Chapter 5

"At ease." Brenda sighed, thinking that this would probably be the best way to start. She was surprised when they placed their hands behind their backs and took a step to the side all together.
They're a well-trained bunch.

"Well, now that there's just us, would you please tell me all your names again and how old you

are?" Brenda said recovering from her shock. The children stepped forward and back in military fashion announcing their names and ages. Some of the names stuck in Brenda’s mind better then others. One of the children stepped out and said

"I'm Hannah. I'm thirteen years old, in grade 8, and I don't need a vocal teacher!

"Well, I'm glad you told me, Hannah. We'll just be choir buddies." Brenda said taken aback. Another boy stepped out and said

"I'm Patrick, but you can call me Patty. I'm 12, in grade 7. I'm impossible."

Brenda laughed. "Really? Who told you that, Patty?"

"Miss. Vanderveen. Four vocal teachers ago." Patty stated in a matter of fact tone. A reddish-brownish-blondish girl in braids stepped out and in.

"I'm Mimma."

Brenda smiled. "You, um, didn't tell me how old you are, Shannah."

Mimma, the bookworm, stepped out of the line. "I'm Mimma. She's Shannah. She's thirteen years old, and you're smart. I'm thirteen too, and I think your clothes are the ugliest I’ve ever seen!" Brenda was taken aback. She thought her amabile clothes were quite nice.

Mimma stepped back in line. A boy turned to her and said, "Mimma, you shouldn’t say that!"

"Why not? Don’t you think their ugly?"

"Of course. But Mrs. Berry’s were ugliest." The boy stepped forward. "I’m Peter. I’m 12 and in grade 8. I skipped a grade! I’m incorrigible." He stepped back

"Congratulations." Brenda chuckled.

"What's "incorrigible"?" Peter asked.

"I think it means you want to be treated like a boy." Brenda answered, trying to hold in her laugh.
Peter rather liked that answer, so he nodded. A  button-nosed girl, stepped forward and tugged at Brenda’s sleeve."Mm-hm?"

"I'm Jessica D, and I'm going to be 14 on Tuesday, and I'd like big pink sunglasses for my birthday."

"Well, pink's my favorite color too."

An even littler girl stamped her foot.

"Yes? You're?. . ." Brenda questioned.

"She’s Christie" Mimma said.

"Oh! Hello Christie! Your how old?"

"She’s 12 years old and in grade 7. She doesn’t like to talk to strangers." Mimma voiced.

"You're 12 years old? My, that's nice ." Brenda said trying to make the young girl feel good.

Christie and Jessica laughed at this. Brenda looked up and down the line of children

"Now, I have to tell you a secret. I've never been a catholic vocal teacher before. before." The children in the line looked at one another, ready for mischief.

"You mean you don't know anything catholic vocal teaching?" Shannah asked, with a glint in her eyes.

"Nothing. I'll need lots of advice." Brenda said simply.

"Well, the best way to start is to be sure to tell Mrs. Fraumeni to mind her own business." Shannah said. The children began to crowd around Brenda.

"You must always be late for first period."

"Never sing your songs quietly." Patty made some peculiar singing noises that sounded oddly like opera.

"And, on hot lunch days always cut in line." Peter told her. By this time the children were so close they were making Brenda feel uncomfortable. A wee bit cluster phobic. And she didn’t believe a word they said. Even so, Christie came to her rescue.

"Don't believe a word they say, Ms. Zadorsky!" She said protectively.

"Oh, why not?" Brenda asked as if she were naive.
"Because I like you!" Then Lorie, the noon hour supervisor, walked outside clapping her hands.

"All right now, children. Inside for your classes. Principal's order. Now hurry up. Hurry up. Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick." The children walked reluctantly to the front door of the school. Lorie turned to Brenda. "Uh, Ms. Zadorsky. I’m Lorie Goodner, the noon hour supervisor."

"How do you do?" Brenda asked, holding out her hand.

"How do you do? I'll show you to your vocal room. Follow me." They shook hands. Lorie picked up Brenda's bag and beckoned Brenda to follow her. Brenda picked up her Amabile bag and followed Lorie to the front doors where some of the children. They went inside, and the children followed behind slowly.

Brenda turned to Lorie and said quietly, "Poor little dears." At the top of the stairs, the children paused and looked downwards to watch as Brenda suddenly dropped her Amabile bag, screamed, and reached into her Amabile jacket pocket.

"What? Ah! Ah! Aah! Oh! Ohh –" She screamed madly. She pulled out a frog and flung it down the stairs. It crept out the open door. Brenda, leaned on the bannister, and sighed with relief.

"You’re very lucky." Lorie said. "With Mrs. Dash it was a snake.

"Ugh!" Brenda said with disgust. She glared at the children who turned and somberly returned to their classrooms.