Chapter 238: Elijah

The lunch bell rang, and like magic, every classroom door opened and kids came spilling out into the hallway, all heading towards the downstairs cafeteria in a stream of excited noise. Elijah leaned the handle of his mop against the painted dull gray cinder block of the hallway, humming to himself, excited to see Brooksy and hear about her day so far. He didn't actually need to be in this hallway right now, but hell, that was one of the few good things about being a janitor – he was in charge of the whole school, and as long as he got his work done, he was a-okay to take his lunch break when and where he wanted.

And when and where he wanted to, was with his daughter.

Brooksy looked both ways in the crowded hallway, trying to spot him, and when she did, her face lit up and she hurried his way, her blonde hair swinging with every step. She was his mini-me, and he loved her all the more because of it.