I sat down on the bench, waving to my friends as they walked away, and I started to look around for Jack. I didn’t see him so I pulled out my phone and started to check my messages. I saw a text from dad to me and mom that said he wouldn’t be back until later and to not wait for him to start dinner tonight. I texted him a thumbs up and I texted mom separately that I was meeting a friend at the park and would be home in an hour. I put down my phone and smiled as I watched some kids on the playground. One of the kids was going down the slide, then running back up to the top to go down again, and two others were swinging. I suddenly felt a tug on my jacket and turned around. There was a little boy with brown hair standing there and he looked almost in tears. As he gripped the bottom of his shirt slightly he said “I can’t find my mommy. Can you please help me?” He sniffed hard and rubbed a tear from his eye. “Sure, where did you see her last.” I asked as I stood from the bench then squatted down to his level. He smiled when I said yes and let go of his shirt. “She was on this bench, and she told me she was gonna go get something to eat then be right back.” He said. “It’s been a while and I still haven’t seen her and I started to get scared.” I smiled, “It’s okay, I’m sure we’ll find her soon.” I said and he sniffed again. This time he tried to hold his tears back, but he just ran into my arms and hugged me. I hugged him back until he started to calm down, then asked “Ready to go look?” And he nodded as he pulled away from the hug. I started to walk away and he grabbed my hand and walked beside me. “Do you know what kind of food she was getting?” I asked him and he nodded his head. “Mommy always takes me to the park then gets pizza for us and daddy on Mondays.” He said. I smiled, remembering when my dad used to take me to the donut shop after I went to the park when I was little. He would tell me not to tell mommy or else she would tell me that I was spoiling my dinner, and I never told her and I always ate my dinner after. As we walked to the nearest pizza place I knew, a Pizza Hut near Walmart, I looked at the customers and asked the kid “Do you see-“ and was cut off. “Maxy?” A voice asked behind us. I felt the boy let go of my hand and turn around. “Mommy!” He shouted and he ran to a brown haired woman, almost making her drop her pizzas. The lady looked at me and scowled, but I still offered to take the pizza out of her hands while she hugged the kid. When she tried to hug him with the pizza and failed I pulled it out of her hands, which made her gasp, but when she saw me just stand there she just nodded, still frowning, and hugged her kid. After he let go and asked her where she was she said, “Max, I told you to wait, I was only gone like 10 minutes.” I looked at Max and he shrugged and said “It felt like way longer,” which made me laugh and almost drop the pizza. Max hugged his mom again and she sighed and laughed a bit. Max yawned as he pulled out of the hug and said “Mommy, I’m tired, can you carry me?” He asked. “Buddy, I have to carry the pizza, and mommy’s pretty tired too.” She said. Max whined and looked at me then said “Then Max’s friend will carry him, right?” He asked as he walked over and stretched his hands up to me. I looked at his mom and she sighed. “Buddy, you don’t know them that well, and she’s from-“ he cut her off as he started to cry, which lucky for her saved her a glare and interesting conversation. She sighed and looked up at me. “Do you mind?” She asked after a moment of consideration. I smiled and shook my head. “Not at all.” I said and she sighed as if she couldn’t believe what was happening, and I handed her the pizza. “Maybe don’t yank it from my hands next time.” She said “I thought you were gonna run off with it.” “Sorry,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck, but then I asked “why would I run off with it though?” “Well, um” she started but Max cut her off. “Come on! My feet hurt.” He said and he waited for me to lift him. I picked him up, and his mom lead us back to the park. I spotted Jack sitting on the bench, and he looked at me questioningly, but I just shook my head and looked away. We walked a bit past the park and towards a dark grey Subaru. She opened the door and put the pizza in and I handed over Max. “What’s your name?” Max asked as I started to turn away. “I’m Madison.” I said and he smiled. “I’m Max. Are you my friend now?” He asked. I laughed a bit, and nodded. “If you want me to be.” I said. “I do!” He said and he reached out from his mom’s hands to hug me. I hugged him back and he smiled. “See you later Maddy.” He said and I smiled. His mom opened the back door and put him in his car seat. Then she closed the door and Max waved at me. I waved back, then turned to his mom who was looking at me. “I’m sorry, I assumed you were a troublesome teenager because you were from Mapplewood, but you proved me wrong.” Continue
