âMom has been texting me for the last twenty minutes. She wants me to come home. Itâs a four hour drive, when the roads are clear, and from what I hear everybody is trying to get somewhere right now. Thereâs no telling if Iâd even-â
âEverybody else has left. All the other kids were picked up, the other staff left. They gave me all the keys. I promised to stay and wait for as long as- well. Even if some of the parents show up, I guess some of them wonât, so Iâm just waiting. Until.â
âA couple of people came after everybody left. Peter, one of Aidanâs fathers, gave me three hundred dollars for staying. What am I going to do with money? Itâs- anyway. I kind of get it. He wanted to give me something.â
âTheyâre all between 2 and 4.â Sniff. âTheyâre so little. Too little to really- maybe if they were older, Iâd have to tell them something. But um. Iâm just- trying to stay calm and keep them happy and occupied. I think thatâs the best thing, right now.â
âI normally use this recorder to help me remember stuff. Itâs just, uh, habit to talk to it. I donât know. Theyâre napping, right now. Iâve got the baby monitor, they know that if they talk into it, Iâll come, so-â
âMom keeps texting, so I blocked her. I sent her a text telling her goodbye, first, but. I do. But these kids need me.â
âI tried calling their parents again, but I canât get anybody. Itâs just busy signals. I called the firefighter station, 911. I canât get through to anybody.â
âI went out into the yard. Um, I think they can play. Itâs nice out, and you canât really see it yet. Little bit of a glimmer, if they ask Iâll just tell them itâs a plane, but itâs nice out and weâve got hours before-â
[Murmuring childâs voice, indistinguishable.]