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Lumi
“What’s happened? Is she okay?” I panic.
“There’s been an...incident. She’s okay, but it’s probably best if we all talk in person when you get here.”
“O-okay? I’ll come right over.” I’m still on the phone but I’m already scrambling to try and find my clothes which we seem to have flung all over the studio.
“Great. We’ll see you soon. Oh, and if you could avoid the parking lot, that would be great. It’s a little out of action right now.”
I hang up and turn to Quilo.
“I have to go. I promise I’m not running away, but that was Ade’s school and they want to see me and I have to pick her up straight away.”
“I’ll come with you,” he immediately offers.
“No, it’s fine,” I reply, struggling to get my legs into my yoga pants. I’m shaking so much.
“Lumi? I’m coming with you. Let’s see what’s happened and if I need to, I can call the others back too,” he insists. I breathe a sigh of relief. Whatever is waiting for me at the school will be much easier to face with someone by my side. I’m so tired of doing everything alone.
“I’m sure it’s fine. Don't do that.” I don’t want him calling the others back, but I’m not going to protest about him coming with me again.
“We’ll see. Come on, grab the rest of your clothes, let’s go.”
Quilo is already fully clothed and helps me into my few remaining items. I tie my braids back out of my face and straighten my clothes. I wouldn’t normally go to meet with the principal dressed like this, but the call was urgent, so I doubt I have time to go home and change.
We race downstairs where Lyrical is happily wiping down the coffee machine, which is the worst job in the world. I feel so guilty as soon as I see her.
“Oh, hi. God, I’m so sorry, I totally forgot you were here!”
“Oh, erm, it’s fine? When the old people came out I helped a few of them down the stairs and then they wanted some drinks and things so I did that and the till was pretty easy to figure out. But then when you didn’t come down, I sort of just...stayed. And did some tidying. I hope that’s okay.” She seems so sweet and I instinctively like and trust her.
“More than okay!” I say to her. “I’m really sorry, I have a family emergency I have to go take care of, so I need to shut up and cancel my classes this afternoon.”
“Can you call in one of the other instructors? I can stay until they get here and help,” she suggests.
“I could ask Muse.” I pull out my phone hesitantly and text him, knowing that he lives the closest. His reply is immediate and good news. “He’ll be right over. Ten minutes max. It’s just a few personal trainer appointments this afternoon so nothing crazy. You can go when he gets here, or stay. Whatever you want really. And if you don’t think I’m too crazy, come back in the morning and I’ll give you a proper induction. If you still want to work here.”
“I will. I do. Good luck. I hope everything is okay.”
“Me too.”
Quilo takes my hand and pulls me out of the studio. He leaves his bike and climbs into the passenger side of Betty, and belts up. My hands are shaking as I drive us across town to Silver Springs Supernatural Elementary School. She’s only in Kindergarten. It’s going to be a disaster if she’s causing trouble already. There aren’t a massive number of options for schools where I can send her.
My stomach drops when we pull up outside the school and I see exactly why the principal told me to avoid the car park. The asphalt is completely cracked, with great fissures opened up and parked cars teetering on the edge of some giant hole.
“Oh my god,” I gasp.
“Ade?” Quilo whispers.
“God I hope not,” I reply even as I realize it has to be.
I park on the side of the road, but it’s more like abandoning Betty than actually parking, and quickly climb out. Quilo follows and we race across the parking lot as best we can, avoiding debris and cracks as we make our way to the school’s reception area.
“Hi, I’m Ade’s mom. I got a call from the principal to come in?” I say to the receptionist as soon as I rush through the door. She looks relieved to see me and ushers us straight through to the principal’s office, where Ade is waiting for us. She has dried tear tracks on her face.
“Mama! Quilo!” She gives us a wobbly smile when she sees us. I rush over to hug her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
I can’t help it. I begin to cry.
