Ki

n't want to get yourself stung. Back home, there was a two-hundred-pound grizzly who was just itching for an excuse to pull me out of school. I ca

on the wheeled trolley along with everyone else's. The lunch ladie

when I wanted to be. My mask of angelic innocence had been rehearsed to perfection. That c

ast me as she made her way over toward her desk. She

e cuff of my shirt. Much to my relief, her attention turned to the

ly got to my name somewher

" I answered

ight, focusing on looking indifferent. Whatever I did worked because she moved on to the next name on the list.

Banks again, and together, we washed

on, nor do those round-neck sweatshirts. At least you'll have plenty of clean clothes to see y

B," I expressed

"Mrs. B", saying it made he

ng you tomorrow?" she as

ith Jaxton," I told her, knowing t

that?" she commented with disgust. Her expression faltered and was immediately replaced with compassion. "O

meant well, and I knew that she would never say

ishing down at White Lake with Jax, but D

ving snort. "Yeah,

n get him to spend time with me, then I'll do whatever it takes. Mom doesn't use as much crap when Dad st

was in a good mood and was even fixing the washing machine. He said he felt it in his bones that I would be magn

name. "A real man doesn't need to settle his quarre

osed to be protectors as well as providers, aren't we?" I asked, no

ead gently. "One saying springs to mind: the power of the mind is infinite, whereas th

e meaning. "So, you're saying that we should fight

ed, hating that it would be clipped short tomorrow. As much as my dark

row," I forewarned her, knowing how

oothing it down with her

ed to one side

n music box from her dresser. We sat on the edge of her bed as she opened the lid to the sound of a pretty me

diamond ring and held it between her finger and

later with her being in her eighties, but I tried not to think about that. I guess I took it for granted that she'd always be a

wonderful idea. That fancy mate of his from Whitevale wanted to pick out her own ring. This once belonged to my late husband's

s was huge. The sentimental meaning alon

Mrs. B. It's beautifu

now you know that this is yours," she c

e in her hands, I felt that same love returned. She cherished me as if I were her own son, showing me just how much I mattered to her. That feeling of being wanted, needed,

me was all I had ever wished for. Although I'd much rather he took me fishing or played ball with me out on the field. I had to resign mys

y eyes followed the streak of moonlight that spilled in through the gap in the curtains. Shadows clung to the corners of my room, bracing t