Window To The Soul

Chapter 3

Ross's POV

''Can I have the last pancake, daddy?'' Austin looked at me with those big brown eyes he knew I couldn't ignore. Luckily he looked like me in every way, so he didn't unknowingly remind me of Kacey too much.

''Well, I don't know, little buddy. I think you gotta deserve that pancake. I made it and I should say, it's a pretty good pancake.'' I act out while raising one eyebrow. I slowly pick up the last pancake with my fork, while keeping my eyes on Austin the whole time. He follows the pancake with big, wide eyes and drool almost coming out of his mouth.

''But daddy-y-y...'' He wines, stretching out the y. I slowly put syrup all over the pancake and decorate it exactly the way I know he likes it. I make a smiley face with banana slices as eyes, make a trail of chocolate chips for the mouth and top it off with a big strawberry as nose. I turn the plate so the plate is facing him. He stares at the banana eyes like he's in love with it.

''So, what have you done to deserve this amazingly delicious, best-I've-ever-made pancake?'' I ask him with a serious face. He doesn't respond and keeps his eyes on the pancake.
''I guess you leave me no choice.'' I sigh and cut a little piece off. His eyes turn to me and he looks at me, begging me not to eat it. I raise the fork to my mouth, very slowly. ''I'm about to put it in my m-''

''I TALKED TO SOMEONE NEW IN CLASS YESTERDAY.'' He blurts out very quickly. My arm stops abruptly and the pancake stays only inches away from my open mouth. I raise my eyebrows and nod my head, as a sign to let him continue.
''There was a new girl in class yesterday and I was the first one to talk to her.'' He tells me proudly.

''We will definitely accept that one.'' I laugh and I put the fork in my mouth, enjoying the indeed delicious pancake. I see Austin's worried eyes, and I hand him over my fork and a knife to let him eat the rest of the pancake. He thankfully takes them and starts cutting the pancake in big pieces to stuff them into his mouth.

''So, tell me about this girl.'' I ask him hesitantly. Although I'm certain he's too young to be seriously interested in girls, I can't help but be curious about it.

''She's new in our class. She's so smart that she could skip her class and get into a higher one. I've never seen anyone that smart, I think she's a robot.'' He talks with his mouth so stuffed I can barely understand him.
I laugh out loud, rolling my eyes. There's nothing to be scared of. At this age, all the boys still thing the girls are robots and the girls avoid the boys, afraid of cooties.

''A pretty robot, though.'' I turn my head quickly in his direction again. He stares into nowhere with a smile on his face, with his cheeks full and round.
''Pretty, huh?'' I ask him nervously. He nods enthusiastically.

''Yeah! You know, as far as robots can be pretty. I gotta be careful, though, she might not be a good robot.'' He assures me, with a serious expression.

''Right.'' I smile at him. ''Finish up, little buddy, we're gonna be late for school.''
''Kay, daddy'' We stand up from the table, leaving it for now and walk to school.

''Have fun today at school, kay Austin?'' I kneel in front of him to fix his plaid shirt and his hair. I also use my thumb to wipe some syrup from the corner of his mouth. Austin moves his head backwards to avoid my thumb, embarrassed.

''Kay. Bye!'' And he runs towards the school doors, where the teacher stands to lead everyone inside. I watch him enter the building, when I someone stare at me from the side. I turn my head towards the direction and see the girl from yesterday looking at me with her head to the side, smiling, like she's adoring the scene she just witnessed. When she sees my eyes, hers widen and she quickly turns her head to the front gate. It looks like she doubts if she wants to go and talk to me, when she eventually turns her whole body to the gate and walks off the playground in a fast tempo.