Just in Need of a Friend

Prologue

“Bye, Mom,” I said to my mother as she dropped me off at school.

“Have a good day, honey,” she replied to me.

“I love you!” I said as my friends began to drag me into the school.

“I love you, too!” she called.

“Oh,” I squirmed out of my friend’s arms, and ran back to my mother. “Will Dad be home tonight?” I asked her.

“Yes, he will,” she replied and broke into a big smile, “he’s taking holidays now. We’ll be going on a trip in a few days, just the three of us.”

“What? Where? Why can’t we leave now?” words were flying out of my mouth so fast that they didn’t seem to be making any sense.

My mom giggled at my excitement, “you have school today, but I’ll come get you early today. I’ve got to go home and prepare for our adventure. I’ll be here later to come and get you.”

The school bell rang, and my friends yelled at me to hurry up.

“Go on now,” my mother told me, and she watched me chase after my friends.

After an hour, I was called down to the office, and my father sat in the waiting chairs.

“Dad,” I said slowly, unsure of why he was here. “Are you taking me home instead of Mom?”

“Listen, Jay, there’s something you need to know,” he squatted to my height and took my hands, “your mother isn’t coming to get you. Not now, not ever again.”