OOC: Mostly just for fun, but if you have or want to have a child character please feel free to join in.

The children had all been dropped off, and had time to play. To get the wiggles out as it were. Runa taught the preschoolers in the morning, but first they, her, Mikhail, and Ms. Jones, always met with all the children together in the morning. Why? Because it reminded Runa of her village back home. They always gathered together in the mornings and she felt it created a sense of community. They sat on the floor with the children. The older children helping to hold the babies and still toddling toddlers. As usual, Greg and Jesse, fought for enough room to both sit with Runa. She sighed dramatically for the benefit of the older children and winked at them, getting a giggle out of everyone. “Good morning my loves. Who wants to share first today?” Runa felt it was very important that the children have a place to share whatever was on their mind. And it could be a trying even to their day because they didn’t always know how to say what they wanted to say, or they had A LOT to say about it. But they let them say it anyway.

Lilly was bouncing in her seat, “Daddy called last night! I miss him!” Ms. Jones leaned over and gave the little girl a hug. “He told me a really funny story though,” and Lilly proceeded to tell her story. Of course she didn’t remember it all and it made no sense, but the other children enjoyed it anyway and her enthusiasm brought smiles to the teacher’s faces.

“I brought my bear today,” Joseph whispered next. Holding it tight next to him. Joseph always had his teddy bear, and was very attached to it. Several more children pipe up about any assortment of things.
“Ms Runa! My daddy said he saw you dressed like a pirate! Are you a pirate?” Zella blurts out, “And what is a pirate?”

Runa looks around at Mikhail and Ms. Jones and shakes her head. “No Zella, I’m not a pirate. I was going to the holodeck to go sailing. I used to sail real boats when I was your age. I went with my Da.”

“I heard mommy and daddy talking last night. They said REAL pirates are attacking us. I don’t want them to do that.” Bonaris said. And then several more children began talking all at once. Runa nodded to Mikhail to go ahead and move the younger children to their room. Ms Jones and Runa would keep the older children and talk some more. Adults often didn’t realize how much children overheard when they were supposed to be asleep or doing other things.

Runa had the older children move in closer. “A pirate is like a thief. They take things that are not theirs.” Runa didn’t know much about the current situation on Atlantis. She might have to have Revna come down and talk to the children to ease their minds. They were all in a kind of flurry of anxiety. “And we’re safe here. Your homes are still here. Your mommies and daddies will still come get you today and you’ll go home and be with them. Atlantis IS your home. And I heard that Cpt Bordeaux is meaner than any pirate ever could be.” Runa had no idea if that was true. But it made the children laugh and gave them confidence in the officers on this ship, and that was important.

After a few more minutes Ms. Jones took the older children to start their studies and Runa stayed with the preschoolers. After another 15 minutes, Runa put them to activities to help distract them. Many of the children were upset, and what they really needed was time with their families, but duty calls, and all that. She concentrated on keeping their day as normal as possible.
Runa Edman, Teacher