AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I kneeled down and got eye level. “I did but what’s going on over there? I thought we agreed you would be nice.”
“I am being nice. Those big kids said that nobody could play on the slide but them and I told them we could. If they didn’t let me play wherever I wanted I was gonna beat them up.” She shrugged and I moved quick to bite my lip to hide my smile.
“And what did they say?”
She shrugged again. “They said okay and I told them they had to stay on their side of the playground if they couldn’t be nice because you’re not supposed to bully people.”
I grinned and nodded. “You’re right and that means you too. You can’t bully people either, Gracie, okay?”
“But Mommy I didn’t bully. I was standing up for myself and my new friends like you taught me to. We want to play on the slide too.”
“Okay but if the big kids say mean things, you come get me and let me talk to them. You don’t beat anybody up, alright?”
This sweet child couldn’t hurt a fly even if she believed she could.
“I won’t but can I get Jaah? ’Cause he’s a boy and they’re boys and boys aren’t supposed to hit girls.”
“You’re right. If they say anything mean you come get Jaah and he’ll take care of it. Got it?”
“Got it. Can go play now?”
“Yep, go ’head.”
I lifted my camera once more, firing off a round of candid shots watching Gracie through the lens as she ran back to the group of kids who hadn’t moved since she left them.
This kid.
Once I realized they were all playing harmoniously after Gracie’s return, I settled next to Jaasir again who was grinning at me.
“What?”
“Definitely your kid.”
“You heard that?” I groaned.
“I did but I’m not talking about her checking them older kids.” I turned to face him, trying to figure out what he meant and he continued, “I say she’s yours because she has that thing.”
“What thing?”
“That thing that makes the world press pause. And, her little ass was over there regulating shit. Natural born leader.”
I glanced at my baby who had somehow managed to become the center of those kids’ orbit. They migrated to her. It was subtle but still noticeable.
“I might agree with that as being a factual statement.”
“The only reason you’re saying might is because agreeing means admitting that you’re a bully too.”
“I am not.”
“I disagree. You have your ways of getting what you want. Even if it’s not intentional.”
“Like what?”
“Me…” He caught my chin and kissed me before I could respond and only pulled away when a tiny little voice offered their thoughts on our PDA.
“Ew, JV, he’s kissing her like you kiss Mommy.”
I peeked around Jaasir to find a very large man dressed in workout gear with his hands occupied by two small children, young but still older than my Gracie.
