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I quickly glance around, hoping nobody recognizes me. "Can you keep a secret and pretend you never saw me?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
"Absolutely!" she says excitedly, sealing her lips with a playful zip.
"I'm here to pick up Shaun Pierce," I reply.
"Of course! Just a moment, let me inform Miss Daisy," she says, picking up the phone.
While I stand there waiting, a tall woman catches my attention. She has long blonde hair that falls gracefully down her back, and the friendly tone she greets me with is welcoming. "Hello, I'm Miss Daisy," she says, her hand outstretched toward me, "and you must be the infamous Jace."
I shake her hand and give her a friendly smile. "Yeah, that's me."
"Please follow me."
I follow her into a spacious room filled with warm sunlight pouring through the windows. The brightness illuminates the room, making it feel like a cozy home.
Miss Daisy speaks with a hint of worry. "Shawn has been informed that his mother would be running late, and therefore, you were sent to pick him up. I hope everything is okay with Scar."
Me too, I think to myself, but I nod and turn my gaze to Shaun. He's sitting on a colorful rug, surrounded by a group of kids, playing with building blocks. I approach him slowly, taking in his messy hair and Superman T-shirt.
Shaun lifts his gaze and spots me approaching. A grin stretches across his face and he runs toward me, his arms open wide. "Ricky!" he cries out with delight, leaping into my embrace as soon as he reaches me.
I can’t resist the urge to hug him, wrapping my arms around his small frame. I feel overwhelming warmth and comfort when I hold him close, and I can’t help but smile at him. "How was your day, buddy?" I ask, setting him down on the floor.
His eyes sparkle with excitement as he recounts all the games he played and the stories he heard. He eagerly pulls out a piece of paper underneath a book to reveal a drawing he created with his friend, Sophie.
With a beaming smile, he looks at me and asks, "Do you like it?"
I pick up the sketch of a family featuring a woman with cotton candy pink hair, a little boy donning a Superman cape, and a man. Curiosity piqued, I ask, "Who are these people?"
Excitement evident in his voice, he proudly points to each stick figure. "That's Mom, me, and you."
I listen intently as he speaks, feeling grateful and proud that he considers me a part of his family. I show my affection by ruffling his hair and reply, "I love it." Then I thank his teacher and inform her that we are leaving.
Miss Daisy smiles and kneels in front of Shaun. "You did a great job today, Shaun. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Miss Daisy!" Shaun says cheerfully, stretching out his hand to hold mine.
Leaving the school, I hold Shaun's hand tightly as we walk toward my truck. I have the door open for him to get inside. "No booster? Mom doesn't like it when I don't sit in my booster," he says.
I pause for a moment, not sure how to respond. "Yeah, uh, I didn't get a chance to get one, but I'll strap you in," I reply.
After buckling him up, I walk around the truck and climb into the driver's seat. Shaun's anxiety is palpable as he looks around. "Where's Mom? She always picks me up," he asks with a worried tone. “Is she okay?”
I glance back at him and force a smile. "She was busy and asked me to come pick you up," I lie, worried about Scar.
Shaun seems to accept my explanation and looks out the window as I put the car in drive. Trying to distract him, I ask about their plans for the day.
"Mom said we're going to paint today. Do you like to paint, Ricky?" he asks with a hint of excitement.
I chuckle nervously. "Ah, I used to color as a kid. Does that count?" I reply, trying to keep the conversation going. He laughs at my answer, and the sound warms my heart. It's the same kind of laugh Scar has.
"You can paint with us! If you want to," Shaun offers. "We can all paint together and then hang our artwork on the wall. It'll be like our own art gallery!" His eyes sparkled with excitement.
I can't help but grin. "That would be awesome," I reply.
Something feels off as we reach Scar's house. Shaun unbuckles himself, rushes out of the truck, and runs towards the front door, calling for his mother. I follow him inside and shut the door behind me. The air is thick, almost suffocating, and I can't help but feel as though I've stepped into the past, the day I found my Tinkerbelle unresponsive.
"Mom!" Shaun yells, but there's no answer. We walk into the living room, and my heart sinks when I see Scar lying on the couch. She's sound asleep, tears staining her face. I feel a pang of sadness in my chest.
