At school the next day Jamie separated from Mary with a hug and kiss before searching for Eddie in the yard. His face fell not seeing her, forced to retreat to their spot and wait. Sliding down out of the way of other kids but visible when Eddie came Jamie continually scanned the entrance waiting for her to arrive. His eyes remained glued on the gate, turning only at the approaching footsteps of two boys In his class. "Hi I'm Robby and this is Jack. Where's your girlfriend?"
"She's my best friend Eddie. I don't know she isn't here yet," Jamie turned towards the gate again, quickly catching the new influx of kids coming in. They were all older third and fifth graders coming inside smiling.
Jack twisted his face snickering under his breath, "You're best friend is a girl? She has cooties. You can't have a girl best friend cause you're a boy."
"Oh? I knew Eddie since we were babies and I haven't gotten any cooties yet," Jamie said, looking between them confused. "She's a really good friend. We ways play together at my house or the park sometimes."
Forcing a smile Robby took the empty seat next to Jamie. "No, but you will. Everyone knows girls have cooties and if you play with them that makes you a cootie head too cause you'll get cooties. You can play with us so you don't get them."
Seeing Jamie's fallen face Robby quickly added, "Or you can get cooties playing with your girlfriend. We saw you holding hands coming to the carpet. Maybe you already have cooties from her. That's why you like her." He leaned in close, making kissing noises.
"I do not have cooties! "
Robby immediately stopped making the noises smiling, "Then come play with us or you will get them. Show us you don't have them."
During their conversation none of the boys noticed Eddie bouncing over to them, hair in pigtails beaming at Jamie. "Hi Jamie."
Picking up his head only meeting her eyes for a second Jamie nodded as he stood up. "I can't play with you anymore cause you got cooties and you'll give them to me." He turned, following Robby and Jack past Eddie, ignoring her watery eyes.
While Jamie played with his new friends Eddie sat the entire time with her knees pulled up against her chest sobbing. By the time recess was over Eddie was wiping a hand against her wet eyes, cries now only small sobs. After hanging her backpack and jacket up Eddie went to her desk, finding Jamie and Kristina already there. "Jamie? Why won't you play with me?"
"I can't Eddie or catch cooties. That's what Robby and Jack said." Jamie slipped into his seat, trying not to look in her direction.
When they went to the rug for story time Jamie went on the opposite side by Robby and Jack smiling at them. From across the way in her usual seat Eddie watched him , green with envy that they would steal her best friend.
The end of school couldn't come fast enough for Eddie who the minute she saw her mom ran into her open arms sobbing. "Oh, what happened Edit? Did something happen today honey? Let's talk." Lena held her baby in her arms all the way to their awaiting car that would take them home. From the line Jamie watched his best friend in tears, pushing down the pit in his stomach. He didn't answer the first few times his name-was called until he heard Joe's voice.
"Hey kid." That was all it took for Jamie to race into his brother's arms and burst into his own tears. "Hey, come here what happened Jamie?" Joe slipped his kid brother's backpack off, allowing him a tighter hug while walking to a nearby bench.
Sitting down together Joe cradled his crying brother with slow rocks left to right. "Jamie, I want to help but I can't until you tell me what happened. You know you can tell me anything right?"
Jamie lay against his brother's chest, his tiny body still shaking with sobs. "I hurt Eddie today. She isn't my best friend because she has cooties, Jack and Robby said I can't be friends with a girl. I made Eddie cry but she is my best friend."
Letting out a sigh figuring out what happened between his brother's sobbing and half sentences Joe sat him up so they looked each other in the eye. "Listen to me Jamie I know you're little but the friend you have in Eddie is really special. I know it's hard but if Eddie is really your friend you'll stay friends with her no matter what anyone else says. All right kid?"
"Okay Joe. Thank you."
Smiling, Joe took his brother's hand, "Hey, how about we go get some ice cream as a special treat but you can't tell mom or dad."
Promising to keep the secret Jamie's face brightened the entire trip to their favorite ice cream parlor. When they arrived home Mary and Frank greeted the boys, "Where were you two, school dismissed hours ago."
"Joe took me out to get a vanilla sundae. Thank you Joe." Joe forced a smile to his parents stern looks. Saying nothing he slipped upstairs quietly starting homework until dinner was ready.
Jamie could hardly wait until school the next day to see Eddie and work things out. He scanned the yard, finding her standing alone away from the other kids. He slowly walked over, taking deeps breaths until they were only feet apart. "Hi Eddie."Eddie gave him a quick sideways glance saying nothing. "Eddie, I'm sorry I made you cry yesterday and hurt your feelings. I didn't want to. I don't know why I listened to those boys. I know you don't have cooties and I feel sad that you were crying. His blue eyes rounded wide I'm sorry Eddie. Can we be best friends again?"
Biting her lip contemplating what he said Eddie finally nodded, "Yeah, we can be best friends again but don't do it again." She balled her fist tight using it to punch his arm smiling.
They offered a hug not hearing footsteps of Robby and Jack approaching fast. "Eeew you hugged her. Now you'll get cooties for real! I thought you were going to play with us, you can't play with a girl remember? "
Taking Eddie's hand ever so gently in his as he stepped in between them Jamie's eyes grew thin, "You don't tell me what to do. Eddie is my best friend and she doesn't have cooties and we're going to stay friends. You better stop being so mean or else I'll tell my daddy to arrest you, he's a cop."
The two boys' eyes rounded, quickly backing away from them to the other side of the yard. "Eddie, do you want to come over my house today and play? I think mommy will say it's okay"
"I have to ask my mommy too but I think she'll say it's okay." Eddie looked down, catching their hands cupped together. When she lifted her head their eyes met, Jamie smiling with a firm grip on his friend's hand.
Unlike the day before the friends left school smiling as they hurried to their mom's. "Mommy can I play with Eddie for a little while? Please mommy," Jamie begged, tugging on his mom's pants while Eddie did the same to Lena.
Without so much as having to say a word the mom's both agreed. Giving a cheer the young friend's hands met starting towards the park. Lena smiled at Mary, walking behind them thinking the same thing. They were both glad the kids made up.
At the park Jamie and Eddie ran around playing a made up game with their hands held tight. The smiles and laughter a welcome change from them crying less than twenty four hours ago.