As Keiko rounded the corner, she was immediately taken aback by the room. Everything looked so much bigger now, the ceiling seeming to loom overhead, the formerly small 8 year olds now the same height as she was if not taller. Looking towards the front she could see a teacher sitting at the desk that had once been hers.
"Is everything okay Keiko you look pale."
Keiko's eyes went wide in astonishment as the woman now approached. When she had been a student teacher, the heights if the two women were nearly equal, Keiko perhaps being an inch shorter. Now this woman towered over her, Keiko perhaps waist high to the now Amazonian teacher. "I'm okay," she squeaked, Keiko astounded by how thin and high her voice sounded. The teacher now gave the girl a warm smile, guiding Keiko back to her desk.
Sitting at the desk proved to be a small comfort for Keiko. The desk fit the girl perfectly, Keiko able to rest her rest firmly on the floor. Still, thoughts of how small those desks used to be was front and center in her head. As the teacher now began her lesson, Keiko began to rummage through her desk.
Once again it was a surreal experience. Moments ago none of this existed, now it was if it had always been here. Keiko quickly checked through her books and worksheets, confirming everything belonged to her. As the lesson began, she quickly found herself growing bored. She knew all the answers, feelings of frustration brewing within her as the other 8 year olds seemed to struggle with the lesson. As much as wanted too though, she remained quiet, exchanging a knowing glance with Lisa. They were in the same boat, the lessons were simple to them became they had experienced them before. "No wonder Lisa is so desperate to grow back up," she thought. "She's probably pulling her hair out having to do this."
As the first few lessons finished, Keiko felt exhausted. These lessons were far too easy for the former teacher. Although she could see her students making strides on mastering these skills it was far too easy for Keiko. "Ugh I need a break," she sighed. Much to her surprise, Keiko now found herself getting a break as the teacher now advised the students that it was snack time. "Snack," Keiko gasped, she had completely forgotten about that.
Slowly getting up from her desk, Neiko tentatively made her way to where the students stored their lunches. Would she even have a snack? Who would have made her a snack? In fact, who were her parents? Fear began to cloud her mind, her childish emotions surfacing as she felt her eyes begin to water. Was she about to start crying?
"Keiko," Lisa whispered. Keiko turned, seeing Lisa gently pull her to the side. "Take a breath okay," she said. "I found your snack. Everything will be okay, I know it can get a bit overwhelming but I'll make sure you get through the day." Keiko nodded, wiping her eyes as she thanked Lisa. As crazy as it seemed, Lisa was quickly becoming her friend.
The rest of the school day came much easier for Keiko. Amazingly, whoever had pa ked her snack knew all of her favorites. A yogurt, a bottle of Sunny D, even an apple re-energized her, allowing her to focus on her next lessons before lunch. For lunch, Keiko nervously made her way into the lunchroom, it seemed so much bigger than she was accustomed too. Making her way towards the lunch table, Keiko slid in, sighing in annoyance. The 8 year olds feet didn't quite reach the floor.
"How you doing so far," Lisa asked as she slid next to Keiko. "Okay I suppose," she replied, unwrapping her turkey sandwich. "I usually just have a salad for lunch. This is a bit different, plus my feet don't reach the floor. I don't know why, but, I can't help swinging them."
Lisa glanced down, stifling a laugh as she watched Keikos sneakers sway ever so slightly. "Been there done that," she grinned. "Honestly it's not the worse thing on the world. And hey the day is almost over."
"True," Keiko said softly. "But what happens when the day ends? How do we get to your house?" Lisa smiled, reassuring Keiko that everything would be okay.
As the day ended Keiko and Lisa now gathered up their belongings as they were shuttled out of the class by their teacher. Keiko was all to familiar with this chaos of the end of the day. Usually she stood above the fray, guiding kids towards the buses. Now, she found herself within the mass of children. She clung desperately to Lisa's side, nearly knocked onto the ground by huge children who she realized were 6th and 7th grade children. Finally making her way outside, Keiko followed Lisa as she pointed towards a car. "My mom is giving us a ride," she said. "We'll be at my house in 10 minutes."
Keiko nodded, the two 3rd graders entering the car and now dealing with one last humiliation. As Keiko climbed into the backseat, she could feel her cheeks flush. Forced into a booster seat, she and Lisa now buckled themselves in, their feet dangling far from the floor. "Yeah I didn't like it either," Lisa grumbled, noting the sour look on Keikos face. "But it's almost over. In a few minutes we'll have the Reset Watch."