Ukrainian children in Kharkiv, which borders Russia, had their first day of school at the metro station, where four classrooms were arranged amid relentless Russian shelling.
This “metro school” is equipped for 800 children, who can attend it in two shifts and on Saturdays.
The building in front of them was intimidating, at least to the younger of the skeleton brothers. Sans had already attended to it for a couple years by now and was used to it. Papyrus, on the other hand, gripped his brother’s hand tightly. The Dreemurr Royal Academy was the kingdom’s fanciest school, where all the children of the king’s courtiers attended. Sans had gotten in on pure talent, though, as a scholarship student when he was ten. As one of the school’s most promising students it hadn’t been hard to enrol his younger brother. Papyrus was incredibly smart and talented as well, after all, albeit in a different way.
Sans fondly gazed down at the younger, who desperately tried to hide his fear. He had gotten better at it, when they were younger Papyrus had been an open book.
“c’mon, bro,” he said, smiling encouragingly. “everyone’ll love ya. you’re the great papyrus after all.”
Papyrus swallowed, and nodded. His grip on Sans’ phalanges got slightly lighter. Just a bit, but enough. He breathed deeply.
“YOU’RE RIGHT!” He eventually exclaimed, straightening. It was obvious he was still scared, but an improvement. “THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL MAKE LOTS OF FRIENDS.”
“’course he will,” the older skeleton agreed, kneeling to look him in the eyes. “but i hope the great papyrus knows that even if he wouldn’t, he’d still be the coolest monster in the world, and that his brother loves him very very much.”
Papyrus looked at him for a couple moments, before nodding again. He looked determined.
“I LOVE YOU TOO.”
“shall we go then? or do ya wanna go by yourself?”
Papyrus didn’t say anything to that, just gripped a little harder. Sans smiled, and followed the other toward the first years’ classroom. He waved to a couple of his friends on the other side of the schoolyard – he had a lot, people liked his funnybone and easygoing nature – and studied the other first years. They got a couple odd looks from parents, seeing how he obviously wasn’t Papyrus’ father since he was both too young and wearing school uniform. The other kids looked like the stereotypical Academy students. Well-fed, well-groomed, new uniforms in difference to his and Papyrus’ second-hand. They looked almost new, though, since Sans had gotten quite good at sewing clothes. They couldn’t afford buying new all the time, after all, when they grew so quickly.
The teacher, a seahorse monster, smiled as they approached.
“Hello, Sans,” he greeted. Sans had had him as extra teacher to catch up when he started. He turned to his little brother. “And this must be Papyrus? Your brother has told me so much about you.”
Papyrus began to grin, parts of his self-confidence glowing through his fears.
“HI!”
“I’m Marco, and I’ll be your teacher this year. I’m really looking forward to get to know you.”
Sans smiled. It was lucky this was the teacher his lil’ bro would get. Otherwise he would’ve been quite worried. He still was, of course, always would be because Papyrus was his baby brother, but less.
“i’ll leave ya in Marco’s capable hands, then, paps,” he said, kneeling for a hug. As soon as he spread his arms Papyrus fell into them, like he didn’t want to let go. “love ya lots.”
“I LOVE YOU TOO.” Papyrus’ voice was muffled by the collar of Sans’ shirt. Suddenly a bell rang.
“crap,” Sans swore, gently making Papyrus’ let him go. “i have to go, or i’ll be late. i’ll get ya after school, bro.”
Papyrus waved as he left, running toward his own building.
Sans waved goodbye to his classmates. They were all going to a start-of-term-party, and he was invited as well of course. Even though he never went to social gatherings with his friends they always invited him. He simply didn’t have time, between school, work and Papyrus. Nevertheless, he appreciated it. Perhaps once they all got older and he could leave Papyrus alone at home for a couple hours. But probably not, his brother was more important. Possibly if Papyrus spent the night at a friend’s place.
The first-years were playing outside, waiting for their parents to pick them up. Not Papyrus, however. Where was he, then? Sans hurried inside the school, a bit concerned. As his brother’s voice reached him, he calmed down. He couldn’t hear what he was saying yet, but he seemed cheerful enough.
He walked into his brother’s classroom, to see him sitting together with Marco, chatting excitedly. They were speaking about what Papyrus wanted to be when he grew up. At the moment, his brother wanted to be an actor or a puzzle engineer. Honestly, both would fit him perfectly. With his exuberant personality, he’d do great in the public eye, and he was so smart and talented at making puzzles.
“hiya,” he called, announcing his presence. Papyrus immediately stood up, running into his arms. He was grinning. “didya have a good day, pap?”
“YEAH,” Papyrus replied. “MARCO SAID I’M REALLY SMART.”
