When Worlds Collide

126. The Visit

"Did you remember to send a thank you note to the nice lady down the street who baked the pie for that dinner we had the other night." Valerie asked Ryan as he began to cut up his steak and he looked at her confused. "You didn't send it, did you?"

"I'll get on it first thing in the morning." He said pouring the steak sauce

She sighed, "Honey, how are we supposed to make any friends if you don't put forth any effort."

"It momentarily slipped my mind and then you reminded me. Like I promised I'll send it off, besides what's one day late anyway and for the record, I do have friends."

"Yeah one and I don't count myself because I have to put up with you. Anyway, how was school today?" She asked turning her attention to the kids

"I had a good day, I got an 'A' on my math test." Lilly smiled

"Good job." Valerie said

"We didn't get in trouble, that's always something to celebrate." Isaiah said

"We had to run a lot today in soccer." Diana said

"Oh you too? I felt like my legs were going to fall off. I don't mind never running again for awhile." Jeremiah said as Valerie laughed

"And what about you Dylan." Ryan said as Dylan was sitting quietly at the table eating his food. "Anything interesting or fun happened today?"

Dylan was a little surprised that Ryan was asking him about his day, but he didn't have anything extraordinary to say like everyone else. "Uhm, it was just a normal day." He said

"That's it? You don't want to talk about anything else?" Valerie asked but he started to get a little shy about going into any detail

"No that's it, it was just a regular day."

"Ok, after everyone's done eating I have apple pie in the oven."

"Are you doing this so I won't forget to send off that note?" Ryan asked

"No, but if it helps with you remembering then I guess I am." She said getting up

"I told you I won't forget and bring me some pie while you're up, please."

                                    •

The next day at school was Parent Day and Dylan was the only one in his  classroom without a parent. He felt left out and wished he had of told Valerie or Ryan about it, but then he knew they both were busy all the time, and probably wouldn't have made it out there to be with him anyway.

He sat at his desk alone as some of the kids laughed and pointed at him. He was about to get up and ask the teacher could he just stay in the library until class is over but then a huge shadow covered him. He looked up and smiled as Ryan and Valerie were standing there behind him. "Hello sunshine." She said noticing the surprised look on his face

"You're here! But how? I didn't tell you about today."

"The twins told us and we figured that you'd be the only one without a parent so we both came and Ryan even took the day off."

"You did?" He asked surprised

"Yep, I did it just for you."

"You mind if we sit down?" She asked

"Oh no, go ahead." He moved his stuff out of the empty seats so they could sit on both sides of him. He was so happy that he could just run around the room, when he looked up and saw the kids that were laughing and pointing at him, they had their mouths open shocked and so were some of the parents. Dylan made a stinky face at the kids and then licked his tongue out at them as he giggled on the inside