The other day, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the need to write some adorable little Spencer and Derek.
This is the result.
"Sit by me."
Four-year old Spencer clutched his plastic cereal-bowl of lukewarm spaghetti sauce to his chest, staring up at the dark-skinned boy.
The outgoing five-year old snatched the bowl from Spencer, setting it on the table before the empty chair to his left. "Here." He patted the seat.
Spencer pulled himself up into the chair, legs dangling as he plopped down. The other boy leaned forward, snatching some strips of toast from the plate in the middle of the table and dropping them beside Spencer's bowl.
"Thank you," said Spencer quietly, slowly picking one up.
The boy smiled at him, grabbing one of his own strips and dunking it in his sauce, taking a large bite. "I'm Derek," he said through the mouthful of food.
Spencer dipped a strip of toast into his bowl. "Spencer," he answered shyly, nibbling on the toast.
Derek swallowed. "I never saw you."
"I've never been here." Spencer took another bite.
"Oh. I go here a long time," continued Derek, still eating. "It's fun. You can be my new best friend. I'll show you the legos, and the color-books, and there's a jungle gym."
"Derek, what have we told you about talking with your mouth full?" scolded one of the daycare staff as she set another plate of toast strips on the table.
Derek swallowed the large amount of food. "Sorry."
The young woman nodded at him, a small smile creeping on her face as she walked away.
Derek grinned, turning back to Spencer.
Spencer smiled shyly back.
….
After lunch, Spencer went to use the bathroom, blushing when he had to ask one of the staff to help him unbutton his corduroys. When he returned, Derek was nowhere to be found. Spencer sat in the corner with the bookshelves, flipping through the simple children's literature and drowning out the noise of the other kids playing tag in the large room.
When the staff announced it was naptime, Spencer quietly followed the other kids as they lined up to get a little mat. Spencer hovered at the end, getting his mat last. He wandered around, trying to find a spot away from the others.
In a back corner, he found only one boy curled up on his side on his mat. Spencer's little brows furrowed as he realized it was Derek. Walking around, Spencer spread his mat out beside him, lying down. He frowned as Derek glanced at him, his eyes teary as he rubbed his arm.
"Derek?" asked Spencer quietly. "What's wrong?"
Derek sniffed. "I went to the doctor. A-And he gave me a shot," he said shakily, moving his hand to reveal a bright blue band-aid.
"It hurts?" whispered Spencer.
Derek nodded, a few tears running down his face.
Spencer worried his bottom lip. "I could kiss it better for you."
"Would you?" asked Derek tearfully.
Spencer leaned forward, gently kissing his arm.
Derek smiled at him as he laid back. "Thank you."
Spencer smiled back, giggling as Derek grabbed his mat and dragged him towards himself. Derek wrapped his arms around Spencer's shoulders, and for the first time since being dropped off, Spencer didn't feel nervous.
"My new best friend," mumbled Derek happily, and they both drifted off to sleep.
P.S. Toast strips dipped in spaghetti sauce is surprisingly tasty. My grandma used to serve it to us daycare kids. We'd always get a slice of Kraft singles cheese with it too. Which was also good dipped in the sauce. *laugh*
The idea of Spencer finding the children's books very easy, but being unable to undo the button on his pants was super cute to me. Am I the only one?
I need to decide if I'm going to the release party for an on-campus journal that a poem of mine got published it. I guess it will all depend on if I'm still awake at 9 o'clock tonight. Seeing as it's only 6:19 and I'm already struggling not to fall asleep. *laugh*
Review?
