Maurice sits on the playground at school bouncing a dodgeball up & down between his legs.
His classmates run past him laughing and he smiles back continuing to bounce the ball.
A Voice: Maurice (whisper)
Maurice stops bouncing the ball.
Voice: Maurice (whisper)
Maurice looks around.
Voice: Maurice.
Maurice finally turns around toward the gate and jumps back accidentally kicking the ball into the gate.
Voice: no no no, it's okay it's me Anthony.
Maurice still looks in horror at Anthony's deformed face. His face looked melted down to his chest.
Anthony: come here.
Maurice stands up.
Anthony: come here I'm not gonna hurt ya.
Maurice: you hurt me and mommy.
Anthony: I know and I'm sorry. Hey you know what I can do to make it better?
Silence.
Anthony: I can apologize to you and mommy do you know where u guys live? By a certain park? Or place? Anything you can remember?
Silence.
Maurice: A bunch of other houses.
Anthony: Goddamnit Maurice!
*Bell rings*
Anthony: I'll see you soon.
Maurice: my daddy's gonna protect us.
Anthony: your daddy's a-
Children: come on Maurice!
Anthony: don't you want the ball?
Maurice runs away back into the school.
____________________
Maurice gets into the car with all his energy completely drained.
Tiffany: hey baby what's wrong?
Maurice leans back putting on his seat belt.
Tiffany moves the hair from out of his face and rests her hand on his forehead.
Tiffany: baby what's wrong? You can tell me.
Maurice: I want daddy.
He weakly smiles at her.
Tiffany starts the car.
Tiffany: okay he's at home, we'll be there in no time don't worry.
___________________
*Tiffany's P.O.V.*
*10:00 pm*
I walk upstairs from washing the dishes to see the master bedroom closed hearing Maurice & Chris's voices on the inside. I hum a tune not wanting to invade their privacy.
Minutes later they stopped talking so I let myself in and Maurice was asleep in Chris's lap.
I slowly climb into bed.
Tiffany: what happened?
Chris: he asked me am I going to keep keeping you guys safe and if Im gonna be around to protect you all the time.
I look down at Maurice.
Tiffany: why would he ask that?
Chris: I don't know he seemed pretty startled. Are you sure nothing happened at school?
Tiffany: he seemed real tired but I kept asking him was he okay but he just kept saying he wanted to talk to you.
Chris: (sigh) he's okay. Maybe just had a long day or something, let's go to bed.
Without another word we cut off the lights and tv and went to bed.
