Reading tea Leaves

Ms. Anne poured hot water over her tea bag from the electric kettle, and then sat down with the students who came early in the morning for before school program. Alex was very early, and Sal just came in with a hot chocolate and muffin.

“Oh that looks yummy,” Ms. Anne said. “Alex are you having school breakfast, I also have snacks in the fridge.”

“It is pancake day, I will wait for school breakfast.” Alex said. “So can I start on my Maker Monday project early?”

“Sure thing, just uncover the cart. We can save it for afternoon to finish. What is your idea?” Ms. Anne asked.

“I am making a house for my hamster, I think a cereal box should be perfect.” Alex said.

He got out a cereal box, a hole punch and a lot of string from the maker cart. “I think she would like to chew on string that holds it together like a box”

“Oh no!” Ms. Anne exclaimed. “My tea bag broke in my cup, and there are leaves everywhere.”

Alex and Sal came over to look in her mug that was shaped like a small bowl. 

“You could drink very carefully,” Sal suggested. 

“Yes, I am going to try that,” Ms. Anne said. “Ooh great idea. Since it is October, maybe I can try to read the tea leaves.”

“Wait, do you know how to do that?” Alex asked.

“Well no, but I imagine if I see a shape or something then it will make sense. Have you read tea leaves Alex?”

“Oh no, you are the one most likely to do something like that. I am a normal person,” Alex laughed.

“We agree that Ms. Anne is not, um, average.” Sal added.

“Okay I will drink carefully and see what I get, then we can save the prediction for this afternoon, our secret.” Ms. Anne started to sip her tea very carefully. 

“Let me see your progress on the hamster box after you get breakfast.” Ms. Anne said.

Alex showed off how he cut apart the cereal box, punched holes and started to tie it all back into an open box shape with a triangle top. 

“She can go in either side, and I put extra knots on the strings for her to chew on.” He pointed out the series of knots at the corner of the new box. “Darla really loves chewing.” 

“That looks awesome, I think she really will like it.” Ms. Anne said. “I finished my tea and only got a few leaves in my mouth. Let’s see what the leaves look like in my cup.”

“I want to see,” Sal said.

The three of them peered into the cup with the soggy tea leaves. 

“That part looks like a bushy tail.” Alex pointed out.

“And I think there are pointy ears, off the body shape.” Ms. Anne said.

“Hey, do you think it is a fox! It looks like the one in our neighborhood, it rolls in the dirt in my back yard.” Sal said.

“It could be, it has some foxy energy!” Ms. Anne agreed. Alex and Sal looked at each other and shook their heads with some confusion. “Okay go to class, I will put your hamster project aside for after school. I will see you at 3.”

“Wait, what do you do during the day?” Alex asked.

“I go home, have a really good lunch, maybe I will crochet a fox toy today.” Ms. Anne answered. 

Ms. Anne had everyone set up for after school program, the tables were clean, the snack on the side table and Ms. Emily went to get the kindergartners from class. She also had a basket of variegated orange yarn, and a crochet hook. If it was quiet she was planning on working on a crochet fox toy, there was a way to comb out the yarn and make a bushy tail she wanted to try. The bell rang and immediately Alex and Sal ran into the cafeteria yelling.

“Wait, what are you saying? You are shouting too much for me to understand.” Ms. Anne interrupted them. 

“There was a fox, today, just like the tea leaves said.” Alex shouted, way too close to her face. As a 4th grader he was almost as tall as her.

“Yeah, we couldn’t go to recess until animal control scooted them off the playground.” Sal added, also too close to her face. 

“First of all, you both need to brush your teeth on garlic bread day. And you have to be joking with me, a fox?” Ms. Anne said. “I am an expert at making up stories, and this sounds like something I would make up.”

“We are not joking, call the office and check.” Alex said.

“Okay, I will.” Ms. Anne picked up the phone and made a quick call to the front office. “So was there a fox on the playground today? Really, and what grades couldn’t go out. Hey can after school club name the fox, you know in case he comes back. Yes ask the principal, I will wait. Great, we will have a naming contest. Thanks.” she hung up the phone.

“I believe you now, and I got us permission to name the fox from the principal. It is the least we can do after the tea leaves. But maybe we shouldn’t tell everyone about the tea leaves, I have enough of a reputation as an odd person.” she finished.

“Um yeah, except I kinda told people already.” Alex admitted.

“I can’t blame you, it is very cool.” Ms. Anne agreed. “Now look what I got during the day, fun yarn to crochet a fox.”

“Wait, can we make tails and go outside?” Sal asked. “It could be part of naming the fox.”

“What a great idea, it is Maker Monday, so we can make ourselves into foxes.” Ms. Anne was super excited. “I can’t wait to tell all the kids.” As she said that Ms. Emily, the kindergartners and all the kids started coming into the cafeteria. 

And that is how Remy, the fox became the unofficial after-school mascot.