Too Perfect ✹ Shyland

6

Shane's POV

After getting ready, we got the kids in the car and drove to the elementary school. Annie was being very quiet, but held Reid's tiny hand as we drove.

"Are you okay, Anniebear?" I asked. "You're being pretty quiet.."

"I'm fine.." She said. I looked at Ryland, who was shaking his head with shame that we did not know exactly what was going on.

~

Once we got to the school, Annie went to her classroom with Ryland, and I got Reid out of his car seat, following behind. Mz. Drew was greeting the students as they walked in, but once she saw us, her smile faded.

    "Oh... The Yaw family..." She said. "What can I do for you?"

    "May we have a word?" Ryland asked, and she followed us to a quiet room.

    "What is it?" She asked when we all sat down.

    "Annie told us.. She's been having some issues here..." I said. "Involving another student... May?"

    "Yes.." Mz. Drew said. "May's older sister pushed Annie down at recess... after she heard Annie likes her sister.."

    "Annie told us you haven't been helping... why?" I asked.

    "There's not much I can do. I'm not outside with the kids. There are other teachers outside when kids are out there, but I'm not one of them. I haven't witnessed these events happen, nor have I heard any homophobic comments being said.."

    "Well... We wanted to talk to you... mainly because Annie's been bullied here.." Ryland said. "Not just for liking a girl, but for having two dads.."

    "I have heard those comments..." Mz. Drew sighed. "I hope she never said I made those comments..." I shook my head. "Good.. I've spoken to your daughter before about this... but I am glad you wanted to speak with me..." She pulled out some papers. "Annie's work lately.... has been.... abnormal."

    "How abnormal?" Ryland asked.

    "Take a look..." She sighed. We took the papers and started to look over them. "I asked the kids to draw a picture of their family for the first day of school, and this is what she drew... I know she has a brother, but he's younger... and she didn't draw herself.."

    "But this arrow is pointing to the picture..." Ryland said. "She wrote me.."

    "Ry.. she drew a boy.." I said.

    "I'm not normally one to judge or tell parents how to raise their children, but I have been holding on to all of her work that is like this... and the paper about her family has more... We did this last week.."

    "My name is .... Alex...." I read. "I have two dads and one mom. My brother is four months old, and his name is Reid.."

    "Alex?" My husband asked. "Who's that?"

    "I believe she's referring to herself.." Mz. Drew said. "I think there's something a little deeper going on.... so I suggest you speak to her tonight..."

    "We're going to.." Ryland said. "Is it okay if we take pictures of the papers, and are there any more?"

    "I took the liberty of making copies for both myself, and you both... so here.." She gave us copies of all of her work, and closed her desk. "You know I love Annie like my own child.... and I don't want to impose.."

    "No, no.. It's okay.." I said. "Thank you.."

    "It's my pleasure to speak with you both.... and this cutie...." She tickled Reid.

~

     On the way home, we silently thought of ways to approach the Alex thing, but once we arrived.... it was a free-for-all.

    "What do you think she means by that?" I asked, and Ryland shrugged. "Does she want to change her name?"

    "I think it's much more than that.... She drew what appeared to be a boy in that photo... and said it was her..." He said. "We have about five more hours to figure out what we're doing..."

    "Do you think she wants to be a boy?" I asked. "Maybe she thinks being a boy.... May would like her, and Layla wouldn't hurt her?"

    "It's a possibility.... Let's try to get our minds off of this...." Ryland said. "Let's try to just... enjoy our time alone.."

    "With Reid.." I smiled.

    "Well... yeah.." He said.

~

     Ryland and I waited patiently for Annie to be dropped off by the bus, as we questioned for the last time what we would say.

    "Daddies!" She ran inside to hug us.

"Hey honey.." Ryland said. "How was school?"

"Okay.." She said. "Did you guys talk to Mz. Drew?" I nodded, and had her sit down. "What?"

"We need talk to you.." I said. "About your school work..." Ryland picked up the papers that we were given, and handed them to me. "Do you want to tell us anything?"

"No.." Annie said.

"Sweetie...." Ryland said. "Who's Alex?" She started crying, so he wrapped his arms around her. "Do you not want to talk right now?"

"No.." She sniffled.

"Would you feel more comfortable talking later?" I asked.

"I wanna talk to Aunt Morgan..." She said.

"We can do that.." Ryland said. "Baby, can you call her?" I nodded and dialed the number.

~

Morgan showed up a few minutes later, and Ryland let her in, telling her what was going on. She walked in, and Annie gave her a hug. Morgan took her into her bedroom to talk in private.

"I really hope whatever this is.... it gets resolved..." I said. "I feel bad that... we can't help her.."

"No... We do everything to help her... now we need to trust that she knows what's going on.." Ryland said. "Morgan will talk to her.... so hopefully something will be said..."

~

The girls must've talked for an hour or more because when Morgan walked out, it was supper time. I made Annie's favorite, spaghetti, and set out her plate for when she wanted to eat. Ryland's sister stayed for supper and told us a few things that Annie said.

"She's getting bullied at school for being different... having you both as dads.." She said. "But, I'm guessing you know that.." Ryland nodded. "Well.... About the work.... Annie didn't want to tell me..."

"She refused to talk to us, too..." I said. "Do you think she'd talk to a family counselor?"

"I don't know.." Ryland said. "She's so quiet... she hardly speaks to us about things like this.."

"Yeah... she wanted to talk to you, Morgan, more than us about this.." I sighed.

"I would try to ask her about the Alex thing again... and if she doesn't say anything, tell her you are all going to talk to a counselor..." Morgan said. "She may be turning four in two days, but she's already keeping secrets better than an adult..."

"Whatever this is.... It's upsetting her.." Ryland said.