#Chapter 60 – Pageantry

The Kindergarten classroom is a whirl of activity and, frankly, I welcome it. We’ve all been cooped up in Victor’s house for a week, keeping the boys home from school, but finally the media outlets have relented, turning their attention to more interesting subjects. Or, at least subjects who were willing to leave the house.

Victor wanted us to stay in for another week, but the boys cried and begged to be let back to school for the Thanksgiving pageant. I was right here with them.

“Are you ready, little turkey?” I ask Ian, pasting the final feathers onto the upside-down paper bag that is wearing over his shirt, his head and arms sticking out of holes roughly cut in the sides. His face is painted with a wide yellow beak over his nose. It’s adorable.

“Ready, mama!” he says, putting his hands above his head.

“Do you remember your song?” I ask.

“Nope!” He says he word just as enthusiastically and I laugh. The boys missed the week in which the rest of the class learned to sing together, but I didn’t care. As long as they have fun.

“Mama, do I look right?” Alvin says, wandering over in a tall black hat made with construction paper, complete with a yellow square buckle.

“You look perfect, little pilgrim,” I say, laughing and tugging him close.

“Is papa coming today?” Ian asks, looking towards the door in anticipation. The pageant will be held in the auditorium, where parents are already gathering to watch and listen.

“No, baby,” I say gently. “He couldn’t come – you know daddy is very busy.” The truth is that Victor didn’t want to bring the media storm that would come with him. I know that he’s heartbroken to miss it – Victor is mad for all this dad stuff, especially after missing six years of it – but it was the right choice. I agreed with him – I want today to be all about the boys as well.

“But Edgar is going to be here,” I say, smiling at them over-cheerfully. “And he’s going to tape the whole thing, so daddy can watch it later on the tv. And you can sing your song for him – whatever part of it you remember.”

This seems to brighten them up. They really, really liked seeing themselves on the television the other day. I laugh, thinking perhaps we have two silver-screen actors in the making.

Slowly, Ian’s face changes into a sly expression. He catches Alvin’s eye and they both nod. I can almost hear the words passing between them in whatever mind-link or silent twin-speak they’ve developed.

fingers between them, bringing their attention back to me. “What’s going

innocently. “We were just wondering…if our grandfather was going to come

at me as my mouth falls open, horror all over my face.

the room, where I tuck myself into the corner

my urgency here.

mean

you’d

myself. I’ve frightened them now, and I need them coherent. I adjust my face deliberately

says, a little miffed. Luckily, Alvin sticks to the conversation

the other day, when you sent us

knew we weren’t supposed to be listening

couldn’t help it,

say, growing even more impatient. “Just tell me

we didn’t know we had a grandfather,” Ian says, growing more

always wanted one! And now that we have a dad, and it is so great, we thought it would be great

looked him up

“How did you –“

Ian says assuredly,

to find,” Alvin says, rolling his eyes, “it

Alvin’s expression. He’s only one of the most powerful

“We invited him to come to the pageant today. We thought he

I ask, trying to

Alvin says, shaking his head. “Which was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255