Mates 102
FREDA WHITLOCK
I watched Francisco bounce around the room with great excitement. He was gathering his books
into his bag. He had woken up before I came to wake him so he had started to draw images from
his school books. The drawings were slightly sloppy but I could tell that he was going to be an
amazing artist someday.
He looked up at me with a wide smile. “Do you want me to run a bath, mom?” He asked and I shook
my head with a smile. “No, love. I will.” He nodded and went over to his dresser, pulling out. a set of
newt clothes he would wear after his bath.
He was obviously excited for the party that was happening in his school and I could not me him.
His teacher had built up his and his ssmates‘ expectations to the highest point it could ever be.
She had promised fun of all sorts and he said he was going to show his talent.
At first, I had been worried that his fellow children would make fun of his art, but then Iforted
myself with the thought that I would be there and I would not let that happen.
I started running the bath, making sure to start with the hot water before shutting it off and then
turning on the cold water. When it was just the temperature that Francisco liked, I called him in.
“Cisco,e on,” I called and his small voice replied from the room. “Okay,” he said.
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A few secondster, I heard his footsteps thudding around the room and they drew closer to the
bathroom door. I dropped in his favorite bath bomb and watched as it bubbled. He loved bubbles.
He loved them so much and I loved making him happy.
I looked towards the door and he was standing there, shuffling out of his pyjama pants. He had
already taken the shirt off. Knowing him, it was already in the hamper. I d he was not a messy
boy. Francisco was perfect, in every sense of the damn word and I could not help how much I loved
that.
“Lavender, mom?” He asked as he walked into the bathroom after 1 waved him in. “Yes, love,” I
responded and he gave me a satisfied nod. “I lovevender,” he said, climbing into the bath tub. “I
know, baby,” I said, nodding with a smile. He lowered himself and sat in the water, letting out a
satisfied sigh. Iughed and he smiled at me. I had gotten the perfect water temperature for him
once again and even though I had gotten it a thousand times before, it still made me so happy.
He fiddled around in the water, as of he was swimming. I grabbed the loofah and gently ran it over
his skin, washing off any dirt.
“Mommy?” He called as I washed him. “Yeah?” I replied, not looking away from what I was doing.
“You don’t like Harper’s dad,” he tentatively said, as though he knew he was touching a delicate
spot for me.
I stopped and looked at him. “Why do you think that?” I asked, smiling softly and going back to my
work. “You’re always like bubbles andvender, but when hees, it goes away. You don’t look
happy anymore. Sometimes you even look upset or sad,” he said and I bit the inside of my cheek,
wondering how I
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could distract him from this.
It was not going to be easy because he was not speaking from a one time observation. My smart
boy had noticed this happening over time and I could not deny the fact that it was true. If I did that,
he would most likely begin to doubt himself and his observation skills, and I certainly did not want
that for him, especially at this age.
“Sweetie, not everyone feelsfortable around everyone,” I told him, hoping I would find a way to
sessfully filter the words to be appropriate for a six year old child. “Why don’t you feel
comfortable around him?” He asked and his head tilted to the side as he watched me. That was a
little habit of his whenever he was trying to figure out something that was confusing him.
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Well, he made me very sad sometime ago, when you were still a tiny, teeny weeny dot inside of
me,” I said and he smiled at my choice of thest few words.
“Did you fight?” He asked, turning his back to me, so I could scrub it. “You could say that,” I said and
he nodded. “With words. Of course we didn’t hit each other. It’s not okay to fight, Cisco. With words
or with your hands,” I told him carefully and he turned to smile at me.
“I know, mom,” he replied and I smiled.
I heard someonee into the room. “Breakfast is ready, you two. You wanna eat in the
bathroom?” Lyra asked and Francisco giggled. “Oh you think that’s funny?” Lyra asked in her
yfully predatory tone she used whenever she was about tounch a yful attack on Francisco.
He giggled harder when she appeared through the door.
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“I’ming for you,” she roared and he squealed, sshing around in the tub. “No, no!” He
screamed as she gripped his sides and tickled him. Heughed and tried to fight her off, but she
was careful to make sure he did not slip or hurt himself while she held him. She nodded towards the
door, signaling that I should go. She had probably heard my conversation with him and she had
thought I was upset. I smiled at her. “Thanks,” I mouthed and she nodded, giving Francisco a break
to breath and plead with her to stop her attack on his sides.
I pointed out towards his toothbrush on the ind where it was sitting, signaling for her to brush his
teeth when she was done. and she nodded, even though her expression was telling me she was
probably wondering who takes a bath before brushing their teeth.
Francisco apparently.
09 osh
Chapter 102
FREDA WHITLOCK
I watched Francisco bounce around the room with great excitement. He was gathering his books
into his bag. He had woken up before I came to wake him so he had started to draw images from
his school books. The drawings were slightly s**y but I could tell that he was going to be an
amazing artist someday.
He looked up at me with a wide smile. “Do you want me to run a bath, mom?” He asked and I shook
my head with a smile. “No, love. I will.” He nodded and went over to his dresser, pulling out. a set of
newt clothes he would wear after his bath.
He was obviously excited for the party that was happening in his school and I could not me him.
His teacher had built up his and his ssmates’ expectations to the highest point it could ever be.
She had promised fun of all sorts and he sai