What's Wrong with Your Belly?

I work with older elementary students for a reason.  Not necessarily because they have more common sense, but because those little ones scare the bejeezus out of me.  Today, both worlds collided.  My morning started off in the front office where I ran into a friend from last year who is now in 5th grade.  I see this kid regularly in the halls, it's a very small school, but apparently he hasn't noticed me in a while.  A long while.  As I stand there talking to a teacher someone mentions something about the baby and due date, blah blah blah.  Out of no where my 5th grade friend (who is in the office waiting to go to in school suspension) yells out, "Mrs. Kelley!  You didn't tell me you were having a baby!"  I look at him and I am about to make some sarcastic comment when I see his face.  He is visibly hurt that I kept this secret from him for 8 whole months.  I walk over and sit on the bench with him.  "I didn't tell you?" I asked him.  "Are you sure?"  He is shaking his head before I finish my sentence.  "No.  You didn't, " he tells me.  Honestly, I should be touched by his concern, but it was all I could do not to laugh out loud.  Instead (because I am a fantastic teacher who always considers students' feelings...please hear sarcasm) I apologize that he is the last to know and confirm that I am indeed having a baby boy.  This soothes his hurt feelings and we are apparently on good terms again. 

I leave the office and head down the first grade hall toward my classroom.  There is a line of about 6 first graders standing in the hall, one of which I see every single morning when I check  him in for our behavior program.  I stop for a second to remind them of hallway expectations because they are a little rowdy and their teacher hasn't made it out of the classroom yet.  As they get in a line and turn their voices off my little behavior friend points and says, "What's wrong with your belly?"  I look down and he is pointing at my large almost 8 months pregnant belly.  Without thinking I say, "Nothing is wrong with my belly.  There's a baby in there."  Seriously.  This was my response to a seven year old.  They all start to giggle and whisper.  I'm regretting my decision to stop and reinforce hallway behavior expectations at this point.  "A baby?  How'd you get a baby in your belly?" he asks.  I realize my mistake and look for an out.  There isn't one.  They are all looking at me expectantly.  I grab the first out that comes to my mind.  "We are not supposed to be talking in the hall!  Those are the rules.  Get in your line and wait for your teacher." And with that I all but sprint down the hall (which of course, is breaking another hallway rule.