"Why is Mommy coming?” lan probed. “Cause it's a holiday, Matt! Have you forgotten? It'sWednesday and the preschool is only open for half a day. Our teacher said they need to sanitize theplace, so we must go home. That's why I called Mrs. Grint and asked her to get you before time,”Vivian replied happily, still feeling proud of herself for saving her brother in time. Matteo had givenher Mrs. Grint's phone number beforehand, so Vivian called the nanny and asked for her help to golook for Matteo. She held lan’s hand and skipped lightly into their classroom with him. Their teacherspotted them and waved at them."Hey, Vivian, I see you've got your brother. Come on, you two, get your bags and be ready to gohome. Your mom's almost here. Let's go.” “Yes!” Vivian's crispy voice rang loud and clear besidelan’s ears. He rolled his eyes as the girl went ahead and grabbed her bag. Despite beingexasperated, lan found his surroundings intriguing. He had never been to a preschool, and all thiswas totally new to him. Actually, it was not like he did not attend preschool at all. He attended thebest preschool in Avenport. The environment there was impeccable; the facilities were top-notch,and the children came from affluent families. His teachers were never down to earth and the kidsthere were never friendly. To be precise, it was almost impossible to make any friends. lan let Vivianhad her way with him as she put Matteo's bag on his back and they followed their teacher out tothe entrance. *Mommy's here!” Seeing Sasha from afar, Vivian squealed at the top of her voice as she ran towardsher mother. Once again, lan went speechless. His gaze trailed her steps, and he suddenly stopped atthe door. Huh? Isn't this the doctor who came to the house in the morning? I just parted ways with herin front of Daddy's company. What's she doing here? She's their mother? lan was confounded as helooked at the two of them hugging each other. “Matt, what are you waiting for? Come to me! We'regoing home,” Sasha cried out to him and waved enthusiastically when she realized lan was standingstill. What's wrong with Matt today. Why isn't he smiling? Is he angry? Was I late? Sasha let go ofVivian and came over to check if Matteo was okay. “What's wrong, Matt? Are you angry with me? Isit because I'm late? I'm so sorry Matt. I didn't know y'all are ending early today.I got here right after I got the call. Please don't be angry, okay?” Sasha held out her hand andreached for his head, wanting to pat his head. But lan shied away instinctively, avoiding her touch.Her hand froze in the air. For a moment, she thought the boy standing in front of her was notMatteo, but the boy she saw in the morning. “Matt?” “I can walk over on my own,” lan told hercoldly. He did not take another look at her but walked past her towards Vivian, leaving Sasha behindas she turned around stiffly. “Matt, are you really angry? But I have already apologized. What about Imake it up to you? I'll get you ice cream. It's your favorite.” Beside lan, Vivian clapped and jumpedabout in joy while he looked at her apathetically from the corner of his eyes. “Yay! Mommy, I want astrawberry flavor ice-cream. Oh! Can we also have a hotdog? I miss it so much!”After getting groceries, Sasha brought the two kids back to their rental apartment. By the time theyreached home, Vivian and lan had already finished their ice-cream and hotdogs. They even had afreshly baked egg tart. “Wasn't that a good treat, Matt?” Vivian looked at her brother with apleasant smile on her face. Looking at how the girl was caressing her belly and licking her lips, lancould tell she was a complete foodie. He wondered if this was what the two siblings did every day.lan looked at the remaining egg tart in his hand, not knowing if he should eat it. He looked at thetasty snack and could not resist it anymore. He opened his mouth wide and munched away,savoring the delicacy with a satisfied nod. He had never tried anything that delicious in his life. Hisfather did not allow him to have any of these because he said they were unhealthy.That was why all lan had ever tasted was home-cooked food. He had eaten none of the food soldoutside. Sasha looked at the two happy children and decided to let them have some fun on theirown while she went into the kitchen to cook. The telephone rang in the living area when she wasbusy preparing food. “Matt, can you help me pick up the phone? See who's on the call. I'mcooking!” she shouted from the kitchen. lan looked at the telephone on the TV shelf and went overreluctantly. “Hello?” he said as he picked up the receiver. “lan?” the voice from the other end calledout. lan was startled that the person had called him by his name. “Who are you?" he whisperedcautiously. “I'm Matt! You're at my house now, right? Mommy and Vivian are calling you “Matt’,aren't they?” lan could not help but notice the voice from the receiver sounded like his. It wasplayful and light, just like how those little foxes in the cartoons sounded like. Matt? So, this is theMatt they have been mistaking me for? lan finally understood everything, and gloom set on his face.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you replace any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.
Report