Having each other helped Eddie and Jamie steer through prekindergarten. On the last day of school families were encouraged to visit for the prekindergarten graduation ceremony with refreshments after. Lena took Eddie shopping for a new pink dress with laces on the bottom ruffles, straightening her hair into needle straight rows and set black shoes aside for that day. In the Reagan house Mary took out and pressed a suit for Jamie to wear.
The families dropped their kids off in their classroom to let their teachers prepare them before the ceremony. Eddie sat in her chair, swinging both legs back and forth slowly smiling when Jamie approached. "You look nice."
"You do too Eddie." Jamie slowly offered her his hand, curling his fingers over hers smiling.
Their eyes met, locked together for a minute only breaking when the teacher called them. "I just wanted to congratulate you on going into kindergarten. Have fun today okay everyone? Start to line up so we can go." Jamie and Eddie followed their classmates into a line, holding hands as they proceeded into the gym. The Reagans sat right in front, Mary and Frank, Danny, Joe and Erin then Henry and Betty with Lena and Armin finishing up their row. All shared the same beaming smiles except for Lena and Mary, sad their babies were growing up so fast.
Graduation began with the teachers recalling everything they learned and experienced this year. Jamie gave Eddie a quiet smile, hiding their hands. "And now it's time to give out the diplomas to our graduates."
Each student was called up front to receive a diploma and hug from their teachers. Eddie, called up first shyly let go of Jamie's hand and walked across the stage for her diploma. "Congratulation Eddie." Eddie smiled hugging them both careful not to crush her diploma.
Jamie kicked his legs finally called up too smiling at his applauding family. "Thank you," Jamie gave his teachers a hug before taking the diploma back to his seat. He caught Eddie smiling at him, returning the grin with twinkling eyes.
After graduation the students marched out down the hallway to the classroom for refreshments, allowing mingling and pictures. Holding their plates tight Jamie led Eddie to a quiet area, sitting beside her. "Are you excited about going to kindergarten Eddie? Joe told me we learn a lot harder stuff and get really really smart."
"Yeah, it's a big school and new teachers but we're big kids now. I'm almost five years old." She picked up the napkin, wiping it across her mouth like her mom taught her.
"Yeah but it's the school Danny and Joe and Erin went to and all the teachers are really nice," Jamie assured her. His hand moved between cookies and a brownie on his plate. He picked up the brownie first, taking a small bite.
Mary and Lena watched their kids from across the room holding cups of coffee neither touched. "You know we have to tell them before school starts right?"
"I know but I also know how they're going to take it. "
Not wanting to ruin the kids' summer neither Lena nor Mary told the kids until a week before summer ended. Jamie and Eddie were sat down separately for a serious chat that no one wanted to have but was necessary. "Honey, we have to talk to you about school. Daddy and I talked and we know it'll be hard but we put you in a private school that's different then the one Jamie is going on."
Water welled up in Eddie's eyes immediately after being given the bad news. Her bottom lip quivered, "No Jamie? I'm not going!" Pushing off the couch Eddie stormed out purposely stomping her feet against each step as she headed upstairs. In private she collapsed on the bed, hugging the bear Jamie gave her tightly while bursting into tears.
Across town Jamie received the same bad news from Mary and Frank while the other kids played out back. "Jamie, mommy and daddy wanted to talk to you about something okay? We know you were looking forward to going to school with Eddie but something happened and Eddie is going to a different school."
Jamie sat quiet, letting the news sink in his little five year old brain. "Eddie isn't coming to school? Is she mad at me mommy? I want to go to school with Eddie," Jamie's lip quivered.
"We know you do son but it isn't because Eddie is mad at you okay? Sometimes even the best of friends go to different schools and then you meet new friends but you still play together. Eddie is welcome here anytime." Frank put an arm around his youngest meant to comfort him. He watched the usually quiet boy kick his feet.
"No! If Eddie isn't coming to school I'm not either!" Before his parents could respond, shocked at his outburst Jamie was on his feet already heading up to his room. He slammed the door behind and paced around his small bedroom while the anger turned quickly to sadness. Tears filled his eyes as he threw himself on the bed and sobbed.
With their busy schedule the friends didn't see each other until Sunday when Lena dropped Eddie off for a ay date after the Reagans returned from church. Their hands met like magnets, drawn to each other going up to play while the adults got dinner ready. In the privacy of Jamie's room they sat on his bed quietly swinging their legs. Eddie broke the silence after a minute, "Did your mommy and daddy talk to you?"
"Yeah, they told me we aren't going to the same school. I don't want us to go to different schools Eddie. They cant make us."
Giving his hand a small squeeze Eddie's eyes scanned the room until she found a small bag used when they go on vacation. "I don't want to go to a different school either Jamie. You're my best friend. If we run away then they cant make us right?"
