Chapter 2: Good and Bad Days
(David's POV)
Today was the first day of kindergarten. Mommy started crying when she kissed me goodbye. I don't understand why. I had a lot of fun at school. I met other kids and got new friends. It wasn't scary at all. I thought since Mommy was crying it might be scary.
"So, David. How was your first day of school?" Daddy asked me.
"It was fun. I got to draw a picture," I showed him the picture I drew of Happy.
"That's a great picture son," Daddy smiled at my drawing.
"I like it," I said.
"Do you think you are going to have fun at school?" he asked.
"I think it will be very fun. I just wish Sam could be there," I told him.
"So do I," Daddy's voice got sad," so do I, David."
"I made friends with a kid named Fred. He lives down the street from us. He was really cool," I explained.
"Good. I think you will make a lot of new friends at school," Daddy said.
"Me too. And my teacher was really nice. Her name's Mrs. Johnson. She said she really likes kids. She let us play with toys and draw and she read us a really cool story," I told Daddy.
"I'm glad you had such a great day," Daddy told me.
(Eric's POV)
When David got home from school, I was glad to hear that he had such a good day. I feared how the older kids fared. I knew that they could be in for some tough days ahead. When Simon came in, I was almost afraid to ask how his day went. He didn't look too happy.
"How did your day go?" I asked.
"Not great," he replied curtly.
"What happened?" I questioned.
"Nobody would talk to me. All day long I had to sit by myself. It's like they're all afraid of me," he explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that. NO one would sit next to you?" I inquired.
"Okay one person talked to me," he responded.
"Who?" I prodded.
"Cecilia. But all she said was hello. That was it. Just 'Hi Simon'. That was all anybody said to me all day," he answered.
"I think that people ARE afraid of you. They heard that you tried to kill yourself and they don't know what to think. You need to just act like plain-old Simon. Eventually, your true friends will come around. The others will continue to treat you like a pariah. You have to realize that if those people can't accept you even though you may have done something awful, that they aren't the kind of people you really want in your life. It's going to take some getting used to for everybody. Even you. And Cecilia talking to you, that's just a good start. She's had plenty of time to think over what's happened between you and it seems like she's decided she wants to be friends again," I told him.
"I know it's going to be hard. I'm afraid. What if no one ever accepts me back into their lives? Am I destined to be an outcast? I don't want to be a pariah," he sighed.
"My suggestion is to talk to Cecilia. Welcome her back into your life. If no one else wants to accept you, make new friends. Someone is bound to like you for you and not what you tried to do," I suggested," just give it some time.'
"Thanks Dad," he returned," I've got to be going. I already have homework on the first day of school."
(Lucy's POV)
Ruthie came over to my house after school. She already told Mom she would be here so Mom wouldn't worry. Ruthie likes to come over and play with Sammie. I enjoy just sitting back and watching the two of them interact. Ruthie is very gentle with the baby. I think one day she'll make a great mother.
"So, how was your first day of school?" I inquired.
"Surprisingly good. Lots of the kids were staring at me and I asked them all what they were staring at. They said they were really sorry about what happened and they were afraid to say anything to hurt my feelings. I talked to them about what happened and how hard it got at times. They were very accepting and I was kind of shocked about that," she revealed.
"Good. I'm glad that you confronted the kids. It's hard when everyone knows you've coped with something they'd never understand. You just confronted them. That's the best way to handle it. Now they're not afraid to talk to you," I was proud of how she'd handled things.
"I'm glad too," Ruthie agreed," so when's Kevin coming home?"
"He should be a little late tonight. He told me to eat without him. I think I'm coming over for dinner tonight," I said.
"Yay. I love it when you bring Sammie over. She's so cute. I just love playing with her," Ruthie's face lit up.
"I think if I ever need a babysitter I've got one right here," I told her.
"Really?" she asked in surprise.
"Why not? You love Sammie and she loves you. As a matter of fact, on Saturday Kevin and I are going out to dinner with Roxanne and Chandler. I was going to ask Mom to watch the baby, but I think you could watch her instead. I can drop her off at the house and that way if you need help Mom's still around. What do you think?" I asked.
"I'd love to babysit," Ruthie exclaimed.
"Great," I smiled," I know Kevin will be fine with it. I'll tell him tonight to make sure he's fine with it, but he knows how much Sammie likes you."
