The Innocence of Love

                                                                    Excerpt from Chapter 1

Swan Harbor Elementary
Friday, March 15
1:45 p.m.

     “Bullies,” Molly Prince exclaimed, “are not welcomed in my classroom. Nor are they welcomed in this school.”
     She pinned each of her first graders with a stare meant to make them shake in their boots. But just as he had every other time she’d talked to the class, her culprit paid little attention.
     “Are there any questions?” she asked once she’d finished her lecture.
     “Yes, Paisley?” Molly chose the child whose hand had gone up first.
     “Mrs. Prince,” Paisley began in her ‘much too serious voice,’ “why do some people have such a hard time understanding it’s wrong to bully others?”
     That’s what I want to know, Molly thought with a sigh. But she couldn’t say much of what she was thinking out loud. Especially thoughts those that circled around this situation, as the pain still cut deep.
     “I’m not sure, Paisley,” Molly replied. “What do you think?”
     “I think they’re just du—”
     “We don’t say that.” Molly cut in.
     Paisley huffed, “Fine. Perhaps they need to listen more.”
     Molly fought the grin that wanted to break free at the child’s precocious comment. But to keep the conversation going, she agreed and moved on to the next hand.
     “Mason.”
     “Where are bullies welcomed, Mrs. Prince?”
     “What?” Molly sputtered.
     “You said bullies weren’t welcomed in your class,” Mason went on, “or our school, right?”
     “Right,” she agreed, seeing the trap she’d walked into but not knowing what to do about it.
     “Then where are they welcomed?” Mason asked again. “Are they welcomed at other schools?”
     “I know,” Olivia cried, waving her hand wildly in the air. “I know.”
     “What do you think, Olivia?”
     “Bullies are not welcomed anywhere, Mrs. Prince,” Olivia stated. “They need to learn not to hurt other people’s feelings. Right?”
     “Very good, Olivia,” Molly grinned. “That’s exactly right.”
     “I’ve been listening,” Olivia preened.
     “Yes, you have,” Molly confirmed, wishing that of all her students. But how could she get through to the one, who’d made another child cry?
     She couldn’t help but notice that Carter kept shifting in his seat. He also looked away when she glanced in his direction. Which meant he understood what she was saying. Maybe…
     “We’re all different. Right?”
     The class nodded, even the boy she needed to hear her.
     “And Josh, just because your hair is blond and Carter’s is red,” Molly brought the boy’s best friend into the discussion, “that doesn’t make your hair better, does it?”
     “Well,” Josh side-eyed Carter, “my hair doesn’t stand up all the time like his does.”
     “Hey, take that back,” Carter jumped in.
     The expression on Carter’s face had her thinking his feelings were hurt.
     “Why didn’t you like what Josh said?” Molly asked, as if she were curious, rather than scolding him for his tone.
     “Because,” Carter sputtered. “I can’t help what color my hair is.”
     “Bingo,” Molly beamed. “Remember that book we read, Ten Big Toes and a Prince’s Nose?”
     “Yes.”
     “The book shows us that who we are comes from inside, right?”
     A sentiment that would have saved her a lot of heartache when she was younger. But would she have listened? Would she have believed it?
     A quick peek at the clock told her it was time to close down for the day. Molly glanced around her classroom, hoping for a bit of inspiration when an idea popped into her head.
     “I want each of you to go home and think of one thing you don’t like about yourself. And one thing you do like. Write them down. On Monday, we’ll talk about them.”
     “Do we have to, Mrs. Prince?” Garrett whined. “I didn’t call Charli Chubby. That was Carter.”
     “I didn’t just hear those words come out of your mouth, did I?” Molly asked.
     Garrett sent a dirty look in Carter’s direction but thankfully backed down, “I’m sorry.”
     “Thank you, Garrett,” Molly murmured. “It’s almost time for the bell. Please, gather your things. We’ll continue this discussion next class.”
     When everyone complied, she took the opportunity to sit. At thirty-two weeks pregnant with twin boys, her back was killing her. And since she needed to grade a handful of papers and speak to the principal regarding the minor incident, her day wasn’t quite over.
     After she said goodbye to her students, Molly took out the papers she planned to grade. But with everyone she completed, it seemed like two more were added to her pile. Her eyes became heavy, and her thoughts drifted.
     “Look at her! Molly is as big as a mountain!”
     “Leave her alone, Kathy,” Dale snapped. “There’s no need to be mean.”
     “I’m not being mean,” snickered Kathy. “Just telling the truth.”
     “Molly?”
     At the sound of her name, Molly glanced up, still lost in the memory.
     “Molly?” Eden Fowler, a second-grade teacher, repeated, “Are you okay?”
     “I’m f-fine,” Molly stuttered, giving herself a mental shake. “Did you need something?”
     “Our appointment with Joy,” Eden reminded her.
     “Already?” Molly frowned. “I must have lost track of time.”
     “Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” Eden asked again.
     “Just tired,” Molly assured her. “Really. I’m ready to go.”
     “If you’re sure,” Eden looked at her carefully, “I can just as easily…”