CHAPTER 2:
The following Monday, at about 5 p.m., Chad came up to Finn's bedroom and found him packing a suitcase.
"Hey, Finn…uh…" Chad said.
"Hi, Daddy," Finn said.
"Any particular reason you're packing a suitcase? We're not going anywhere," Chad asked.
"I failed at something today," Finn said, disappointed.
"What was it?" Chad asked.
"I tried to get this one girl in my class to talk to me. But I got too nervous," Finn admitted.
"I'm sorry that happened. But I don't see what that has to do with you packing a suitcase," Chad said, puzzled.
"Mommy once told me that 'If at first you don't succeed, pack your bags,'" Finn said.
"When did she say that to you?" Chad asked.
"Three weeks ago," Finn replied.
Aubrey was cooking pasta in the kitchen, putting some rigatoni in a pot of boiling water when Chad came in, prepared to give Aubrey a lecture.
"Aubrey…" Chad started.
"What's up, hon?" Aubrey asked.
"'If at first you don't succeed, pack your bags?'" Chad asked.
"Yeah, that's what my dad told me," Aubrey nodded.
"Yeah, I know. I remember all of your dad's quotes. But ask yourself this: Is that the kind of lesson we need to be teaching our son?" Chad asked.
"I never thought he'd take that seriously," Aubrey said, dismayed.
"Well, when I went upstairs prepared to ask him about his day, I saw him packing a suitcase," Chad explained.
"Alright, let me finish cooking dinner, and then I'll go talk to him," Aubrey offered.
"I'd appreciate that," Chad said as he gave his wife a kiss.
After Aubrey had plated all the pasta, she went upstairs to talk to Finn.
"Hey, Finn," Aubrey said, entering his bedroom.
"Hi, Mommy," Finn said.
"I heard your father came and talked to you," Aubrey said.
"Yeah. I told him what you said three weeks ago," Finn said, recounting the story.
"I know. But there's something you should be aware of…" Aubrey started.
"What is it?" Finn asked.
Aubrey sat on Finn's bed and motioned for her son to join her.
"You see, Finn. What I told you that day was something that your grandfather once told me," Aubrey explained.
"Why would he say that?" Finn asked.
"I have no idea. But all I remember is that he said that about a year after my mom died," Aubrey said.
"Oh…" Finn said.
"You see, some of the things he said to me aren't meant to be taken seriously," Aubrey explained.
"They're not?" Finn asked.
"No. And I'm sorry I said what I said three weeks ago. Because, personally...your father and I don't want to see you give up," Aubrey explained. "And we certainly don't want to see you pack your bags!"
"You don't?" Finn asked.
"No. Far from it. But what was that thing that made you decide to pack a suitcase?" Aubrey asked.
"I tried to get this one girl in my class to talk to me. But I got too nervous," Finn recapped.
"Have you ever introduced yourself?" Aubrey asked.
"I tried, but I get nervous sometimes," Finn admitted.
"Were you that nervous when you met Henry for the first time?" Aubrey asked.
"No. He and I hit it off on our first day of pre-school. And we've been best friends since then," Finn said.
"See what I mean? Now, I'm telling you this: If you were able to bond with Henry back then, surely you could do the same with this one girl," Aubrey pointed out.
"You really think so?" Finn asked.
"Of course I do. Now come on, let's go eat dinner before it gets cold," Aubrey suggested as Finn followed her to the kitchen.
When Finn returned to school the following day, he swallowed his fear and introduced himself to his classmate. The classmate happened to be a new student named Eliza who moved to America from the United Kingdom not too long ago. As they began making conversation, Eliza became interested right away in what life in America was like compared to life back in her home country. So, the two classmates agreed to a playdate after school.