Soccer season for the kids lasted all summer, but it seemed to pass in a flash for Frederick. There were two and a half week's worth of practices, and then they started having games every Saturday. Even after their games started Frederick would check on Fred at least once or twice during the rest of the week, just to make sure he was doing okay.
He would bring Fred lunch, and then they would get ready for the new school year together. Frederick would write up lesson plans, and he would supervise Fred as he practiced writing out the alphabet. He knew all his letters, and was doing decently enough at starting to read, but Fred struggled to write the letters. When Frederick found out that he had a hard time coloring and using scissors as well, always gripping things in a weird way, he had him practice those too.
Frederick had thought that when the games started that Saturdays would be like any other day he picked Fred up for soccer. He'd get the boy ready for the day, take him to soccer, and then take him home and make him lunch. It shouldn't be any different than the practices, but it soon became clear that it was.
Fred's parents didn't come to his games, and Fred was always upset about it, though he tried to pretend otherwise. It was clear that he wanted his dad to see how good he'd gotten, and for his mom to see him playing and talking with the other kids as though they were friends. Frederick could see the jealousy in Fred's eyes when about half the team went out to get ice cream after the game with each other and their parents.
Fred got along with the other kids, but he didn't truly consider them friends. He told Frederick that he just felt like a stranger around them that they only included because they wanted to be nice. Frederick thought that was how all friendships were, but he didn't exactly have a lot of experience with it himself.
Fred wanted friends. He wanted parents that supported and encouraged him. Since he didn't have either, he thought it meant that the problem was with him. That there was something wrong with him.
Frederick hated these thoughts, so he dedicated his whole Saturday to distracting Fred from his loneliness and growing abandonment issues. He took the kid out to ice cream, or to his favorite restaurant. He even took Fred to a 'grown-up' restaurant. Sometimes he took Fred to the beach, or the kid's museum, or just anywhere that was fun. Frederick would honestly do anything to keep that kid smiling. Saturdays were supposed to be a fun day for kids. Not a reminder of sorts that they somehow weren't good enough to get the attention they so desperately needed.
Fred understood that his parents were too busy to be around much. He was far more understanding and forgiving about it than Frederick himself was. However, even Fred wasn't immune to the disappointment that comes from seeing all of your peers surrounded by proud and supportive parents and family while your own parents are absent.
Fred tried so hard to hide his disappointment and pain. When Frederick or even William asked if he was okay, he would smile brightly and say that of course he was fine. His parents were just busy, and they'd come to the next game for sure. They promised.
They'd been making that promise to Fred for the past seven games. This was the last game of the summer, and Fred's parents were, once again, a no-show. Frederick felt his heart break for the kid. The game was supposed to start any minute, and while they might just be running late, Frederick wasn't going to hold his breath, and looking at Fred it was clear he wasn't either.
The boy was clearly hurt. He was sitting at the side of the field, not talking with his teammates or eating one of the chocolate muffins that William had brought for the kids. Fred was just watching the parking lot, waiting to see his parents' car, though he probably knew they weren't coming.
Frederick sighed and sat down next to Fred. He handed the boy a muffin and a juice box.
"I'm sorry about your parents." Frederick said.
"It's fine." Fred said in a shaky tone that revealed that it was anything but. The boy turned to him with a smile that could almost hide his pain. "They'll be here next week. They promised."
Frederick felt his heart pang. He dreaded what needed to be said, but it couldn't be helped.
"There is no game next week." Frederick said as gently as he could manage. "This is the last game. School starts next week, remember?"
Fred blinked, and Frederick could see him processing this information. "No more soccer?" He sounded far too upset for somebody who had barely grown to tolerate the game. Frederick thought he might just be upset that there were no more chances to show off to his parents.
"Afraid not, kid." Frederick said.
Fred furrowed his brow. He looked like he was trying to interpret something that was just outside of his understanding. When realization came to his eyes, it was accompanied by a truly heartbreaking look.
"O-oh." Fred's voice shook. He drew his legs close to his chest. "I don't want soccer to end."
Frederick knew it wasn't about soccer. He wished Fred would just tell him just what was bothering him so much, but he didn't think that the boy even knew just what was bothering him so much.
"Is this about your parents?" Frederick asked quietly. Fred shook his head.
"No." The boy said. "I knew they wouldn't come. They never come."
