Rebirth
Chapter Ten
Adopted
"Mommy, wha' 'dopted mean?"
Lorraine almost missed her son's question on the noisy public bus. But she heard it, and all she could do was blink down at her three year old with surprise. Where had he heard that word? It was not like the word was taboo around the house, but Lorraine had never seen the point of using it. Why would she introduce Jaden to new people as her "adopted son"? It was just an unneeded adjective.
"Where'd you hear that sweetie?" Lorraine asked, petting his head as he leaned up against her side and looked up at her with those big, blue eyes that never seemed to fade over time.
"Sammy told me," Jaden answered sweetly. "Ah ask her why Ah not gotta daddy like Mattie, an' she say it 'cause Ah 'dopted. Is it a bad word? 'Cause Sammy look like she in twouble when she say it, like when Ah say bad words like...like suck."
Lorraine could not resist laughing when the exact expression he was trying to describe flitted across his face. She gave him a small pat on the head to show he was not in trouble. This time at least. "No, it's not a bad word. Sammy just probably thought I didn't want you to know yet. Adopted just means when a baby don't got any parents, he gets new ones."
Jaden nodded and looked up at her with nothing but confusion. "But Ah not 'dopted! Ah gotta mommy."
Lordy, Lorraine had hoped that this conversation would not take place until Jaden was a little older and better able to understand. She sighed and continued to pet his head. "Yes sweetie, you gotta mommy. But when I found you, you were all alone, so I became your mommy ta love and take care of you. Why'd you wanna know why you don't have a daddy? Do you want one?"
Jaden vehemently shook his head, which made the woman laugh once more. "No! Mattie says his daddy spank him when he do somethin' bad. Ah don' wanna spankin'!"
"I should probably spank you for all the trouble you cause." Lorraine's smile widened when her son's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "But I believe my methods are more effective than spanking. I teach ya how to feel guilty for the bad things you do."
"Wha' guilty mean?"
"It's that feelin' you get when you do somethin' bad and you know it's bad, like an upset tummy. Has your tummy been upset today?"
The little boy subconsciously reached down to touch his stomach. "No…"
"You sure? I'm still lookin' for those li'l kitchen people who spilled the milk all over the floor this morning."
Lorraine casually looked around the bus at the other passengers until she felt a tug on her shirt. A guilty Jaden refused to look up at her. "Ah sorry mommy. Ah spill da milk dis mornin'. Ah just wanted ta make some choc'ate milk!"
The woman smiled and pulled the boy into her lap to hug him. "I know, I know. You migh' be adopted, but you never forgot that I'm your mama no matter what. And a mama always knows when her baby's lyin'. You can ask Bobby all 'bout that the next time they visit." She squeezed him tightly and placed a light kiss on his forehead. "But you don't ever need to feel like you have to lie to me. Whatever the truth might be, I'll forgive you because I love you."
"Love you too mommy," Jaden said as he snuggled back.
Lorraine smiled down at him and held him for the rest of the bus ride. Jaden was just as much her son as Bobby was, and telling others he was adopted was simply unnecessary.
AN: Jaden...you so adorable :3
No updates this weekend (not even surprise ones). I'm seriously working on my other story and doing a bibliography for class...that I should have done two weeks ago. Procrastinator + college does not equal a good combination. And that is my pearl of wisdom for the day ;)
EDITED: 5/4/2014
