088: School

[Other character's POV]

Walking around the class, I observe my students; Katherine and Lily are talking rather than making their cards, but that's to be expected, Ezra and Jackson are finally seated after their dispute over their table's crayon box, and everyone else thankfully seems to be working away on their Mother's Day cards. I continue to walk, passing by a row of focused four and five year olds, peaking over their shoulders and checking out their masterpieces. Towards the end of my rounds I come upon Maxine Legaspi who is leaning over her desk, eyes set on her card as she works in haste.

"How're you doing, Max?" I ask, kneeling down next to her seat.

The blonde smiles, "Good! This is my card…" she says, showing me what she's finished so far: the piece of white construction paper has five stick figures on it, two tall and three little. I know one of the tall ones is her mother, Dr. Legaspi, and I know two of the small ones represent her and her twin brother, Eli, who is in the class next door. The two others, however, represent no one I know.

"Max, who are they?" I ask, pointing to the two unknown figures.

Max smiles. "Momma and Henry."

I frown and point to the other adult. "Then who is this?"

"Mommy." She says, before pointing at the two other small stick figures. "And that's me and Eli."

I nod slowly, wondering what in the world this five year old is talking about. "Who is Henry?" I ask.

"My brother…he's seven." She replies easily.

I nod. "I didn't know you had two brothers…" I admit.

"Henry is my new brother."

I frown again. "Really?"

She nods again, her blonde pigtails bouncing. "He's Momma Kerry's baby and Eli and me are Mommy's babies. But now we're Momma Kerry's babies, too, and Henry is Mommy's baby."

Suddenly understanding, I smile and nod. "Ah, I see…" I reply. "Do you want to write 'Happy Mothers' Day' on it?"

Max nods excitedly in response and, with a smile, I direct her on where to write which letters. After the final 'y' in 'day' is on paper, I put my hand over hers and, together, we add the apostrophe to 'Mothers' just after the 's'.

I smile and pat her on the back. "How's that?" I ask.

"My mommies will love it." She grins back.