Sans petted his head.
“you absolutely are,” he agreed. “but why’re ya in here instead of with the other kids?”
Papyrus’ face fell for a moment before his grin came back in full force. That was worrisome. He glanced toward the seahorse, who gave him a half smile. It was slightly apologetic.
“THEY SAID I’M TOO LOUD, SO THEY DIDN’T WANT TO PLAY WITH ME,” he said. Sans blinked. What? How dared they? “BUT DON’T WORRY!” Papyrus quickly followed up. “I’M SURE THEY’LL GET USED SOON, AND THEN I WILL HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS.”
Sans took a deep breath. Now was not the moment to get mad. Plus, what could he do anyway? Not much, unless he wanted to threaten the kids into being friends with his bro, which Papyrus definitely wouldn’t approve of.
“i’m sure,” he said instead, despite not feeling like it. “now, why don’t we go home? i’m sure we’ll get something extra tasty for dinner to celebrate your first day.”
Papyrus nodded enthustiastically. They’d been saving money for a while to be able to get something fancier for tonight. He couldn’t wait. The school food was free, and really good, so he wasn’t hungry, but the food he and Sans made was better just because they’d made it.
“BYE!” he called to Marco, who waved back. Sans said goodbye as well, and they left the ground. Papyrus was speaking excitedly about school all the way home.
Papyrus stared at his brother. He could feel himself smiling wider than he thought he had ever done, and Sans looked so happy too. He was so proud of his brother. To see Sans standing here now, dressed in graduation robes and his diploma in his hands, it was a great feeling. They hadn’t had the easiest childhood. Growing up on the streets while having to hide that you lived on the streets wasn’t a walk on roses. But they hadn’t wanted to go to an orphanage, because then they would’ve been parted since Sans was five years older than him.
Papyrus had gotten the easy part. Being the younger sibling of someone like Sans meant he had hardly worked at all except small things like baby-sitting and cleaning after school. Sans on the other hand had worked at least three part-time jobs while still attending school and raising Papyrus. So to see him standing there, in robes he had sewn himself since they couldn’t afford to buy new and for this one thing neither had wanted Sans dressed in second-hand, grinning from ear to ear…
Papyrus hadn’t ever been happier. It felt like it was he himself who was standing there, newly graduated with doctorates in quantum physics and law. As one of the youngest ever to do so. Sans was brilliant.
His brother had worked so hard for this. Studying in between working, sleeping and spending time with him.
Once the ceremony was over Papyrus hurried over to where Sans was standing together with his friends.
“BROTHER!” he yelled, making several people cover their ears. “I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!”
Sans laughed as his fourteen-year-old brother threw himself at him, hugging him hard.
“thanks, bro,” he answered, hugging back. When they eventually let go Sans gestured between Papyrus and his friends. Papyrus grinned at them. “ya’ll remember papyrus?”
“’Course we do, Sansy,” a cat monster Papyrus remembered was named Jamie said. “Who could forget him?”
He beamed, and Sans did as well.
They stayed there for a while before Sans told them they’d have to go home. He took Papyrus’ hand and they left the crowd. Papyrus kept smiling the whole time they walked home.
Their home was a one-room apartment in the ‘slums’ of New Home. They had been able to afford it when Papyrus was ten.
“I’VE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU,” he told his older brother as they reached their building. Sans looked curious as he checked no one was inside. They lived on the fifth level, and none of them was too fond of walking all these stairs. Especially since Sans’ robes reached the floor. They shortcutted up to the apartment.
Papyrus smiled as they appeared at home. In front of them a cake stood on their small kitchen-table, complete with frosting reading “CONGRATULATIONS SANS”. Sans stared at it. It was quite a fancy cake.
“I BOUGHT IT MYSELF! I’VE BEEN SAVING MY POCKET MONEY FOR THIS FOR MONTHS!” He would’ve made a cake himself but he didn’t known how to make it without Sans noticing.
“thanks, pap,” was all Sans said, staring at the cake, but Papyrus beamed. Sans was speechless. Which was understandable. His awesome brother had bought a cake from one of the city’s nicest bakeries after all. It had been a pain to get enough money, but it had been worth it to see Sans’ face.
They feasted on the cake all evening, and it was big enough to give a lot of leftovers. It was a good gift.
If you're wondering about why they're calling the teacher by his first name that's because I'm going with what I know, and that's how we do in Sweden. I've literally never called someone by title (including mr/mrs/miss) in my life, including when I've been in other countries (my old school had a project where my class went to Germany in 8th grade and Holland in 9th. In both countries my class used the foreign teachers' first names, and it was really fun how weirded out the other students were by that). So I'm going to take inspiration from Swedish school when writing school Underground.
