Bethany had all the children sit in a circle. She was moving her hands about and singing a song. All the children were mirroring her, but Monica could vaguely hear what song it was. She had put her earbuds in, listening to music while she cleaned the room.

It was spaghetti day, and tomato sauce and loose noodles were splat across the floor of the area of the classroom. She was down on her hands and knees picking up noodles with a paper towel.

Sixteen Stone seeped into her brain, removing her self that did not have a body to another place. Monica had seen Astrid wearing a tattered, black Bush shirt on the day they ran into each other at the grocery store. It was months ago. It felt like yesterday.

It's taken me all this time to find out what I need

Some noodles were pressed beneath the metal leg of a chair. She got the disinfectant wipes out of a cabinet and rubbed down all the small chairs and small tables. There were three tables with four chairs at each.

What do you say, do you do
When it all comes down

The children got up from their sitting position, criss-cross applesauce. They were marching in place. One of them, a boy, stood next to the wall. He did not want to march with the others. He had his thumb in his mouth, watching the children's feet lifting from the floor and then thudding back down. Around and around in a circle.

'Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this, all this time

The boy eyed Monica as she was stretched out on her side, vigorously wiping down the side of a table. He looked at Miss Bethany and then back at Miss Monica. He looked at the large jar of brightly colored candies Astrid had bought sitting on the counter. He took his thumb out of his mouth and walked behind the dancing children to his cubby. He felt the silky edge of his blankie that had been stuffed into his bag by his mother that morning.

"Taylor!" Miss Bethany spoke above the music. "Come back and join us, please!"

His little eyes darted from his teacher and back to his cubby. He wanted his blankie. He wanted to rub its soft fabric on his cheek.

Miss Bethany turned the music off. "Taylor, please, come back to the rug and join the class. Taylor. LIstening ears." She sighed. "1 ... 2 ... 3...--"

"No," he shouted. He had his hands in fists next to his sides.

Monica took her earbuds out. "Hey, bud, you need to listen to Miss Bethany."

He wouldn't budge. Tears were forming in his eyes. Monica reached out and touched his tiny shoulder. He jerked his body away from her and put his head in his cubby so no one could see him cry.

"Hey," Monica said, inching her way over to him on her knees, "everything's alright. What's the matter, Taylor?"

"Go away!" he burst.

The other children stood on the rug and looked at Taylor, wide-eyed. Some looked upset while others were busying themselves with zippers on their clothing or bows in their hair. Miss Bethany said as evenly as she could, "Taylor, that's not a nice way to treat Miss Monica."

"It's okay," Monica said. "He's upset. Taylor, why are you upset with me?"

His head remained in his cubby while he spoke. "I'm not upset with you. I want Miss Astrid," he cried. "I want MIss Astrid."

His body shook and he crouched forward more. Monica put the wipes down and wrapped her arms around Taylor. He turned around and held her tight, so tight.