You're Special (Undiscovered Wattys 2014 Runner Up)

Chapter 3

I am a kindergarten teacher. I spend 5 hours a day around children. I also have son.

Let me tell you one thing - kids are adorable. And annoying. But adorable.

After having one glass of wine, Aaron and I decided we did not want to get drunk with two kids in the other room.

Back went the expensive bottle of 35 year old drink. Out came a tub of Häagen-Dazs strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

In the living room, Jamie sat on an angry bird bean bag, squishing the poor birds right eye purposefully with his bums while painting the other eye a bright neon orange with a sharpie. Zoe, however, kept pulling at the beak of one of Jamie's angry bird soft toy while making chirping sounds.

Note to self : delete Angry Birds from the iPad. 

"Jamie," I said slowly.

"Mummy," he replied in a tone that mimicked mine. He didn't even look up. Busy spoiling that bean bag. And later he'll beg me to buy him more. Oh, boys!

"Baby, why aren't you playing with Zoe?" I asked in my 'strict mummy voice'. 

He didn't answer immediately. He had much more important work to do. He focused on finishing his art piece before looking up at me with innocence painted on his features. "Zoe doesn't like to play."

"And did Zoe say that to you?"

He shook his head in his adorable way. Let me tell you something about my son. When other kids give you sad puppy-dog eyes or that hard to resist pout, Jamie shook his head like a stray puppy dog, whimpering to get out of a scolding.

Which was kind of sad. It was no secret that my three weaknesses were dogs, kids and cheesecakes. Not necessarily in that order. (I really love a classic blueberry cheesecake.)

With Jamie shaking his head like that, I could feel myself melting. "Zoe doesn't like me, Mummy," he said in that sad voice of his and I knew I was gone.

Why do you think I haven't been able to uninstall his favorite game from the iPad?

Aaron laughed, reminding me of his presence. He plopped down on the couch and patted his legs. "Come here, kiddo," he told Jamie.

Jamie looked at him, as if assessing a stranger. He stood up and put his hands on his hips, trying to be intimidating, but the effect was ruined because he stood up on the bean bag, which sagged under his weight and he fell down. Oh, but a little tripping wouldn't stop him. He stood back up, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed across his chest. "Now listen to me, Mister-" he began.

"Actually," Aaron interjected. "I'm a doctor."

Jamie held up a finger. "Don't ever again call me 'kiddo'. It's what you call kids. I'm 4 years young."

Aaron had a hard time controlling his laughter. I wasn't. I was openly laughing.

"Come here, young man," Aaron called him again. Instead of sitting on his lap, he grabbed a few cushions, piled them up and Sat on them so he was at eye level with Aaron. Aaron turned and Sat cross legged, facing Jamie.

"Now, doctor, talk to me."

I smirked at my son and went to sit beside Zoe on the other couch. She had stopped making the sounds and was now staring at a dog shaped candle near the TV set, fascinated. I hoped she wouldn't start making barking sounds.

Aaron grinned at my boy and began. "James, Zoe is a very different girl. She is very special. Do you know why?"

Jamie shook his head. Aaron smiled, clamping his hands in front of him.

"Do you like learning new things, Jamie?" When Jamie nodded excitedly, he continued. "When you were one year old, you were learning to speak. And when you were three, you could recite the alphabets. Am I right?"

Jamie looked proud of himself as he agreed with Aaron.

"Now, you see," Aaron said. "Zoe is three years old-"

"Young," Jamie cut him off. "She's only three, she's young, not old."

"Right. So Zoe is three years young, but she can't learn fast, like you and other kids in your school. She is still learning to speak, like a one year young. So, obviously she doesn't know how to make new friends. But you do. So will you help her by being her friend?"

A grin broke across Jamie's face, his eyes alight with excitement. "I can be her friend! I will teach her everything I know!"

At that moment, I smiled too. A hopeful smile. Zoe and Aaron Kingsley were going to fit in very well with my tiny family.

Jamie turned to me, one hand on his hip. "Now, Mother, serve us the ice cream before it melts!"

Oops!