I smiled, “Well, guess the saying does go you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” I said. “Yeah, guess it does.” She said and I extended my hand for a shake. She took it, then smiled a bit and pulled me into a hug. I was surprised at first, but I smiled and hugged her back. “Thanks Madison, you’re a good kid and anyone who knows you should be grateful.” She said as she pulled away. I smiled as she stepped into her car. I waved as they pulled away in their car, and I watched as they drove off. When they were out of sight I walked over to the bench where I had seen Jack. He now had a book open and his backpack leaned over on his shoulder. He had on a white button up and black pants, with fancy black leather shoes. I snickered a bit as I walked up. He always looks so fancy. “Hey.” I said as I walked over and slumped down beside him. “Hey, was that your mom and brother?” He asked. “Pft, no, I just met them, the mom was carrying the pizza and the kid was tired so I offered to help.” I said as I laughed a bit. I glanced over at him and saw him staring at me, wide eyed. “What?” “You just met them and offered to help carry a child?” He said after a moment more of staring. “Uh, yeah?” I said and he blinked. “I couldn’t just let her be stuck there carrying pizzas and a kid. She did only have two hands if you didn’t notice.” “I know, I just… I can barely even look people in the eye and you’re over here helping them carry their children before even introducing yourself.” He said. “It’s amazing Madison.” I chuckled a bit then rubbed the back of my neck. I said, “I was always told to help someone in need, no matter what they think of you, or what you think of them, or anything like that. And she was nice anyways, after she got over the whole me being from Mapplewood thing.” I said. “Yeah, but still, it’s amazing, even if you don’t think so.” He said and I smiled. “Well, you’ve been sitting here for a while, huh? How about we go do something.” I said. He nodded and I ran off towards the swings, him close behind me. As we swung and swung, Jack started to talk a bit more. He told me about his classes, what his favorite and least favorite were, what kind of games he liked to play, and a lot about his friends. I didn’t used to think they were very close because they didn’t act anything like me and my friends, but I guess I learned that not all friendships are the same, because Jack talked about his friends like I would talk about mine. Guess I learned something new, and I wasn’t even in school. As the sun began to set I slowed down my swinging and pulled out my phone. I grimaced when I saw the time, 5:34, and the 17 messages and 7 phone calls, all from my mom. I also had a few from my friends, but that wasn’t important right now. I noticed Jack had also slowed his swing down and was looking at me intensely. I frowned and was about to tell him I needed to go when he said, “You should probably go.” I stared at him a moment, then asked “How did you know?” He shrugged and said “It’s late, and I’m assuming your parents/guardians are worried about you.” He said. “You didn’t exactly hide it when you were grimacing at your phone.” I laughed and said, “Alright smart guy. I do really have to go though. See you later.” I waved and ruffled his hair, and as he tried to straighten it again I laughed. When I turned the corner I pulled my phone out again. I typed my mom’s phone number in, then before I hit call, I decided I had a better chance of not getting in trouble if I came home first, and explained while she was just happy I was safe. I texted “headed home, sorry.” To her and put my phone back into my pocket and started to walk. When I reached my house I took a deep breath and walked up the stepping stone path and to the front door. I pulled it open and my mom was standing in the hallway, frowning with her arms crossed. I smiled a bit and hugged her, but her frown didn’t budge. She did hug me back though, so I made a little progress. “I thought you said it would only be an hour, not three and a half.” She said when I pulled away. “Yeah, sorry.” I said looking down at the floor and messing with my backpack straps. “I was just having a lot of fun with my friend. Sorry.” She sighed and uncrossed her arms. “It’s okay, but next time please tell me so I’m not worried sick.” “Okay. Sorry.” I said as I hugged her again. “Quit saying sorry! You only need to apologize once. Now go get changed while I reheat this lasagna.” She said I smiled and ran upstairs and threw my backpack on my bed. I changed into my white tank top and flannel pajama pants, then rushed back downstairs. I sat down just as my mom pulled the lasagna from the microwave and as she put it in front of me I started to tell her the story of my day, and she listened closely, smiling the whole time. The end of chapter 4.
