So another new chapter...
Oliver sat quietly underneath a tree in the playground. He looked at the lunch in his box and closed the lid. He wasn't hungry even though he'd skipped breakfast as well. The last place he wanted to be was at home but school wasn't much better.
It was one of those perfectly nice days, and the perfect day to be outside and sitting under a tree trying to be alone. Kim had spent a lot of time finding the right school for the kids. Steve wasn't that interested. He was originally from the other side of Chicago and his Alma Mater was too far away for Oliver and Kim didn't want him spending all his time travelling and she also wanted him to go to a Co-Ed school. She thought learning how to mix with both sexes was important.
It was a smaller school, only two hundred students and more manageable class sizes so that they could get more focussed attention and teaching. It always had the benefits that the teachers and staff were more in tune and had time to work with all their students and knew when things were off.
His Mom offered to let him stay home today but he didn't want to be at home and he couldn't go to Al's either because his 'Dad' might be there and it scared him a little. His mom had told him that Adam didn't know about him and that's why he left but what if that was a lie? What if they were still lying to him? He couldn't face that.
"Oliver." His teacher, Mrs Davey crouched down in front of him. It was unusual to see Oliver Burgess alone. He was such a friendly and well liked boy and had lots of friends he was always hanging out with but he'd been quiet all morning in class and now was just sitting by himself during lunch when most kids were running around or playing games and Oliver was usually in the thick of it. He was energetic and loved sport and always on the go. She had noticed that he had been very distracted all morning in class so she came looking for him. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes."
"Really Oliver? I've never seen you sitting by yourself." Mrs Davey continued quietly. She knew there were issues at home and had spoken to his mother about them on a few occasions but Oliver seemed strong and resilient and he had been much better lately. Everyone has a breaking point though.
"I don't want to talk to anyone."
Mrs Davey sat down next to him. "Do you mind if I just sit here with you awhile."
Oliver shrugged but didn't say anything. He picked up a stick and started poking it into the ground next to him. His teacher watched him and noted the way he was poking the stick, it wasn't an angry motion. He just seemed sad.
"Do you want me to call your Mom for you sweetie?"
"No. Please don't call her. Can you please not tell her?"
"Tell her what Oliver?"
"Nothing." He struggled not to cry. "It's just been…" his voice drifted off. "…I'm tired."
First things first, she needed to make sure they were safe at home. "Is Mom okay Oliver? And Daisy? Is everyone safe at home?"
"Yeah. Steve was there last night. We had a fight, like he yelled at me. I found…" Suddenly Oliver stopped. He didn't even know how to verbalise it. He didn't understand it or what was going on. "…it's nothing."
As a teacher there were nothing worse than these conversations. You never knew where it was going to lead but kids could never hide it very well. Just by observing them and knowing them she could often tell when her kids were a little off. Oliver had been well and truly off the boil today.
"Steve? Your Dad?"
"No, he's not my Dad." Oliver's eyes flashed angrily and then he dropped his eyes back to the ground. Mrs Davey did know that he was Oliver's step father but up until recently had only ever called him Dad. When everything started to go a little sideways at home and they had concerns about Oliver his mother had told them that it was because his step father had moved out and had let Oliver down more times than she could count and it had all come to a head.
"Sorry, was he angry at you. Did he hurt you Oliver?" She was starting to worry.
"No, he didn't hurt me. He was angry that I didn't come home on time but I just go to my room and ignore him." He told her that that is what his Mom tells him to do, to stay out of his way. "He only likes Daisy."
"I'm sure he loves you too Oliver."
"No he doesn't, he loves Daisy. I'm not his kid." Again Mrs Davey saw the flash of anger in his eyes. They were always brief but clearly Oliver was having a lot of issues with his step-dad.
She waited just a moment before asking. "Why were you late home?"
Oliver threw the stick away and started picking at the hem on his shorts. "I went to Al's, and that's when I found out." Al would occasionally would pick Oliver up from school and was one of his emergency contacts along with his grandparents.
