CHAPTER 9

Present day 

  "Whoa,wait," Carol said holding up her hand.Carly stoped and looked at her.Even the fingers that had been twirling around her cup stopped to a stand still."I'm confused,"she continued."I thought you said that you broke her heart.But according to what I'm gathering from the story, she did something to piss you off,so you broke up with her.So,how did you break her heart if she was the one who hurt you?"

 "Good question,"Ella nodded in agreement."But in my case I don't even know who this Dylan is.Like,what's her story?How did you two meet."

Carly laughed softly,"It was just a typical teenage meet up.A cheerleader and a basket ball player.She was a new student,it was her first week and let me just say that there was this thing about her that made me want to be her friend.I don't know if it was the boldness or what it was,"she paused and exhaled. "Anyway,I was seated on a bench in the gym when she walked up to me."

The doorbell rang,announcing the arrival of their long awaited pizza.Carol quickly excused herself and was back within seconds carrying the huge square box with a smile on her face.

 "Now nobody is going to sue me for not making dinner.This monster is bid enough for two days,"she said as she set it on the table.

Ella reached out and opened the box. "Pepperoni! You know me too well darling," she exclaimed then smooched her on the cheek.

 "Well,I wouldn't want you to kill me for ordering any other with a different topping and I'm lucky that my best friend also happens to like the same.I'm only worried about the kids."She looked at Carly,"Is it safe for Teddy to eat this? I can whip something else up for them."

 "Trust me if he finds out that I had pizza but didn't give him,he will not talk to me for a week.I think I know what his favorite food will be when we go back to the states,"she replied and they all laughed."He can have a slice."

 "Allie too," Ella said and rose up to get a plate."I guess there's no harm in being bad parents for one day,right?" she said teasingly causing all of them to laugh.

 "I'll take it to upstairs and check on them,"Carly offered and rose up.

                                                **********

When Carly got upstairs,she found Teddy and Allie leaning on a desk with a huge board game in front of them.Each of them had a bunch of letters on their side which they used to construct words.They seemed so excited together that she stopped by the door to observe them for a while.It's obviously the joy of every mother when their kid is not the loner,the outcast who doesn't fit in with other kids.The kid who is always the easiest to be picked on.She'd  had her fair share of the bullying in middle school and she knew just how  much that felt,how much it hurt.Added to the fact that his father was intentionally absent,busy chasing other women and gambling.The only difference her situation was different was because she always had her brother to protect her which only made Teddy's situation even worse.She had thought about taking matters into her own hands but knew there was no way of punishing bullies with no retaliation.Teddy seemed to understand that too because at some point,he stopped talking about his experiences at school.

Now standing here and watching her son having fun with a youngster his age,she felt tears stinging her eyes.She was happy and for a moment forgot the predicament awaiting her in the next two days.She was proud that he wasn't afraid of crawling out of the shell he had created to protect himself.From his peers,from the father who didn't even try to be present in his life,who could have taught him so many things like standing up to a bully.Who could have played with him,get him out of his boredom by playing with him when the kids couldn't.Instead he had abandoned him with no explanation.

So saying that she was just happy right now would be an understatement.She was way beyond that especially when Teddy stood up and whooped in victory after winning a long word.The two kids laughed and giggled,making her heart melt.It was then that they both turned and saw her at the door.She smiled.

Teddy rose up and raced to her with a huge grin.The best she had been yet to see.

 "Mommy,Allie taught me how to play word games.We are having the best time ever.Right,Allie?"

Allie joined him with her hands held behind her but with a huge smile on her face.

 "Yes.Teddy has beaten me twice now and he says he hasn't played before.Is that true aunt Carly?"

 "It is,unless he is lying to both of us." She turned to him,"Are you?"

Teddy laughed,"Of course no mom.Please let me play with Allie a little longer." He begged.

 "I'm only here to bring pizza to you  guys.Of course you can play until I'm through with my friends downstairs."

Teddy quickly grabbed the plate and set it on the desk.It turned out that he wasn't even that much interested about it.He was having fun in a much better way.She turned to Allie

and asked her a question without thinking.A question she almost regretted asking.

 "Hey Allie,who taught you how to play word games?"

 "My dad taught me.He was my best friend but now he doesn't play with me anymore.Aunt Ella says It's because he went to heaven,"she said with a shrug. "Teddy told me that his dad doesn't  play with him.Where is he?" she asked innocently.

 "Um," Carly looked down wondering what she was supposed to say.

 "He doesn't like me and I too don't want to play with him," Teddy said,much to Carly's surprise.It was the first time he had opened up about his father since he left.And she was sure he was being honest.

 "I want to keep playing with you,"Allie said to him then added sadly,"I wish you were not going away soon."

 "Mommy,are we going to sleep over here?" Teddy asked expectantly."Allie asked me if I could."

 "I don't know baby.I'll have to ask her aunt if it's okay."

 "Thanks mom," he said then rushed forward to hug her.

 "But then if she agrees,you are going to wake up very early in the morning for the rest of the preparations.You need a haircut,"she said ruffling through his hair.

 "Okay," he agreed then went back to his friend.

Carly looked between them.So,they had talked about a lot within the hour they had spent together.They met a while ago but they were now acting like they had known each other all their life.She was grateful though that the father part was somehow past.She smiled and stood up.She wasn't about to get in between  them so,she took that as her cue to leave.And only turned at the door as an after thought.

 "Just don't play bad games.Remember not to overwork your body Teddy,okay?"

 "We won't." They both chorused before going back to their game and she went back downstairs where her friends were waiting for her to continue with the story.