to her seat.

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”Mommy!” Orchid ran down the steps as soon as she saw her mother. Nia scooped her up, kissing the top of her head. Orchid straightened her headband.

”Guess what, kiddo. It’s the weekend.”

”Finally.” Orchid said with a heavy and serious sigh.

Nia smiled. She was beginning to think her six year old waited for her days off even more than she and her husband did. “C’mon, let’s get back to the food truck, daddy’s waiting.”

”Okie doki, let’s go!” Orchid skipped ahead to the car, woes of the weekdays already gone.