"Where's Waldo?"
"Good morning class." A young teacher with long brown hair said to a group of young children.
"Good morning Mrs. Daniels" The class said in unison.
"I hope everyone had a good summer. Now let me call the roll and make sure we've got everyone. Taylor Abbot…"
"Here." The young girl said.
"Ok, Jessica Alloy…"
"Here…"
"Waldo Brooks…"
Everyone in the class laughed. There was no response to the name.
"Waldo Brooks…" Mrs. Daniels repeated.
"Where's Waldo?" one of the kids asked causing everyone to laugh harder.
Finally a young boy slowly raised his hand and looked down. The teacher marked him present and continued with roll call. Young Waldo though was subjected to name calling all day.
After school that day Waldo got off the bus and walked his house.
"Hey sweetie, how was your day?" Britney Brooks asked.
"Horrible. I hate school. I'm never going back."
"Why not?"
"Because Mrs. Daniels called me Waldo and everyone is making fun of me now."
"That's because they don't know you prefer using your middle name. You need to tell Mrs. Daniels to call you Dustin and everything will be ok and the kids will forget all about calling you Waldo." Britney said.
"Why did you name me Waldo anyway?" Dustin asked.
"Don't look at me. That was your father's decision. I was the one who wanted to name you Dustin. Your father wanted to name you after his grandfather so we finally agreed on Waldo Dustin." Britney explained to her son.
"Where is Dad?" Dustin asked.
"I don't know." Britney said bitterly. Her husband had been taking off a lot lately without a word and it took every ounce of her self control to keep her emotions in check around her two children.
"I'm going to play Nintendo until dinner." Dustin said going to his room. He plopped in front of the Nintendo and played Zelda for about an hour then he heard some yelling from downstairs. He sighed and went back to his game until her heard a knock on the door. It opened and Dustin's little sister Rebecca stood there with tears in her eyes.
"Mommy and Daddy are fighting again." 5 year old Becky said.
"I know. Come here." Dustin said pulling his sister into his bed next to him. He held her so she wouldn't be scared.
"Why do they always yell?" Becky asked.
"I don't know Becky…I don't know." Dustin answered.
The kids both got quiet and they could hear what their parents were saying.
"Damn it Britney just lay off. I don't have to tell you everything!" Jake Brooks said.
"I'm sorry but when my husband starts taking off and not telling me where he is I start to worry." Britney said.
"I told you I've been at the track a lot lately. I'm practicing for the race." Jake said.
"Don't give me that. I've call over to the office at the track and you haven't been there. I know you're not at the track so why don't you tell me the truth? Where are you going? Or better yet who are you with?" Britney asked.
"Get off it Britney. You're so insecure. Just stop with the questions." Jake said.
"Jake please…I don't wanna be a jealous wife but I feel like I'm losing you. Please just talk to me. Tell me what I did to drive you away." Britney pleaded.
"You didn't do anything. Things just aren't the same." Jake said.
"Don't you love me anymore?" Britney asked.
"God Britney, why does this have to be about you? If you are doing something wrong and if I still love you…you're so self centered. Not all the problems in the world are centered around you!" Jake yelled.
"I know that! But at least 50% of the problems in my marriage are about me and I want to know how to fix it before it's too late because I do love you and I don't wanna lose you Jake. I love you!" Britney yelled back.
"What do you want me to say?" Jake asked.
"I want you to say 'I love you too Britney, let's talk this out.'" Britney said.
"I can't do this. I'm leaving. Don't wait up." Jake said walking out of the house and slamming the door. Britney went to her room and fell on to her bed crying.
Meanwhile, upstairs little Becky was curled tight against her big brother as if he were a life raft. Tears fell from her eyes.
"Is Daddy moving out?" Becky asked.
"I don't know Becky. Let's go eat some dinner so we don't have to bother Mom." Dustin said.
"What will we eat?" Becky asked.
"Um, I'll make you a peanut butter sandwich if you want." Dustin said.
"OK." Becky agreed.
Dustin took his little sister to the kitchen and make them each a sandwich and poured two glasses of milk. They ate quietly then Dustin put the dishes in the dishwasher and took Becky back upstairs and got her tucked into bed then got in bed himself. He was almost asleep when he felt a hand touch him.
"Dustin, I'm scared. Can I sleep in here?" Becky asked.
"Ok. Come here." Dustin said lifting the blanket for his sister. She got in bed next to him.
"Dustin?" Becky asked.
"Yeah?"
"Promise I won't lose you no matter what?" Becky asked.
"I promise. I'll always be here to protect you. You'll be safe as long as I'm around." Dustin said kissing his sister's head.
Hearing that satisfied Becky and she fell asleep, shortly after Dustin fell asleep as well.
The next morning Dustin got Becky ready for school then got ready himself. He walked Becky to her Kindergarten class then he went to his own class.
"There's Waldo." Brad Miller said laughing as Dustin walked in to class and sat down. This time when Mrs. Daniels called "Waldo Brooks" Dustin replied. "Mrs. Daniels, can you call me Dustin please? It's my middle name and I like it better."
"If my name was Waldo I would hate it too." Brad said. This cause even more teasing to start.
By the time lunch rolled around Dustin was sick of the teasing about his name. At recess he went off and found a place to sit alone. All he wanted was one friend to play with. Dustin started to cry a few tears. Just then this little blonde girl from another class walked over to him.
"Why are you crying?" the little blond girl asked.
"I'm not crying. Crying is only for girls." Dustin said.
"My mommy says it's ok for anyone to cry if they are hurt. Why are you hurt?" the girl asked.
"Because everyone is being so mean. Mrs. Daniels called me Waldo but I don't like that name. My mom and dad call me Dustin." He said.
"Dustin…ok well…I'll call you Dustin if you want." she said.
"OK…what's your name?" Dustin asked.
"Victoria Hanson but my mommy calls me Tori." She said.
"Ok…Tori. I can call you Tori." Dustin said.
"Ok. Do you want to do play on the swings?" Tori asked.
"If you make me a promise." Dustin said.
"OK. I'm good at keeping promises." Tori said.
"Never ever call me Waldo." Dustin said.
"I promise…make me a promise too?" Tori asked.
"Ok." Dustin said.
"Promise me we will always be friends." Tori said.
"I promise." Dustin said.