Amita stopped just before they arrived in the classroom.

"Like I told you at home, this nice lady is going to ask you some questions," she told Suruli. "So, please listen to her. This school is going to be much better for you."

With that, mother and son went into the classroom. Sarah welcomed them.

"Hi!" Suruli said.

"Hello," the teacher responded. "I'm Ms. Anderson. Suruli how old are you?"

He held up three fingers.

Then, the teacher asked him to fetch something, and he did so. Then, she showed him around, though he got distracted by the blocks, to Amita's worry. When the mini 'tour' finished, Sarah left Suruli to play with the blocks and took Amita aside.

"He seems able to follow directions," she told Amita. "And has curiosity. He'll be a good fit."

"Thank you," Amita smiled.

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The arrangements were made, and Suruli was to start school the following Monday for three days a week and four hours a day to start.

"So, kids get to do their own thing at Montessori schools?" Hugh asked that night at dinner.

"They do projects as a means of learning," Charlie explained. "For example, one kid Amita and I saw was doing a project that allowed her to learn about her letters."

"Is there homework?"

"I didn't ask about that," Charlie admitted. "Since Suruli is going to preschool."

"I wish I could just work on projects instead of listening to boring teachers," Hugh said, thinking of his math teacher.

"It wouldn't do you any good. You're a kid who needs structure," Alan disagreed. "And that's what that private school you go to provides."

"Dad, could I go to Costa Rica for Summer break?"

"Costa Rica?"

"Is this cool program where kids get lessons in Spanish, help with stuff and live with a host family. It's educational," Hugh said. A couple of his friends were going.

"Do you have a brochure?"

"Yeah. In my backpack."

"I'll take a look at it after dinner," Charlie said, not making any promises.

"It'll improve my Spanish," Hugh told him.

"Let us see the brochure," Amita told him diplomatically.

After dinner, Hugh showed Amita, Alan, and Chalrie the brochure, as they sat in the living room.

"My Spanish teacher has gone a few times," Hugh told them.

"We'll talk to him and think about it," Charlie promised.

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Amita gave notice at Suruli's current school, and personally told the Ms. Clark about the transfer a few days before, thanking her.

Amita asked, "Has the hitting improved?"

"A little," Ms. Clark said. "He sometimes yells 'No' to classmates he thinks are bothersome."

"I see."

"And he's a bit of a loner."

"Really?"

"The hitting causes kids to stay away."

"Oh."

"Maybe a Montessori will do him good," the teacher admitted. "I wish him the best."

"Thank you."

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Amita, Charlie, the nanny and Alan dropped off Suruli at school, and hoped that things would work out.

"Bye sweetie!" Amita gave him a kiss. "Remember. No hitting! If someone bothers you, show the teacher."

"Good luck!" Charlie told the boy.

"Have fun!" Alan said.

"Bye-Bye!" Suruli said.

Soon, the teacher welcomed him, and patiently got him started on a project.

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Amita herself went to pick up the child to see how he was. She came just a little before he was to leave.

"Surprise!" Amita greeted him after letting the teacher know she was there.

"Hi!" Suruli looked up, from his blocks.

"Can I see your project?" Amita asked. A part of her started to worry that maybe the blocks would distract him.

He got up, and she followed him to a little pile of various papers and other materials, beside it was his project, or at least, the beginnings of it.

"Good job!" she told him. "I look forward to you bringing it home!"

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At dinner, Charlie told Hugh the good news. "I talked to your Spanish teacher last week, and he assured me it was a good experience. So, Amita and I are letting you go."

"Thanks guys!" Hugh grinned.

"Don't forget to get souvenirs for Suruli, your mother Uncle Don, Aunt Robin, Maggie, and Grandpa," Amita told him.

"I won't!"

"And behave with the host family," Amita continued. "Help out when you can. That family is doing you a big favor."

"Okay."

"How did Suruli do at School today?" Alan asked.

"Well he started his first project," Amita said.

"Good." Alan nodded.

"He seemed happy when I picked him up," Amita said.

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Charlie looked at himself in the mirror, that was in the bathroom. He couldn't help but notice a bigger belly, and the increasing number of greys that mixed in with the black hair. There were wrinkles, but those were of secondary importance.

Just then, Amita came in as the door was unlocked. "You okay?"

"Fine," Charlie said, as Amita undressed and turned on the shower and got into it.

"May I join you?"

"I'm gonna be quick," she said. "I'm working on my new project."

