Page 74 of Cluelessly Yours

“I’ll make sure we get tickets again soon.”

“Yeah?” he asks, hope in his voice. “You promise?”

“I promise,” I answer as I preheat the oven again and put the soup on the stove. “So…how’s school been? Get sent to the principal’s office anymore?” I tease and Seth laughs.

“Nah. We’re not doing that much because it’s almost the end of the year. We get to play a lot.”

“That sounds cool. Like recess, or something else?”

“Recess is the same, but we’ve been watching a couple of movies, and Ms. Dayton’s been letting us do board-game math.”

“Board-game math, huh? That sounds like something you came up with.”

Seth scoffs. “I wouldn’t come up with anything with math.”

I grin. “Not your favorite subject, huh?”

“Heck no.” He makes a face that could only be described as,Ew, gross. “Math sucks.”

“Yeah, math does kind of suck,” I agree with a knowing smile.

“But you’re a doctor,” he states with a skeptical raise of his brow. “Aren’t you supposed to be good at math?”

“Just because I’m good at it doesn’t mean I like it.”

He nods like he can relate.

“But if you ever need help with math,” I add, “just give me a call. I’m sure we can find a way to make it fun.”

“Oh yeah!” he exclaims, but I’m thankful his voice is still quiet. “You can teach me while we play Cafeteria Battleship!”

“Sounds like a plan,” I agree, but then I point one index finger at him. “But don’t expect Dr. Shepard to join in again. He’s still mad you kicked his butt.”

Seth cracks up at that, and I procure the now-hot soup from the stove. After setting the bowl in front of him, I drop an ice cube right in the center of the steam. He watches avidly as it melts.

“Whatcha doin’ here, Noah?”

I look up to find Grant standing at the edge of the hallway, and Sal, the stuffed sloth I gave him, is tucked firmly under his tiny arm.

“He brought us soup,” Seth explains for me, his mouth working around the giant bite of noodles he’s currently chewing on. “But be quiet because Mom’s sleepin’.”

“Iwasbein’ quiet, Seth,” Grant refutes with a quick glare at his older brother. “You sleepin’ over, Noah?”

Sleeping over? Ha. The innocence of kids is certainly something to be admired.

“Nope. Just hanging out for a bit.”

“Ah, man,” Grant groans and gestures his disappointment with his still-casted arm.

“You hungry?” I ask, purposefully changing the subject. “How about some soup?”

He shakes his head but climbs up on the stool next to Seth all the same. “I want nuggs. So does Sal.”

“Nuggs?” I ask with a raise of my brows.

“Chicken nuggets,” Seth explains helpfully. “Mom says he might as well be a chicken nugget.”

“Shut up, Seth,” Grant replies, offended.

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