Page 3 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

Maybe she’s in the library already. I think kids like the library too, even though I think the sports ground is better. Breaking a sweat is the thing for me, compared to sitting inside and reading a book.

Do I go to the library later in the day to see whether I can chat with her?

Somehow, it feels like I have to get to know her a bit more than just exchanging a smile inside the assembly hall. It always kills me to stay there for long. I’m probably like the kids. None of us want to stay in all the time. However, the principal loves to share his experience and all the speeches he prepared beforehand with the kids. Maybe some kids that are new will enjoy those cheeky jokes.

More importantly, we have a new teaching staff with us.

Maybe I’m hyping myself up a bit too much.

Jackel chuckles by my side. “Are you going to scare the new librarian in no time?”

I roll my eyes. “Come on. I’m not scaring anyone.”

He chuckles some more, and I have to resist the urge to smack his shoulder or something. “You’re just excited to meet new beings all the time.”

Maybe I am. When Jackel joined us, I gave him a welcome hug. He seemed to be choking. Maybe I didn’t remember how strong I was. I always remember that when I’m around kids, but when it comes to other staff who are also adults... Not always.

I roll my eyes when Jackel sips his tea with his annoying smile still hanging on his face. He should know better with his tentacle hands that look slimy all the time. “Come on, I’m not going to go hug her. Don’t even worry about that.”

“Ah, so you finally realize, huh?”

I flex one of my arms. “Time for you to get stronger.”

This time, he is the one rolling his eyes. “Whatever. I have a lesson coming up. Talk to you later.”

“Sure, best of luck with the kids.”

I don’t have a lesson to lead in this time slot, so I have some time to get out of this suit. I stare at the ceiling. It is so quiet here. Teachers who have lessons are gone by now, leaving those of us who are free. At the same time, they are busy preparing materials for the lessons. At least the school year just started and there shouldn’t be assignments to mark.

I enjoy being a sports teacher and coach. There are no exam papers and no assignments to look at.

I stretch my arms. Will the new librarian sit by my side at times? I know she’s supposed to be in the library most of the time, but this is the staff room, so it will make sense for her to be around here too, right? There’s an empty spot by my side, so it will make a lot of sense for her to be assigned there, right? Right?

Maybe I should focus on not scaring her. A lot of beings find more arms scary or at least intimidating though...

But maybe I’m just overthinking it. Despite what Jackel says, I give good hugs. Maybe she likes good hugs. Not when we’ve barely met, though.

chapter 3

Winnie

The principal is proud of the school. This is what I’m certain about after walking around with him for a while inside the building. He already showed me around when he hired me and introduced me to what I was supposed to do on the job before the school year started, but he wanted to do that again so that I could have a feel for the school at work.

I’m not too upset about that, even though I want to be preparing for the first story session in the afternoon with the kids instead.

We walk past an activity room where kids are playing with musical instruments. I don’t even know the name of it. It looks like a guitar, but there are buttons on it. I’m not a music person. When there are a lot of different cultures on the planet, there are too many different things to remember. Sometimes, I don’t even have a word in my language to describe something.

The kids are smiling and enjoying their time, which is the most important part of the job. Inside that room, there are different species of kids too, but there aren’t any humans. I’d want there to be more humans, even though it doesn’t really matter. Maybe it’s in me that spotting beings of the same species is a lot easier.

The principal rubs his horns, finally pausing to take a breath. “Don’t you like how we can be enjoying our time with the students?”

“I do. I think there’s nothing better than that.”

“Good, good. Now, let’s get you settled in the staff room. Do you know everyone?”

I shake my head. How am I supposed to know everyone on my first day and first hours? I know the reception lady and a few teachers I ran into by the name, but most of the others are new to me.

The principal checks his watch. “Oh, we better hurry. I have a meeting to attend with the departments in a bit. Here, let’s get going.” He walks off with big strides. I hurry to follow. For him, he may just be walking a bit quicker than usual, but he forgets or doesn’t realize that my legs are shorter than his. Being short sucks...

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