"So what's wrong?" Frederick asked with just a hint of impatience. He wasn't upset with Fred, but how could he fix a problem when he didn't know what it was?
Fred bit his lip and rocked slightly before he shook his head. Frederick wouldn't be getting any clear answers out of him for a while. Not until he had the chance to calm down. Frederick looked back towards the soccer field where the game was starting. He made eye contact with William, who gestured at Fred, clearly wondering if he was up for playing.
The game's going to start." Frederick said. "Did you want to play? You can be the goalie, if you want." Every week the kids took turns on playing goalie, and most of the kids didn't like it. Fred was the only one who loved that position. Frederick had no doubt that whatever kid was supposed to be goalie today would be more than happy to switch.
Fred shook his head and curled up tighter on himself, as though he was afraid of being dragged onto the field. Frederick had no intention of doing so.
"Well, tell me if you change your mind." Frederick said. He looked at William and shook his head. Fred definitely wasn't up for playing. At least, not right now.
Frederick knew that he should be watching the game, but Fred was pointedly looking away from it, and right now this boy needed his attention more than a silly kid's game did. He just sat next to Fred, waiting for him to open himself up. He didn't. The game went on, and Fred didn't move. He didn't even get into a more comfortable position or snack on the muffin or juice. He just sat there. Occasionally Frederick heard a quiet sniffle from him, but that was all. The man occasionally asked him if he wanted to join the game, but Fred shook his head, and that was that.
Time passed. The game ended, and Fred still didn't move. Frederick felt completely lost and useless. "Your friends will be leaving soon." Frederick said. "Do you want to say goodbye?"
Fred made a sound that could have been a self-deprecating laugh, and could have been a sob. "What friends?"
Frederick sighed. Fred was far too young for this, and there was nothing Frederick could do for him. "Do you just want me to take you home?"
Fred looked incredibly pained and he buried his face in his hands, but not fast enough to hide the tears in his eyes. He didn't want to go home. Considering the large empty house, and the fact that he didn't have soccer to distract him from his parent's absence, Frederick couldn't blame him at all.
"What if I take you to my house?" Frederick suggested. Fred sniffled and nodded. Frederick held his hand out, and after a long moment Fred accepted it. The boy clung tightly to his hand and stood so close to him that Frederick thought he might just trip over him.
He didn't stay to help with clean-up. He would explain things to William later. Right now Fred was overwhelmed and he needed to get him home.
Frederick brought Fred to his car. He didn't normally let the kid sit in the front, but Fred was clinging to his hand and he looked like he was going to panic as soon as Frederick let go of his hand. He didn't want to make the kid cry like that. So he let Fred sit in the front so he could keep holding his hand. He just made sure to drive as carefully and slowly as he could.
In just a few minutes he was pulling into his driveway. Frederick got out, and then he went to the other side of the car and picked up Fred. The boy wrapped his arms around his neck, clearly still distressed.
Frederick brought Fred inside, sitting him on the couch and taking a seat right next to him. He'd tried giving Fred some time to get his thoughts figured out, but he was still so sad.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Frederick asked. "Maybe I can help."
Fred wrapped his arms around himself. "I don't want to be alone again."
"You're not going to be alone." Frederick said. "You'll have school, remember?" If anything, Fred would be far less lonely. He would have school during the week, and hopefully he would make some friends this time around and he could have someone to play with during the weekend. It wouldn't make up for his parents' absence, but at least he wouldn't be on his own.
"But so will you." Fred said quietly. He hugged himself. Not for the first time Frederick thought that Fred needed a plush toy. He needed something to hug, and he didn't think he could rely on people to provide that to him. "You're going to be working again, so you're going to be too busy for like Mommy and Daddy."
Frederick felt his breath leave him. He pulled himself off the couch and knelt on the ground in front of Fred. "You think I'm going to leave you?"
"Everybody does." Fred said. "You have more important things to do. You have other kids to teach. You're not my Coach anymore. You don't have to take care of me." Fred sounded so convinced, and much more articulate than he usually was when he was upset. Frederick wondered if Fred had been telling himself this to try to prepare for being abandoned, or if it was something his parents had talked him through because they thought he was too attached. Frederick didn't know which hurt more.
"Come here." Frederick held his arms out. Fred's attempt at composure vanished. He started crying as he threw himself at Frederick, hugging him. The man just held him tight.