A twinkle sparked in his blue eyes, pushing forward on the bed. "No they can't. " He turned around, dumping his pillow out and stuffed two teddy bears inside with a blanket. He bit his lip, "What can we eat? "
"We can sneak downstairs and see what you have. We need something we don't need an adult for help." Eddie met him halfway across the room , tiptoeing to press their ears against the doors. For a house full of people it was unusually quiet. Mary busily prepared dinner while Frank and Henry finished some work.
Capturing her hand Jamie slipped out of his room , leading Eddie down the back stairs that led to their kitchen. At the last step they peeked around in time to see Mary calling out for Danny in the living room. "You better not be playing video games young man when you have homework to do."
"No mom."
Waiting until Mary completely disappeared the friends entered, taking bananas from on top of the table and some pretzels both shoved into the bed. "Come on," Jamie whispered. He crossed the kitchen,letting Eddie out first so he could close the door without making a headed to a local spot by the water with a tree overhanging to provide shade and safety. "Are you hungry Eddie," Jamie took his bear out between him and Eddie smiling.
"A little." Jamie opened his bag for her allowing Eddie to take a handful of pretzels and one banana. She gave him a smile, turning to look out at the water while eating their dinner.
"Jamie?" Eddie asked quietly. He turned to her, wiping his hands against the side of his pants. Where are we going to sleep?" she asked. "It's scary out here?"
Jamie searched the area for somewhere they could sleep safely. His eyes fell on the tree branches dangling above them, wondering if they could climb up there "I don't know Eddie. Can you climb the tree so nothing will get us up there? I will keep watch while you sleep then you can watch and I'll sleep."
Eddie looked at the big, tall tree. "If you hold my hand." Rewarding her with a smile, Jamie reached his hand out to hers. He stayed by her side glad his brothers taught him how to climb a tree.
He got up pretty high, so did Eddie, bit her legs were too short and she slipped and fell, hard! She bounced off the ground, landing wrist first. Eddie's eyes quickly watered as she started to cry and grabbed her wrist. "Owww."
Several adults came and surrounded them bit Jamie grabbed Eddie and started running to a hiding place. Eddie held her limp wrist crying louder. "Jamie it hurts. I want momny!"
"We can't, Eddie," he sighed. "They'll make us be apart if we tell them you were climbing a tree and got hurt. We aren't sposed to climb that high remember? We'll go to the doctor a doctor will fix you. Let's go. I know where to go. Don't worry it'll be okay Eddie." His arm slipped around her shaking body, helping his friend.
Mary carried the last plate into their dinning room smiling at the older kids finishing up setting the table. "Good. Go wash up. Frank can you get Jamie and Eddie and make sure they wash their hands while I get the rolls out?"
"Of course." Frank offered his wife a quick cheek peck before taking the stairs up to their second floor. He pushed open Jamie's door ready to tell them dinner was ready but his heart jumped up seeing the room empty. "Jamie? Eddie?"
Descending the steps just as quick as he went up Frank turned into the living room nearly running into Danny. "Did Jamie and Eddie come downstairs?"
"No dad."
Frank's head spun immediately turning into cop mode, "They aren't in Jamie's room. We have to find them."
At the hospital a nurse took Jamie and Eddie into one of their exam rooms with a warning to the doctor first. Dr Kristina peered through the open door sighing, "That's Commissioner Reagan's youngest kid and his friend. We go to the same church in Bay Ridge. Can you inform the commissioner while I see them?" Taking a deep breath the doctor forced a smile as she stepped inside. "Jamie? Do you remember me Doctor Kris from St Angulus? Can you tell me what happened to your friend?"
Jamie's arm firmed around Eddie in a protective hold, "I remember you. We were climbing a tree, it was really tall but Eddie fell and really hurt her wrist. " His attention turned to Eddie, wiping the tears that continued falling from her eyes.
"Okay, well I'm here to make it better and you are really doing a great help helping her feel better. What I will do is take a picture to see the bones inside her arm so I can see if it's broken. Then I will give Eddie a nice wrap that will keep her arm still until it's better all right?" She helped them off the bed carefully then lead the friends to an x-ray room taking her time allowing Frank to set Eddie in the large chair with a band over her arm that would take the picture her bones. "Jamie please stay," Eddie offered her good hand out to him, blue eyes rounded.
Jamie went back and took her hand gently. "It's okay Eddie, the doctor will help you. I promise I'll come back in soon as she takes the picture okay?" Tilting his head to lock eyes with a silent promise exchanged Eddie breathed in fearfully.
Taking Jamie outside Doctor Kris showed him the button that would actually take a picture, having him press him. "Good job Jamie," She led Jamie back inside to take the wrap off so they could return to the exam room while the pictures developed.