The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 4

Two weeks later, after a particularly bad beating from Zander, Kas limps back home. His Mascolds him for falling down yet again. She tenderly patches him up and feeds him with herhands. She kisses his forehead and scolds him again for being so careless. As she sets out forwork, he follows her from a distance. She stops abruptly and leans into a tree for support asthough her legs are unable to support her. As Kas makes a move to approach her, she buriesher face into her hands weeping. He realizes she is crying for him. His poor mother whopretends that she doesn't know the bullying her son endures.

His heart clenches painfully, all his physical aches forgotten. He hesitantly makes a smallmove towards her but then holds back not wanting to embarrass his mother. A passing bycar suddenly stops. He watches a man step out. It's Mr. Bernard, Zander's dad! Mr. Bernardwatches his weeping mom quietly for a moment and then goes up to her. She looks up insurprise. He offers his handkerchief to her without saying a word. She politely declines andstarts to walk away. "Agnes", he hears Mr. Bernard call out. His mother, to his shock andcomplete surprise ignores Mr. Bernard and continues walking. Mr. Bernard watches hersilently, then quietly gets into his car and drives away.

Kas stands there stunned. His mother, the most gentle and polite woman he has ever knowngiving the cold shoulder to the boss man?? Maybe she was too embarrassed by theencounter he wonders. He shrugs it off uneasily and decides to let it go.

A couple of days later, the odd exchange between his mother and Mr. Bernard is still therein his vivid memory bothering him. He finally decides to ask his mother about it. Heapproaches her cautiously, "Ma", he says softly. She is kneading the dough and doesn't lookup, "Hmm" she replies mechanically. "Ma, what kind of a man is Mr. Bernard"?? he asks.Her hand stills over the dough and he sees her entire body stiffening. Within a flash of asecond, she looks relaxed again. He would have missed the entire split-second change hadhe not been watching her closely. "Your regular businessman I guess "she replies casually, Ïhardly have any interaction with him ". He tries again "I haven't seen him in a long time ", ishe overseas "?? Kas asks. This time, there is no hesitation as her fingers steadily work thedough "I don't know, I haven't seen him in a long time either".

Do Angels lie??! What is happening here? Why would his mother lie over something sosimple?? He stares at the smooth golden dough ball in his Ma's hands wondering how muchtwisting and kneading it had taken to become so smooth and soft. He looks at his mother'sbeautiful face and wonders what hardships and secrets twist and knead behind that simplybeautiful face. His mother is the angel in his life who can do no wrong. A strong honestupright woman who has never done a single wrong thing. His young teenage mind has avery simple concept of right and wrong. His Ma the Right and the World the wrong.

Unable to analyze this uncharacteristic behavior, he decides not to pursue the manner anyfurther and gives her quick hug and walks out. He wonders if he is overthinking all of it. Butthe matter is worth looking into. He removes his precious little book and adds another nameto investigate. Ryan Bernard. He looks at names in his list and checks them off . Zander,Kevin, Jackson and now Ryan Bernard and Agnes Maris, His mother?? He wonders if it's timeto get a partner in his little private investigation service. He can only trust one person, hisbest friend and confidante, Dor.