The younglings played. The younglings read. The younglings talked. The younglings laughed. The younglings paused as they noticed their teachers watching them.
Not their usual mindful gaze, not a glance, not a watch to let them know they are being watched...a different kind of watch.
It was not unsettling. It did not frighten the herbivores. It did not threaten the carnivores. It did not alert the omnivores.
It was a watch that was familiar in a way. Different but familiar.
"Stop staring at us!" they cried
"We're not staring. We're thinking." they replied back, their gaze deepening.
"Well stop thinking at us." the boldest ones said
"Your still staring." the smartest ones said
"What are you thinking about?" the curious ones said.
"Your so small."
"..." "..." "..."
"WE AREN'T SMALL!" the younglings protested. The oldest most offended. The middle most annoyed. The youngest most loud.
"We don't mean your size." one started.
"We mean you're so young." the other finished.
"I'm 8 years old!" "I'm 5!" "I'm 3 and a half!"
"And you have so much to experience." they smile
"You still have to experience taking the shuttle by yourself." they grin to the eldest ones.
"You still have to experience losing your first tooth." they beam to the middle ones.
"You still have to experience your first playdate." they whisper to the youngest.
The younglings pout and huff. The younglings protest being small. The younglings, the smartest ones, figure out what's so familiar with the watch.
It was the same watch they got from their parents. It was the same watch they got from when they told them about the new friend they made. It was the same watch they got when they learned how to make a snack by themselves. It was the same watch they got when they learned something new and exciting.
It was the same watch they would see from their teachers for days to come.