Page 44 of B is for Beg

“Sounds fun.”

“But Jake said Billy couldn’t play with dolls.”

“Why?”

“Because dolls are for girls. But Billy likes playing with dolls, so he cried. But it’s okay because I told Jake that boys can play with dolls and that he shouldn’t be mean. Then I gave Billy a big hug, and he stopped crying. Billy’s my boyfriend.”

My head’s reeling from all the information and the matter-of-fact way Lexi said it.

“It sounds like you were a great friend today,” I say.

“I was.” She grins at me. “I was a superhero.” She points to a bright red sticker on her coat, which says ‘Superhero of the day’ in white letters.

“That’s a great sticker.” I lift her onto a low wall and hold her hand as she walks along it.

“Miss gave it to me for sticking up for my friend.”

“I’m proud of you,” I tell her. “How come you can tell me about being a superhero but you can’t remember anything else you did in school today?”

She shrugs. “Maybe you should teach me at home.”

“Why?”

“Because then you’d know what I did every day.”

I laugh. “That’s true, but don’t you think you’d miss your friends?”

She scowls. “I wouldn’t miss Jake.”

I take both her hands, and she jumps off the end of the wall. “No, but you’d miss Billy.”

Her cheeks go pink. “I like Billy.”

“I bet Billy likes you too after you stood up for him. Do you have any homework?”

She lifts up her canvas book bag. “Reading.”

“Okay, well, you can read to me as soon as we get home and then we can play.”

“Can I have a snack? I’m starving.”

“Starving?” I find that hard to believe.

“My tummy hurts because I’m so hungry,” she says dramatically.

“We can’t have that, can we? Shall we run home so we get there faster?”

Lexi nods eagerly. I tighten my grip on her hand, and we run the rest of the way home. It’s not far, just a couple of streets. Lexi leans on her knees, panting, while I open the door. She takes her shoes off, puts them away neatly on the rack, and hangs her coat up on a low hook that Corey put up especially for her. I kick my boots off and leave them where they are. While she flops onto the sofa and turns the TV on, I make her a snack and check my phone.

Calvin:No, princess. It’s good to know that you don’t want to play with anyone but us.

Blake:But?

Calvin:No but.

I frown. What does that even mean?

“I’m so hungry, Uncle Blake,” Lexi moans.