Alice's Umbrella

Chapter 3: Elliott

"Elliott!" I paced back and forth along the bottom of the stairs.

"Daaaaad!"

"C'mon bud, let's go!"

"Where's my bandana?"

My son Elliott has always had a great sense of style. He picked it up from her mother, and my ex-wife.

"It should be-"

"Found it!" And he hobbled down the staircase.

I don't usually take Elliott to work with me, but school was cancelled because of the snow, and I hadn't had time to call his babysitter. She wouldn't have made it as early as I needed her to anyways, with the traffic and all.

As I peeked a look at my son in the rear view mirror of our Jeep, I couldn't help but wonder how I was so fortunate to have such an amazing best friend by my side. Ever since Elliott was a baby, he was so strong. He ran into walls, carried bowling balls by himself. My mother says he gets it from me. And over the last seven years, I started to believe it. And I saw it.

But my wife didn't.

"Alright, let's go buddy." I parked the car and stepped out.

Elliott tugged at his bandana and jumped out of the car.

"Good morning, Henry." My boss, Mr. Floyd smiled at me from behind the counter.

"Good morning, sir." I waved.

I worked at a small coffee shop wedged between a pizza parlor and a barber shop. The shop looked more like a library with the countless bookshelves lining the walls. Elliott enjoyed looking through the shelves, and I swear, one day, my son will read each and every one of those books.

I smiled as I watched Elliott run over to the shelves. He pulled a book out and opened it right away began reading.

I was startled when I heard the sound of a chime as the front door opened.