Page 9 of Madden

He shakes his head.

"Well, if you're able to, you should."

The group of them are led to a table, and to keep from embarrassing myself, I pull my gaze from them, and look at my fingers gripping each other, resting against the formica.

Stephanie gives me a look from where she's sitting. "One day, Bec, it'll be our turn."

But when is that going to be?

CHAPTER 7

MADDEN

This ismy third day at Laurel Springs Elementary School. The first couple of days were spent with me getting stuff situated in the office that was the old SRO's. I don't know what that dude was doing, but it had an inch or more of dust on the desk, and absolutely nothing was in any type of order that made sense.

"I think you'll see that walking around will be the best way to get to know most of the kids and teachers. They'll get used to you and Donut, and hopefully, the kids will start asking questions." Mrs. Faulkner, the principal of the elementary school, tells me. "The old SRO wasn't personable. He didn't enjoy walking around, and he didn't have a dog. For the most part, it was as if he wasn't even here."

I nod, thinking about how I can make the changes that she's looking for. "I want to be involved. I think it looks good for the community and is definitely good for the kids."

"I agree with you. There are certain children who are allergic to dogs, so you'll have to listen to them if they tell you that."

"Don't worry, Donut knows his commands, and he listens very well. If he can't be around kids, then he won't be. You have my word on that." I tuck my fingers into the bulletproof vest I wear, even on this assignment, and take a good look around.There are safety concerns here that could be addressed. "How open are you to hearing about some changes that could be made to make this place safer?" The words are out before I can stop them.

She presses her lips together. "Given the climate of the world, I would welcome it. I'm terrified of what may happen one day. Although we practice active shooter drills, I'd prefer to never have to use them. If there are steps we can take to mitigate anything that could happen, I'm willing to put them into place."

"Great, I want to get a good layout of the place before I make recommendations. If you don't have anything else you want to talk to me about, I'd love to walk with Donut."

"I have to go to a meeting, look around, and get a lay of the land, so to speak. If you have questions, I can get with you tomorrow?" She quirks her eyebrows up.

"Sounds good. Thanks Principal Faulkner."

She gives me a smile and then the sound of her high heels reverberates in the empty hallway as she makes her way toward her office. Donut and I are left alone to do what we do best. Be nosy.

It's weird. Being in an elementary school now that I'm a full-grown adult. Everything feels miniature sized, and the lighting is more muted than I remember. I try to think about the kid that I was in a school like this so many years ago, worried about if the other kids would make fun of me. My clothes were dirty, my parents weren't together, and I was struggling with who I was. Even as a kid in elementary school.

"It's quiet in here, huh?" I ask Donut. Sometimes I expect him to answer, because we're that close. He's my best friend, and the only being in the world that knows all my secrets. I wish he could talk back to me.

There's a noise at the end of the hall. Class is in session and there shouldn't be anyone in the hallway. Carefully, we walktoward the sound, and that's where I see the little boy that was sitting with Becca the other night at The Café. He's sitting on the ground with his knees pulled up to his chest, and tears are building in the depths of sorrowful eyes. "Hey, are you okay?"

He shakes his head back and forth. "It's closing in on me." He speaks with his teeth clenched and his chest pumping up and down as he's trying to get his breath.

I bend down so that I'm on my knees and at eye-level with him. Donut seems to figure out that he's struggling and comes around, putting his head close to the kid's hand. He slowly inches himself over until his golden fur is touching the small fingers. "Look at me." I reach out slowly, and tilt his face so that his eyes are on mine. "I understand what's going on with you. I know it doesn't feel good, and you're probably scared."

He nods, sniffing. "My chest hurts."

"It's because your heart is pounding. Why don't you pet Donut? He loves when people pet him, and I find that it's calming for me. He won't mind."

Hesitantly, his hand hovers over Donut, and then he drops it down so that he's petting him. Being the good boy he is, Donut leans in, and carefully licks his fingers. After a couple of licks, the kid makes a noise that sounds almost like a laugh. "It tickles." He looks up at me, grinning.

"Yeah, and Donut doesn't know when to stop when he hears laughs. He loves to make others happy." Going to my ass, I push myself so that my back is against the wall. We sit together for a few minutes in complete silence. The only sound is the swaying of Donut's tail. When I think I've waited long enough, I talk as loudly as I dare. "What's your name? Mine is Madden."

He cuts his eyes over to me. "Mick."

He doesn't offer anything else, so I keep on going. "I saw you at The Café the other night with Becca."

"You know my Aunt Becca?"

So this is the nephew Becca talked about. "I do. She and I work together. I don't spend all of my time here. Sometimes, I work with her. She's a really nice lady."

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