After a long discussion Mary hesitantly placed Jamie in a play group with Eddie twice a week for only two hours a day. She hoped having Eddie in the same group would help Jamie separate easier, recruiting the family to make a big deal about him going to school like a big boy. "I hear someone is going to school soon," Joe smiled across the table at dinner.
"No school. Jamie stay with mommy and play with Eddie." Jamie looked to Mary for confirmation holding his fork ready to take another bite.
"You want to stay a baby forever kid? Only big kids get to go to school and meet new friends and have fun like Joe, me and Erin," Danny added. "You get to play with all new toys and sing songs. Wish I could go." His eyes his mother's exchanging a nod acknowledging the grateful look she gave him.
Jamie looked between his mom and siblings debating in his little two year old mind. "No school. Play with Eddie."
"Oh but Eddie is going too and she really wants you to play with her." Jamie's eyes twinkled saying nothing as he took another bite of his dinner. He wasn't fully convinced but the family kept trying up until the day he would start using Eddie to entice him.
Seeing the older kids off to school first Mary headed back upstairs into Jamie's room, sitting on his bed. With a gentle hand through his blond curls Mary whispered, "Jamie wake up honey. It's time to go play and meet new friends."
"No." Jamie clutched onto the teddy bear he slept with since giving Eddie his favorite one.
Sighing quietly Mary gently stroked his hair again, "It's time to get up Jamie. Mommy will make you a nice breakfast so you can go play and Eddie will be there too but we have to get up okay? " Jamie groaned, rubbing the back of his hand against his sleepy eyes.
Throwing the covers back he slid into Mary's arms sleepily letting her carry him downstairs.
While Mary made pancakes she set Jamie at the table , letting him try and wake up. "Thank you mommy," Jamie took the fork against palm trying to pick up the cut pancakes. His lips tight Jamie watched Mary until she turned around using his hand to eat.
He looked down at his sticky hands with a scrunched up face Jamie pushed the plate away. "Uh oh mommy ticky, wash hands please." He stuck his hands straight up in the air allowing Mary to clean them then wash the syrup off his face.
Taking Jamie out of his seat leaving the mess for now Mary took him up to change into blue elastic pants and a blue striped shirt. "All right take your brand new schoolbag Jamie and let's go to school." Mary blinked, her little boy was growing up so fast.
Smiling behind him watching every careful step he took down the steps to grab the train backpack Mary and Frank bought for him, she helped him into the car.
The school she found was a small daycare center only five blocks from her house and two from where the older kids went to school, a big convenience in case Jamie needed to get picked up. The staff painted a mural out front of a rainbow over the words WELCOME.
When they pulled up front other parents started in holding their kid's hands as well.
From his car seat Jamie craned his neck to see out the window. His blue eyes rounded wide seeing all the new kids running into an unfamiliar building.
"Mommy," he whispered as Mary got out to walk around the car appearing at his side. "Mommy," Jamie's bottom lip quivered snuggling against her chest.
"It's okay Jamie nothing to be afraid of. Eddie will be here and mommy will pick you up in just a little while." Mary slowly rocked him while taking the backpack to lock up their car.
She whispered hushing sounds in his ear with each step closer to the building, finally making it inside. Jamie's little hands remained tightly intertwined around her while Mary signed in, his head buried against her shirt.
Mary gave his back a small rub on the way down a long hall to his classroom , decorated in bright blues, yellows, greens and purples. Kids already settled in at tables for puzzles and art or cooked into the dramatic play center watched by two smiling teachers. "Hello, I am Miss Presley, this is Miss Rebecca we're the teachers here. What's your name?"
Jamie responded by burying his head deeper creating a safe space from the strangers. "Sorry this is the first time he will be separated from anyone in the family. "
"It's okay we understand how hard the first time can be. A lot of our students had a hard time the first time but once they became comfortable with us they separate easily." Miss Rebecca smiled, "Jamie, let us show you and mommy the cool toys we have. What is your favorite toy to play with?"
When he didn't answer Mary set Jamie on the floor taking his hand. "He likes to play trains and cars."
"No mommy," Jamie bounced trying to kick his legs at the same time, wrapping himself around his mom's legs wailing.
"Go home mommy please."
Across the room in the book area Eddie picked her head up hearing a familiar cry. Setting the book aside she pushed up, walking around to meet her friend smiling. "Jamie," In two small toddlers Eddie had her arms around his shaking body. "Jamie no cry. Eddie here it ok."
"Jamie, come play with Eddie. Read books." Eddie's eyes never left his taking his hand from Mary's leg smiling.
Jamie allowed himself to be dragged away, looking back to make sure Mary was still there in between rubbing his wet eyes.
She led him back to the book area on a rug with a colorful tent hanging over. "Here Jamie read book," Eddie picked up the book she had been reading snuggling closer to him.
Smiling himself comforted having Eddie by his side Jamie sat back reading with his friend. "Jamie build blocks with Eddie?"
He offered a hand helping her up, waiting for Eddie to set the book down to walk across the room to a larger area with large, soft blocks and trains. They sat together putting blocks on top of each other giggling.
Jamie reached for another block to add a little girl watching them build stalked over and kicked the structure down. He turned back watching Eddie's face pinch tight torn between balling her fists and wanting to cry. Her eyes twinkled, quickly filling with tears and started crying. "No nice say sorry now. You make Eddie cry," Jamie got in between the girl and Eddie protectively. His hands stretched chest level making a stop sign.
The girl only smiled at him on her way by, giving the block an extra kick for good measure. Jamie kept his eyes on her until she was far enough away allowing him to sit beside Eddie with an arm around her. "It ok Eddie no cry. No be sad Eddie."
The pair remained side by side together through story time and held hands during quiet activities.
While playing outside neither Jamie nor Eddie strayed more then a few feet apart from each other playing their own game. Both teachers observed them find a quiet area in the climbing structure to sit together without worry about being bothered.
Other kids happily played with toys the center provided Jamie and Eddie seemed content just being together in their own world and some made up game they invented. Each motion Jamie made was done gently never once snatching a toy from her and neither did Eddie from him.
When parents came to pick their kids up Mary and Lena arrived at the same time wearing matching smiles. "They were both fantastic and quite a pair. They never left each other's side the entire time, comforted each other and played very nicely together," Miss Presley reported.
"They're unusually close and I can see them remaining that way if not becoming closer when they get older," Miss Rebecca added smiling.
Mary smiled too, "Yes they are. They've known each other since they were six months old, taking walks in strollers together. Lena and I met at a charity we both support and had the kids over each other's houses. Thank you very much."
Taking the kids, they went out for lunch before naptime which was fast approaching. The kids sat in booster seats on one side, the mom's on the other. Eddie's head drooped fighting sleep with each bite of lunch. Jamie's eyes shut then opened quickly not far after her barely touching his own food.
Lena put the uneaten food in a bag for the kids to eat later while Mary cleaned them up. Mary and Lena carried their kids back to the Reagan house, laying them upstairs for a much needed nap. They barely tucked them in for both kids to fall asleep holding hands.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other a lot over the years. They sure do have a special bond. Maybe we'll even become family," Lena smiled at the sleeping toddlers.
"I wouldn't mind that at all. They are really cute together. Let's go put our feet up and have some tea while the kids sleep. " Mary turned the lamp off quietly following Lena out, leaving the door open in case they were needed.