(David's POV)
Today was the first day of kindergarten. Mommy started crying when she kissed me goodbye. I don't understand why. I had a lot of fun at school. I met other kids and got new friends. It wasn't scary at all. I thought since Mommy was crying it might be scary.
"So, David. How was your first day of school?" Daddy asked me.
"It was fun. I got to draw a picture," I showed him the picture I drew of Happy.
"That's a great picture son," Daddy smiled at my drawing.
"I like it," I said.
"Do you think you are going to have fun at school?" he asked.
"I think it will be very fun. I just wish Sam could be there," I told him.
"So do I," Daddy's voice got sad," so do I, David."
"I made friends with a kid named Fred. He lives down the street from us. He was really cool," I explained.
"Good. I think you will make a lot of new friends at school," Daddy said.
"Me too. And my teacher was really nice. Her name's Mrs. Johnson. She said she really likes kids. She let us play with toys and draw and she read us a really cool story," I told Daddy.
"I'm glad you had such a great day," Daddy told me.
(Eric's POV)
When David got home from school, I was glad to hear that he had such a good day. I feared how the older kids fared. I knew that they could be in for some tough days ahead. When Simon came in, I was almost afraid to ask how his day went. He didn't look too happy.
"How did your day go?" I asked.
"Not great," he replied curtly.
"What happened?" I questioned.
"Nobody would talk to me. All day long I had to sit by myself. It's like they're all afraid of me," he explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that. NO one would sit next to you?" I inquired.
"Okay one person talked to me," he responded.
"Who?" I prodded.
"Cecilia. But all she said was hello. That was it. Just 'Hi Simon'. That was all anybody said to me all day," he answered.
"I think that people ARE afraid of you. They heard that you tried to kill yourself and they don't know what to think. You need to just act like plain-old Simon. Eventually, your true friends will come around. The others will continue to treat you like a pariah. You have to realize that if those people can't accept you even though you may have done something awful, that they aren't the kind of people you really want in your life. It's going to take some getting used to for everybody. Even you. And Cecilia talking to you, that's just a good start. She's had plenty of time to think over what's happened between you and it seems like she's decided she wants to be friends again," I told him.
"I know it's going to be hard. I'm afraid. What if no one ever accepts me back into their lives? Am I destined to be an outcast? I don't want to be a pariah," he sighed.
"My suggestion is to talk to Cecilia. Welcome her back into your life. If no one else wants to accept you, make new friends. Someone is bound to like you for you and not what you tried to do," I suggested," just give it some time.'
"Thanks Dad," he returned," I've got to be going. I already have homework on the first day of school."
(Lucy's POV)
Ruthie came over to my house after school. She already told Mom she would be here so Mom wouldn't worry. Ruthie likes to come over and play with Sammie. I enjoy just sitting back and watching the two of them interact. Ruthie is very gentle with the baby. I think one day she'll make a great mother.
"So, how was your first day of school?" I inquired.
"Surprisingly good. Lots of the kids were staring at me and I asked them all what they were staring at. They said they were really sorry about what happened and they were afraid to say anything to hurt my feelings. I talked to them about what happened and how hard it got at times. They were very accepting and I was kind of shocked about that," she revealed.
"Good. I'm glad that you confronted the kids. It's hard when everyone knows you've coped with something they'd never understand. You just confronted them. That's the best way to handle it. Now they're not afraid to talk to you," I was proud of how she'd handled things.
"I'm glad too," Ruthie agreed," so when's Kevin coming home?"
"He should be a little late tonight. He told me to eat without him. I think I'm coming over for dinner tonight," I said.
"Yay. I love it when you bring Sammie over. She's so cute. I just love playing with her," Ruthie's face lit up.
"I think if I ever need a babysitter I've got one right here," I told her.
"Really?" she asked in surprise.
"Why not? You love Sammie and she loves you. As a matter of fact, on Saturday Kevin and I are going out to dinner with Roxanne and Chandler. I was going to ask Mom to watch the baby, but I think you could watch her instead. I can drop her off at the house and that way if you need help Mom's still around. What do you think?" I asked.
"I'd love to babysit," Ruthie exclaimed.
"Great," I smiled," I know Kevin will be fine with it. I'll tell him tonight to make sure he's fine with it, but he knows how much Sammie likes you."