School bag in hand, he leaves home in the early morning, waving goodbye with an absent minded smile
Arthur looked at the little 6 year old boy, it was his first time to go to school before that he had taught alfred himself. He smiled at the excited child and combed his hair slightly trying to make it as neat as he could.
"Make sure your wrapped warm wont you alfred?" He smiled down at the boy helping him to button up his coat.
"Yeah yeah Arthur! hurry! The bus will be here soon!" Alfred jumped excitedly with a large grin on his face enough to make even the saddest man in the world to smile. Arthur in returned grinned and looked at the time to see it was 7:55am.
"The school bus should be here very soon alfred, do you want to wait at the door?" He asked taking the boys hand.
"Y-You will stand with me? Right Arthur?" Alfred stuttered, still very nervous about going to school for the first time. Arthur smiled gently at him and began to walk to the door.
"Of corse I will stand with you, Alfred." Arthur said holding the boys school bag, they opened the door together and waited for the bus to come, and soon it did stopping outside there house.
Alfred looked up at the bus then up to Arthur, who knelt down and helped get the shoulder bag over Alfreds shoulder.
"Have a good day, and be good, okay Alfred?" Arthur said and gently poked the boys nose, who in return wriggled his nose slightly and giggled.
"Okay Arthur!" He grinned again feeling more confident, his hand slid away from Arthurs and he ran towards the bus, Arthur watched as he started to head to the bus, but was worried when he stopped,was he scared? Nervous? Alfred turned back and ran to him hugging him tightly.
Arthur smiled and patted his head, Alfred realised it was time he let go now and ran back to the bus stopping on the bus step he looked back and waved to him grinning.
"Goodbye Arthur!" Alfred shouted so he could hear and ran up the steps of the bus and sat down he looked in the window and waved to Arthur as the bus started to leave. He made sure to watch it until it was gone and he smiled sadly a tear gently slid down his cheek and he wiped it away and went back indoors.
He looked at all of Alfred's toys, his empty plate which once had his breakfast on it.
"He's going to grow up too fast..." England whispered to himself and wiped his eyes with a tissue.
I watched him go with a surge of that well known sadness and I have to sit down for a while...