"I'm not just going to forget about you." Frederick said. "You're far too important for that." If Frederick left Fred on his own he would just have intrusive thoughts and nightmares about learning about the death of the poor boy. Frederick didn't know if Fred's death in those nightmares would be a result of neglect, or if he would have been done in by his own loneliness and desperation. Either way, Frederick couldn't bear the thought, and he would never forgive himself if something happened.
"But you have work." Fred whimpered. "You have to go to school." Frederick realized at that moment that the only adults Fred knew who worked or went to school were his parents, who were never home. He had no other frame of reference, and couldn't possibly understand that it was more than possible to have time at both work and home.
"I still have evenings off." Frederick said. He always had extra work to do after the school day ended, but he would be more than happy to take a few hours off to give a lonely boy some company. "And I don't work on the weekends. I'll have plenty of time for you."
Fred gave him a dubious look. "Really?"
"Absolutely." Frederick said. "Look, I'll show you." He stood up, holding Fred close. He brought the kid upstairs to his bedroom. Frederick only set Fred down so he could reach into his dresser drawer and pull out his planner. He wasn't too meticulous about plans and schedules, but when Frederick had something important or unusual coming up, he liked to write it down, just so he could see it and have the reminder. It helped him to mentally prepare for appointments, or parent-teacher conferences, or even his vacation days.
Frederick showed Fred his planner. "This is where I write important things, so I never forget them. Do you see how nothing's on Sunday?" Fred nodded. Frederick went out of his way to leave Sunday open. It was nice to have at least one day a week where he didn't have to worry about his job, or errands, or appointments.
"What if we plan to have Sundays just for us?" Frederick suggested. "We can go out to eat, or I can help you with your school work, or we can just sit and talk. Just like what we did before soccer. And if you need more before that, you can call me. Even if I'm busy, I'd be more than happy to make time for you."
Fred had previously looked like he was expecting his world to fall apart around him. Now he looked like a giant wall had been torn down in front of him, and he had an entire universe of possibilities. "Promise?" Fred asked.
"Promise." Frederick said. He grabbed a pen and wrote Fred's name on every Sunday of next month. He intended to do this far longer than that, but this gesture was just to prove a point. He turned the planner back towards Fred. "See? It's written down. That makes it official."
Fred smiled sincerely for the first time today, and Frederick was relieved. He didn't want to be just another adult to break the trust of this boy. Fred took the planner and turned it back a page. He pointed at a date. "This is today, right?" Frederick nodded. Fred's finger moved to the next day. "And tomorrow's Sunday." Fred beamed at him, hope in his eyes. Frederick smiled back at him.
"You're right, it is." Frederick took the planner back and wrote Fred's name on tomorrow's space. "There you go. Tomorrow, just you and me. Whatever you want to do."
Fred was still smiling, but there were tears in his eyes. Frederick had been around Fred for long enough to know that this wasn't because he was sad. Fred was overwhelmed, but not with bad feelings. This was certainly better than being alone. It was clear that Fred still needed time to calm down though. He'd had far too much excitement for one day.
"Why don't we get some hot chocolate?" Frederick said. It may be summer, but for little kids there was never a bad time for hot chocolate. "We can color for a bit." While Fred struggled with his dexterity, he really did enjoy coloring. The bright colors, freedom, and lack of criticism and rules, made it a nice change for him.
Fred nodded. He held out his arms, and Frederick was more than happy to pick him up to bring him downstairs. Though Fred was feeling better now, Frederick still felt guilty that the boy had ever been upset because of him in the first place. He should have been more clear from the start. Fred had a hold on his heart, and the kid wasn't letting go, and neither was Frederick.
He wasn't really looking forward to taking Fred home tonight though. Frederick just knew that he would have to talk to Brad and Judy about these plans he'd made with Fred. He doubted they would mind. They'd probably see it as just one more day where they don't have to think about if their son is okay.
He would rather not deal with Brad and Judy at all, but there were far too many future problems that could arise if Frederick did this behind their backs. If he wanted to be at Fred's side for the foreseeable future, making sure he was okay, he needed to have parental approval, just in case.
Frederick knew how to deal with difficult people though. It wasn't ideal, but it was certainly better than the alternative. Frederick would do anything to keep Fred safe and happy. He'd only known this boy for a few months, but he was wrapped around his little finger, and Frederick wouldn't have it any other way.