The Wounds We Heal

Chapter thirty-two: Class Act!

Pausing on the sidewalk, headed toward home, they happened to look up. And to their right, they caught sight of all the movement scattering through the small play area.

"Hey check it out! The kids are out playing today." Chester realized, even though the wind still had a chill to it.

"Yeah. Maybe we can go play games with the kids," Snowflake commented.

The two pups stepped off the sidewalk to cross the lawn. And reaching the group of kids, Chester started to realize something.

"Hey look, it's Aaron!" He smiled, as they approached.

"Aaron? Who's that?" Snowflake asked curiously.

"The owner of one of the PUP Pals." Chester answered, glancing over at her as they walked.

"The owner of the PUP Pals is a kid?" Snowflake said, baffled by what Chester said.

"Well sort of.. he and his family take care of her." Chester corrected, realizing the confusing nature of his earlier statement.

They had nearly reached the group of kids, when they turned around to meet them.

"Hey Aaron,.." Chester greeted. "How's it going? That girl Rayla staying out of trouble?"

"Ha! More like she's keeping me out of trouble." A boy with dark brown hair and tan skin said, and the two shared a laugh.

"Hi Aaron, I'm Snowflake. Nice to meet you," Snowflake said, before stretching out a paw for a handshake.

Aaron came over to kneel before her, taking her paw for the shake.

"Friend of yours?" He asked, turning to Chester.

"Actually, yeah." Chester confirmed. "Snowflake's another member of the PAW Patrol that lived out of town somewhere. And kinda goes back and forth between towns from time to time."

"Hi! I'm Aaron Rycroft." The young boy said, then stood up again.

"So you go to school here, Aaron?" Snowflake asked curiously.

"For a while, yeah." Aaron replied, nodding. "Ever since my family moved here a while back.. we had no idea we'd eventually reunite with Rayla here either! Three years of wondering if we'd ever see her again.. and yet here she was! Returned to us in one piece and just as lovable as ever! She'd hardly changed at all, just grew in size.. and I'm still soo grateful to have her back!"

"Even more glad that she's on the team." Chester added. "Never saw it coming.. but it was soo worth it! She really deserved it after all she did.."

"Speaking of all we did.." Aaron brought up thoughtfully. "How's our hero been? I heard he got hurt again recently.. I've been meaning to have mom drop us by to see him.. but we just haven't gotten to it yet."

"He's hanging in there." Chester replied simply. "Holding on as best he can.. and being stubborn while doing it.. but,.. we're working on it.. Though a visit from you guys wouldn't be such a bad idea. And if I know Rayla,.. she'll have no problems straightening him out once she hears what's been going on with him lately."

"Heh! I don't doubt it, soldier." Aaron smiled knowingly.

"Aaron!" A woman's voice called, and the boy turned to look over his shoulder.

"Sorry, I gotta go.." he said, standing up again. "I think we're moving recess inside since the wind has been making it colder out here."

"Can we play with you guys? Like in the gym?" Snowflake suggested.