"Should we plant one too?" Alina asked, looking up at Dante as he ca to stand beside her.
He nodded.
She picked up a small sapling from the basket nearby and held it out to him. He took it, turning it over in his hands, examining the tiny roots wrapped in soil.
"Here," she said, kneeling down. "We’ll put it here."
Dante knelt beside her, which was not sothing he did often. His dark trousers were already getting dirty, but he didn’t seem to notice or care.
Alina dug a small hole with her hands. The soil was cool and soft. Dante watched her for a mont, then reached over and helped, his larger hands moving the dirt aside.
They worked quietly, not saying much. It was comfortable. Easy.
When the hole was deep enough, Alina took the sapling from him and placed it gently inside. She held it straight while Dante pushed the soil back around it.
"There," she said, patting the earth down.
Dante copied her, pressing the soil with his palms.
They sat back on their heels and looked at the small plant. It was nothing special. Just a tiny tree with a few green leaves. But it stood straight and firm in the ground.
"Now we water it," Alina said.
She reached for a small watering can nearby and handed it to him. Dante took it and poured water around the base of the plant, careful not to flood it.
"You’re good at that," she said.
"I watched the children," he replied.
She smiled.
They sat there for a mont longer, side by side, looking at the small plant they had put in the ground together.
"It will take ti to grow," she said.
"I know."
"When it’s big, we’ll rember this day."
Dante looked at her. Not at the plant. At her.
"Yes," he said. "We will."
Alina felt her cheeks warm, but she didn’t look away.
Then Boo zood past.
"Teacher and Principal planted together!" he shouted.
"Boo," Alina called.
"Yes, teacher?"
"Go help Rocky with the watering."
Boo saluted dramatically and zood off.
Alina shook her head, still smiling.
Dante stood up and offered her his hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. His hand lingered on hers for a second longer than necessary, then let go.
"Good," he said, looking at the small plant. "That’s done."
Alina nodded. "Yes."
They stood there, side by side, watching the tiny leaves move in the breeze.
Plantation Day passed in a soft, peaceful rhythm.
The children moved around the playground with surprising focus, each one treating their little plant like sothing precious. Small hands patted soil, adjusted stones, poured water with careful attention.
Kelpie poured water with great importance, his small face scrunched in concentration. Sotis a little too much water spilled out, creating small puddles around his plant, until Alina had to guide him gently. "Less water, sweetheart. Just a little. Like this." He nodded seriously and tried again, his tongue poking out as he tilted the watering can.
Rocky placed small stones around his plant as if building it a protective ho, arranging them in a careful circle, then adding a second layer, then stepping back to check if it looked right. He adjusted one stone, then another, until the circle was perfectly even. "For protection," he said quietly. "Stones are good protectors."
Luna pressed the soil firmly around her plant, making sure it stood perfectly straight. Her expression was serious, focused, like she was preparing it for battle rather than helping it grow. "You will be strong," she told the small sapling. "I will make sure."
Boo gave a full speech to his plant.
Floating in front of it, his cap slightly tilted, his ribbon drifting behind him, he spoke in a low, dramatic whisper. "You will grow into sothing legendary," he said, pointing at the small green leaves. "Do not disappoint . The people are watching. Teacher is watching. I am watching. Grow well."
Felix glanced once from his own plant.
"It is a plant," he said flatly. "It cannot hear you."
"It is my plant," Boo corrected. "My plant listens."
"Plants do not have ears."
"They have leaf ears. Leaf ears are spiritual."
Felix stared at him for a mont, then went back to his own planting.
Lucien and Sable worked side by side, their plants placed close together so they could grow next to each other. Sable chattered happily about how big they would beco, how they would touch the sky, how everyone would see them and know they were brother plants. Lucien nodded at each point, adding small observations, occasionally reaching over to help Sable pat down a loose patch of soil.
"Your plant is good," Sable said, looking at Lucien’s sapling.
"Your plant is also good," Lucien replied.
"Maybe they will be friends."
"Plants do not have friends."
"These plants will. Because we are friends and brothers."
Lucien considered this. "...That is logical."
And Alina walked between them all, guiding, smiling, occasionally correcting, but mostly just watching. She helped Felix with his watering, showed Rocky how to leave space between stones for the plant to breathe, reminded Boo that speeches were not necessary for growth. Her voice was soft, her patience endless, her presence a quiet comfort.
By the ti everything was done, the playground looked different.
Livelier.
Full of tiny beginnings.
Each small plant stood in its own patch of soil, surrounded by stones, tied with na tags, watered and cared for. They were fragile and small, barely more than twigs with a few green leaves.
The children were tired, their hands covered in soil, their faces flushed from the sun, but there was a quiet satisfaction in their eyes. They had done sothing. They had made sothing. They had put living things into the ground and promised to take care of them.
Because of the long activity, Gabriel announced that they would be dismissed early that day.
"Go ho and rest," Alina said gently, standing at the edge of the playground, her green dress smudged with dirt, her hair loose around her face. "Tomorrow is a big day."
The children looked at her.
That word alone was enough to make the children scream excitedly.
"Sports Day!"
Excitent returned instantly, the tiredness forgotten.
"Tomorrow we win!"
"I will run fastest!"
"I will beat everyone!"
"I will not lose! I refuse to lose!"
The playground filled with loud promises and determined faces, small fists raised, competitive fires burning bright.
Alina laughed softly, shaking her head.
"...We’ll see," she said.
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