Page 1

CHAPTER 1

ASHTON, AGE 5

“But why can’t I play with him?”

“Because it isn’t proper. You wipe those tears now, Ashton. You know your daddy doesn’t like to see you cry.”

I understood well enough to know I wouldn’t be getting any further explanation from Miss Lucy. Grownups didn’t understand what friendship was about. All they cared about was making money and telling kids no.

They didn’t understand that the little boy with dark, messy curls, big ears, and an even bigger smile was my new best friend. He shared his shovel and pail with me, and I shared my new excavator. We’re both five years old and we both like the color purple, even if Daddy told me boys shouldn’t like girl colors. I told my new friend that I say my favorite color is blue, but it’s still really purple. He promised not to tell my secret.

Cheese pizza is Marcus’ favorite food, just like mine. We had so much fun in the sandbox today, but when I asked Miss Lucy if we could make a play date, she looked up from her phone and made a funny face. She smiled nicely at Marcus, but when she saw Marcus’ mommy, her face changed from a smile to a frown.

She ripped the excavator from Marcus’ hands and pulled me from the park without even letting me say bye to my new friend.

I was so upset I fought Miss Lucy when we were getting in the car. She told my daddy about my bad behavior, and I got my new excavator taken away as a punishment.

I overheard Miss Lucy telling my daddy she was sorry for letting me play with that boy. When I walked in, he was making her feel better with a hug and a kiss. He let her go home early after that, then let me sit in his office until Mommy got home. The chairs in front of Daddy’s desk are big and ugly. They make me feel small. So does Daddy, when he stands next to me and looks down.

“Why can’t I play with that boy, Daddy?” I asked in a small voice. “He was nice.”

“You have lots of nice friends, Ashton. Nice friends who have good parents. When you get older, you’ll understand that some people are not as good as you are. And if you lay with dogs, you’ll get fleas.”

I was so confused. “Marcus has fleas? He didn’t tell me he has a dog.”

“It’ll make sense when you’re older, son.”

I didn’t ever want to grow up if I couldn’t be friends with people who smiled at me the way the little boy in the sandbox did.