"Right, a computer game for autistic kids," Charlie remembered.

"Yeah. I got some new ideas."

"What kind of ideas?"

Amita explained them in some detail, as she showered. Charlie agreed with them and made some suggestions.

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In bed, Amita worked on her project, while Charlie read to Suruli. After putting the boy to bed, Charlie went to his and Amita's room. Then, he did calculations for a consulting project.

After quite a while, there was a knock on their door.

"It's me," Hugh said from behind it.

"Come in." Amita covered herself.

"I need help with my math homework."

"It's almost ten." Amita looked at the clock on her nightside.

"I was working on the rough draft of an essay, and my other homework," Hugh explained.

Charlie got up. "I'll help you."

"Thanks!" Hugh said. "I'll be in the dining room."

Eventually, Charlie came back.

"He finally got it," he told her, as he went into bed a while later again. Then, he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to come with me to present my paper at the conference?"

"I don't like the idea of both of us leaving Suruli," Amita said. "He gets upset with major changes in routine."

"It'll only be for two days," Charlie assured her. "And we both need a break."

"I can't leave him," Amita said.

"We need time as a couple," Charlie said.

"Suruli is not a normal kid," Amita said. "You need to accept that."

"I have accepted it," Charlie said. "But he can handle being without us for a couple of days."

"No he can't. You expect too much. Think of him."

"I do!"

"How can you think about romantic getaways with we have a son, who needs us constantly?"

"Not that constantly," Charlie said.

"If you spent more time with him, you'd realize that he needs constant attention."

"He'd be with dad and the nanny."

"It's not the same," Amita said. "He needs his mother, at least, to be there. Why can't you understand?"

"I do understand!" Charlie protested.

"No you don't. For all practical purposes, I feel like a single mother," Amita admitted.

"What? I help!" Charlie became offended

"Not enough."

"I read to him, feed him, spend time with him...," Charlie started to argue.

"But not quality time!" Amita interrupted.

"You're never satisfied," Charlie complained.

Charlie went to sleep on the couch.

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Amita took Suruli to school the next day, and walked with him to where his project was.

"Have fun!" she kissed him.

When she left, a little girl about his age came up to him and started grabbing some of his materials. He tried to grab them back. They were locked in a battle of wills.

"Hannah, Suruli, there's plenty of supplies," Sarah told them gently. "No need to fight." The teacher led Hannah to her project, and Suruli worked some more. Then, he decided to get more supplies, but went to the wrong area.

He got scolded by a six year old, who took the material from him. "That's not for you! It's for big kids. Go over there!"

Suruli tried to get the material back, but the six year old was too fast. Another, kinder, six year old boy lead Suruli to the area where the younger ones were supposed to get their supplies.

Suruli got his supplies, worked for a while, and then went to play with blocks.

Before he knew it, the nanny came to pick him up and take him in her car to where she lived.

He upon seeing his lunch, which consisted of baked fish with couscous, simply told her, "No."

"I can't give you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day," the nanny said gently. "Your mother would not like it."

He pushed the plate away, and made the sign for cookies.

"No lunch, no cookies."

Suruli again made the sign for cookies. This standoff was interrupted by a knock on the door.

The nanny went to it. "Who is it?"

"Amita," Amita replied. She let her in.

"I had to cancel one of my classes because of a rat problem, so I thought I'd check up on Suruli," Amita said.

"He seemed content when I picked him up from school," the nanny said. "But he refuses to eat his lunch."

"What did you make him?"

"Baked fish, with cous cous."

"Sounds healthy," Amita nodded. "Maybe try to do chicken next time though."

"I will."

"Give him fruits." Amita then went to Suruli, and spent some time with him. Mother and son played with some cars until she had to go.

"Sorry, sweetie. I'll see you soon," Amita left.

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Meanwhile, a CIA agent, named Christina dressed very casually to blend in, came into Charlie's office.

"What do you want?" Charlie said, recognizing the agent, getting up, and closing the door.

"We need your expertise," she told him.

"Sure," Charlie said.

"You'll need to go to Groene Haven, in the Caribbean"

Charlie sighed. "I have two kids who need me."

"Both of whom are going to private schools," she said. "You'll be paid well."

"You know damn well, it's not about the money," Charlie said. "If it were, I wouldn't bother with teaching." He indicated his office. "How long?"

"As long as it takes," she told him. "Tell your family that you're consulting for Interpol."

"Isn't there anyone else?"