"What? What did you find out?"
"I saw him."
"Who did you see Oliver?"
Mrs Davey put her arm around his shoulders when he burst into tears. "I saw my real Dad, he was supposed to be dead but he's not. He was at Al's place."
"Are you sure Oliver? How do you know he's your Dad? Have you talked to your Mom about this?"
He nodded and picked up another stick and threw it. "Yep, He's not dead. She said she didn't know until a couple of weeks ago. She didn't tell me. He's my Dad. His name is Adam."
Oliver had mentioned once during a presentation about what he wanted to do when he grew up that he wanted to be a cop like his Mom and his real Dad and that he'd died before he was born while Undercover. He didn't give many more details and never talked about it again.
"How do you feel about that? Sad, Angry, Happy, Scared, Anxious?" She gave him some words to help describe his feelings. Kids often couldn't explain how they felt or find the right words to use.
"I don't know." Oliver shook his head. "I'm not angry, I just don't know. I'm scared I guess."
"Why are you scared?"
"That he doesn't want to be my Dad." Even though his mother told him that Adam didn't know about him he was still worried that he left because he didn't want him. He was worried no one wanted to be his Dad. "But I want to see him." He buried his head into his knees.
Mrs Davey placed a hand on his back "It's okay to be scared Oliver and unsure. That's actually really normal."
"Is it?"
"Of course it is, Oliver any big change in life is scary and frightening. You know when I get scared?" She waited until Oliver nodded. "At the start of every new school year when I get a whole new class of students and parents. Meeting new people is scary sometimes, especially somebody important."
"Really?"
"Yes, really and you know who else might be feeling scared and unsure… your Dad. I am sure he is scared about meeting you too."
"Adam?"
"Yes, Adam. Is that what you call him?"
"I don't know." Oliver wiped his eyes. "What if he doesn't like me?"
"Oh Oliver, you are such a lovely, sweet, caring, funny little boy, you have so many friends and people who want to be around you. I wish all my students were like you. You are an amazing person. I think I can safely say your real Dad will like you. What's not to like?"
Oliver's lip quivered. "Everyone will think I am a cry baby."
Mrs Davey felt sad for him. She could understand that kids could be cruel and may laugh at him seeing him cry but she did feel that Oliver was popular enough that it wouldn't be like a lot of other kids who sometimes struggled at school. Sadly not all children were treated the same.
She hadn't been Oliver's teacher for long but had been in the school throughout his entire school life so she knew him. He was always happy, he was good at school and always completed his work and got good marks. He loved sport and hadn't caused any trouble.
Then things got a little rough and his previous teacher called in his parents and only Kim turned up and explained that things were rough at home. When Mrs Davey took over at the start of the school year she got updated on his home life and found him much better balanced and happy with only a couple of moments that caused concern. Generally though he was polite, smart, enthusiastic and diligent student.
"Well we will just sit here a little longer then." Mrs Davey offered. "And then when we go back to class maybe you might feel a little better. We have art this afternoon."
Oliver did come back to class when lunch was over and he was quiet but eventually came out of his shell a little and had some fun in art class. Mrs Davey made sure she teamed him up with his best friend Joey. Often she would split up friends as she wanted to discourage little cliques forming in her class. Today however she wanted Oliver to feel comfortable. She did watch curiously when Kim came to pick him up. Oliver didn't greet his mother quiet as enthusiastically as he usually did.
"How was today Ollie?"
"Fine."
"Yeah? Mrs Davey said you were a little quiet." Mrs Davey had called Kim when the kids had their afternoon break and explained that Oliver had a bad day and told her why he was worried about going home and told her about his Dad and how he was scared about meeting him.
"I don't feel like talking."
"Okay." Kim nodded. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him or make a scene at school. She could see he was close to tears and he would have been mortified if he cried. "But later on we are going to talk about everything okay?"
"Sure."