Chapter 276: Chapter 276

"Oh, right!" he said sheepishly. "But we look same happy!"

Professor Hobb sighed, but even he couldn’t hide the small twitch of a smile. "At least it rhymed," he muttered under his breath.

Kelpie beamed proudly, spinning his wet notebook like a trophy. "Thank you, Professor Egg—I mean, Professor Hobb!"

That was it—Boo fell off his chair laughing again, Drake snorted little flame out of his nose, and Luna groaned into her hands.

Professor Hobb looked at the ceiling and whispered, "Why me? Why always me?"

And Kelpie, entirely unaware of the chaos he’d caused, bowed deeply. "Thank you for appreciating my water way, Professor!"

Rocky’s turn came next, and the whole class seemed to hold its breath.

The shy little boy fidgeted in his seat, clutching his notebook close to his chest. Boo leaned over and whispered dramatically, "Rocky’s essay is going to rock!" which earned him a playful glare from Luna.

Professor Hobb sighed, already expecting another strange performance. "Alright, Rocky. Please tell us you at least wrote with a pencil and not a pebble."

Rocky blushed and nodded earnestly. "Yes, Professor Egg—I mean, Hobb! I wrote... um, with pencil."

He slowly stood up, trembling a bit. The small boy’s voice was soft but sincere as he opened his notebook, and everyone leaned forward curiously.

"My favorite teacher is Miss Alina. She smiles like sunshine and pats my head even when I’m rock form. Everyone thinks rocks can’t feel, but I can. When she pats me, I feel warm inside, not cold."

A gentle "aww" spread across the room. Even Luna softened, folding her arms but smiling slightly.

Rocky continued, squinting at his shaky handwriting. "She doesn’t laugh when I hide behind my desk, and she tells me, ’It’s okay, you can learn slowly.’ She says slow things are strong, like mountains."

Boo sniffled dramatically. "Teacher Alina makes everyone cry happy tears!"

Drake tried to hide his watery eyes by pretending to cough tiny flames. "Yeah, dust got in my eyes."

Professor Hobb blinked, a little moved despite himself. "That’s... actually very sweet, Rocky."

But then Rocky added innocently, "And also, she gives me cookies. But sometimes I drop them and eat from floor, because I’m rock, and rocks don’t get germs."

The class exploded into laughter.

Drake fell off his chair, wheezing. "Rock immunity! That’s a new superpower!"

Boo was rolling in the air clutching his stomach. "He’s right, Professor Egg! Rocks can eat anything!"

Even Professor Hobb choked back a laugh. "Oh for heaven’s sake—just sit down before you all convince me to quit teaching entirely."

Rocky smiled shyly, closing his notebook. "Thank you, Professor Egg—I mean, Professor Hobb."

"That’s it! Everyone detention—no, nap time!" Hobb shouted angrily, and Boo howled laughing because he didn’t think anyone could snatch nap time from babies. Huh! That was a crime.

Sable clapped softly from his seat, his small smile shining like sunlight on stone. "Good job, Rocky," he said shyly.

And Rocky sat down, his cheeks red.

Professor Hobb sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, next one. Please—let there be one normal essay today."

Sable hesitated for a long second before standing up, his notebook held tightly to his chest. His eyes looked down shyly, but there was a quiet determination in his small steps as he began to read.

"Um... I wrote about Miss Alina," he said softly. "She’s my favorite teacher."

Boo immediately cheered, floating above his desk. "Obviously!"

Drake nodded with crossed arms. "That’s what we all wrote too. Probably."

Sable’s cheeks turned pink, but he continued, "When Miss Alina became our teacher... the classroom changed. Everyone laughed more. Even Luna stopped growling that much."

"I didn’t!" Luna protested from her desk. "Okay... maybe a little."

A small smile tugged at Sable’s lips. "She always tells us we’re good, even when we mess things up. She said my drawings are special because they show how my shadows feel. And when I was scared during the lockdown, she held my hand... and said she won’t let anything happen to us."

The class fell silent. Even Boo floated lower, blinking rapidly.

"She makes everything bright," Sable whispered. "And when she smiles, I feel like... maybe I can be brave too."

Professor Hobb was about to say something, but his voice caught slightly. He coughed into his fist, pretending to check the attendance sheet. "Yes, well, that was... very heartfelt, little man. Good. Continue."

Sable smiled timidly and sat down again, his tiny shadows curling around his chair as if hugging him.

Boo wiped his eyes with exaggerated drama. "Why does everyone’s essay sound like bedtime stories? I can’t handle all this emotional damage!"

Drake elbowed him. "Shh! Let Sable have his moment!"

After Sable finished reading, everyone clapped loudly for him, their small hands and paws thudding on desks in excitement. Even Luna wagged her tail a little before crossing her arms again to hide it. Read full story at 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝

The lunch bell rang, echoing through the classroom like freedom.

In less than three seconds, every baby had vanished from their seats. Books flew, chairs wobbled, and Boo was already halfway through the door yelling, "FREEEEDOM!!!"

Professor Hobb blinked at the empty classroom in disbelief. "Unbelievable. I didn’t even say class dismissed," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

He turned back to his papers, trying to sort them properly, but a familiar whisper made the hairs on his neck rise.

"Wha—AHHH!" He jumped so hard he almost threw his folder across the room. Boo floated right in front of his face, grinning like a mischievous ghost caught in candy theft.

"BOO!" the professor shouted, clutching his chest. "What are you doing?! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Boo puffed his cheeks. "I have gossip!"

"Go away. I don’t want to hear your childish gossip," Hobb said, waving a dismissive hand.

Boo gasped dramatically, spinning midair. "CHILDISH?! It’s about the PRINCIPAL!"

"Then definitely no," Hobb said, turning away.

"EGG!!!" Boo yelled furiously, pointing his tiny transparent finger. "Wggggggg! EGGGGG!"

And before the poor professor could respond, Boo flew out of the room like a silver comet, yelling at the top of his lungs, "GOSSIP DENIED!!!"

Professor Hobb just sighed, looking at the door with tired eyes. "That ghost needs a vacation... or an exorcism."