āMom has been texting me for the last twenty minutes. She wants me to come home. Itās a four hour drive, when the roads are clear, and from what I hear everybody is trying to get somewhere right now. Thereās no telling if Iād even-ā
āEverybody else has left. All the other kids were picked up, the other staff left. They gave me all the keys. I promised to stay and wait for as long as- well. Even if some of the parents show up, I guess some of them wonāt, so Iām just waiting. Until.ā
āA couple of people came after everybody left. Peter, one of Aidanās fathers, gave me three hundred dollars for staying. What am I going to do with money? Itās- anyway. I kind of get it. He wanted to give me something.ā
āTheyāre all between 2 and 4.ā Sniff. āTheyāre so little. Too little to really- maybe if they were older, Iād have to tell them something. But um. Iām just- trying to stay calm and keep them happy and occupied. I think thatās the best thing, right now.ā
āI normally use this recorder to help me remember stuff. Itās just, uh, habit to talk to it. I donāt know. Theyāre napping, right now. Iāve got the baby monitor, they know that if they talk into it, Iāll come, so-ā
āMom keeps texting, so I blocked her. I sent her a text telling her goodbye, first, but. I do. But these kids need me.ā
āI tried calling their parents again, but I canāt get anybody. Itās just busy signals. I called the firefighter station, 911. I canāt get through to anybody.ā
āI went out into the yard. Um, I think they can play. Itās nice out, and you canāt really see it yet. Little bit of a glimmer, if they ask Iāll just tell them itās a plane, but itās nice out and weāve got hours before-ā
[Murmuring childās voice, indistinguishable.]
blakekathryn
yousharknotpass
tangentwithtanner