"No. We've already had our own people take a stab at it; lives are at stake here."

"I'll go," Charlie said reluctantly.

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Amita was angry, and had feelings of abandonment when Charlie told her upon coming home.

"I can't believe this! Your sons need you! Especially Suruli!" Amita said. "Can't you do your work for Interpol here?"

"No."

"How long?"

"I don't know."

"I can't help but feel that you doing this to get away for a while!" Amita accused him.

"Amita, no! Lives could be at stake!" Charlie said. "That's why I took the job. I'm not trying to get away."

"You never used to travel so much for your consulting work before," Amita added suspiciously. "And now it's going to be twice since Suruli was born."

"It was nothing planned on my part. Things come up that take me away. Like with Don. Robin seems to take it in stride."

"Because she had to," Amita said. "And that's what she signed up for. I didn't."

"I'll be back before you know it."

"You'll be in the Groen Haven, while I'm here dealing with everything. My parents are coming in two weeks."

"I thought they were coming in the summer?"

"They say that they'll be too busy then," Amita said. "The problem is that don't quite believe that Suruli has borderline PDD-NOS."

"They're smart people, I'm sure they'll observe him, and figure it out," Charlie said more out of hope than optimism.

"Dinner must be ready," Amita said. "I gotta make sure Suruli eats." With she turned around in a huff, picked up the child, and went to the dining room.

Charlie told Alan and Hugh the news.

"Couldn't Amita get the .. uh clearance so you two could work on this project for Interpol together?" Alan asked, having noticed a strain in the relationship.

"It would take a long time," Charlie said quickly, and served himself food.

"So you're getting paid to go to the Groen Haven?" Hugh asked.

"Yeah. One of the benefits of getting a doctorate, or two," Charlie smiled at his eldest.

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Amita, very early the next morning took Charlie to the airport. They fought during the ride there as Amita accused and Charlie defended himself yet again. Then when they arrived at the right terminal, he got off the car in silence, getting his suitcases. Amita saw him get into the airport and returned home.

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Two weeks later, around eleven in the morning, Amita picked up her parents. They were happy to see her.

"Where's Suruli?" Tapti asked.

"In school. He gets out soon," Amita said. "He doesn't like changes in his routine."

"But he's getting a visit from his grandparents!" Tapti protested.

"You'll see him soon enough," Amita promised her.

Eventually, they arrived at Suruli's school.

"We'll wait until it's time," she told them.

"So, is he learning at this school?" Sanjay asked.

"Yes he is," Amita said.

They talked of various things, relatives, family friends, etc, until Amita said. "It's time. Let's go get him."

After talking to the teacher, who told her that Suruli finished his first project, Amita gave her parents a quick tour of the three to six class and then went to Suruli's area.

After introducing Suruli to his grandparents, Amita asked, "Can I see the project you finished?"

Suruli showed it to her, and she congratulated him. "I'm so proud of you!"

"What did you make?" Sanjay asked.

"He doesn't quite talk yet," Amita reminded him. "Because of the PDD-NOS"

"Your cousin Dharuna didn't talk until she was five," Sanjay remarked.

"So, the children are left to their own devices?" Tapti asked.

"They are given some instructions, but they learn through doing projects like the one Suruli just finished."

"Oh." Tapti expressed her doubts.

"It's an effective teaching method. Suruli was doing badly in regular preschool," Amita assured Tapti.

"Children need structure and guidance," Sanjay told her.

"And they get it at Montessori, but are given the flexibility to learn at their own pace."

"The daughter of a friend of mine from university sent her son to one of these schools in Canada. She said that the teachers let her child play the whole day," Sanjay remarked

"Not all Montessori schools are the same."

So, she took them home and they had lunch.

"So, Charlie is still doing work for Interpol?" Sanjay asked.

"Yes. He doesn't' know when he'll be back." Amita poured water for Suruli and herself.

"Your father and I were thinking of taking Suruli to Disneyland."

"I don't know. The crowds and noise might be too much," Amita worried.

"We could go on a weekday, when everyone's at work or school," Sanjay pointed out. "It'll be empty."

"Fine," Amita relented after some thinking. "I'll go with you guys."

So, early the next morning, the four of them got into Amita's car, and left for Disneyland.

TBC

*Author's Note: Groen Haven- is a country I made up for purposes that will later become apparent. In my mind, it's a former Dutch colony in the Caribbean. Groen Haven is Dutch for 'Green Port'.