Fill In The Blank

Five

"Mommy?" Remi dropped his shiny, still new backpack on the floor next to the door. His brow was furrowed, a pensive look in his eyes.

"Yes, dear?" His mother sat up, setting her newspaper aside. She opened her arms for Remi to clamber into; if there was one thing she knew about her little boy, it was that he liked to cuddle when he was sad. Once the 5 year old was settled in her lap, she said, "What is it, love?"

"Is it okay to cry at kindergarten?"

Remi's mom frowned, stroking her son's dark hair. "That depends on the reason, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it in general, no. Why?"

Remi folded his hands, playing with his fingers absently. "There's a boy in my class, and he cries a lot. He's not throwing a fit, though, he's just sad. His name is Jakob. The other kids make fun of him, and it makes me feel like crying sometimes."

Remi's mother held him a little tighter, rubbing his back. "Well, you can stop the other kids from picking on him by standing up for him." Remi looked confused, so his mother continued. "You can tell them to stop, and maybe they'll listen. If they don't, you can always tell your teacher."

Remi nodded. "Daddy says, if people are mean, I can kick them in the shins."

Remi's mother raised her eyes to the ceiling, taking a breath. She was going to have some words with her husband later on. "Don't do that, Rem. That's a little mean. Don't get physical unless you have no other choice."

"Or a kidnapper gets me?"

Remi's mom hummed, smiling slightly. "Yes, or if a kidnapper gets you."

After a moment of comfortable quiet, Remi said, "He'll still be sad, though."

"Who?"

"Jakob. He still cries sometimes. I think other people are mean to him, too. Not just bullies." Remi looked up at his mom, brown eyes wide. "I don't want him to be sad."

His mother grinned at her son. "That's very sweet, Remi. How about this; the next time he's sad, try comforting him."

Remi nodded, then pouted. "I don't know how to do that."

His mom laughed, petting his hair lovingly. "That's alright. Just give him a hug, or rub his back. Do the things I do for you when you're sad. I'm sure he'll be happy that you tried."

Remi smiled, slowly at first, then more enthusiastically. "Yeah, okay! I can do that!" He beamed up at his parent. "Thanks, Mommy!"

"My pleasure, Rem. Now, let's go and make something to surprise your dad when he gets home."

"Cookies," Remi squealed, bolting out of his mother's arms and into the kitchen, arms flailing clumsily.

Remi's mother chuckled, jogging after her boy. It made her proud to hear him taking action to help others at such a young age.

***

The next day, Remi walked into his kindergarten classroom with a determined glint in his eye and a swagger in his step. He was wearing his camouflage shirt and his winter boots, because army guys are tough. He wanted to look tough that day.

He stuck his things in his cubby and glanced over at Jakob's desk. It was empty, and Remi really hoped that he'd be there that day. He'd even saved the boy a chocolate chip cookie for snack time, so he didn't have to eat the nasty school graham crackers.

The teacher, Mr. Stewart, called the gaggle of children to the front of the room to sing the Good Morning song. Remi went slowly, dragging his feet, glancing over his shoulder at the door. Suddenly it opened, and he gave a small fist pump. He knew that his Jedi training would pay off eventually.