My eyebrows creased. “Danny, I’m sure your dad doesn’t care that you forgot your hat.”
“Yes, he does. He will be mad.”
If I hadn’t interacted as much as I had with Adam, I would’vebeen worried. “Danny, come on. Please, just wear the hat.” I crouched down under the desk near him.
“It could have germs. Do you want me to get sick and die?” He turned his body away from me.
I rolled my eyes. “Danny, this hat is clean. I just bought it.”
“How do you know? You can’t see germs.”
I exhaled slowly and rubbed my forehead. “Okay, how about you come without the hat then?”
“No, I’m not going without it. You can’t make me.” He shook his head.
Danny was such a sweet boy, but changing his mind once it was set was something I didn’t have the patience or ability for right now. “I will not sit here and argue with you, Danny. We are going to go down to the lunchroom in ten minutes. I really hope you decide to come with us.” I stood and walked toward my desk.
“Can’t you text my dad and ask him to bring it?” Danny asked.
I looked over my shoulder at Danny. Proud, angry, defiant. What was really going on with him today? “Sure, I can text him, but there is no guarantee he will see it before the performance.”
Danny nodded and turned away from me.
I sighed. “All right, class, you have ten minutes to finish your letter to Santa. Please make sure you use your best writing and draw a picture in the box above.”
I picked up my phone and scrolled down to my messages with Adam. We had been texting a little, but it had been only a very friend-zone vibe since I had decided not to go over to decorate trees. Even though every part of me wanted to run into Adam’s arms when I saw him, I was sure space was for the best.
Faith: Hey Adam, Danny forgot his Christmas hat today and is refusing to go to the music performance without it or use one of mine. He was curious if you had his hat?I inserted a fingers-crossed emoji and hit send.
Danny reached up and grabbed his paper off his desk and vigorously scribbled all over it until his pencil ripped through thepage. He grabbed the paper and crumpled it into a ball. Was it because he was struggling with his letter to Santa with his brace? I tried to talk to him about it and offer help. He told me he didn’t want my help.
My phone vibrated, and there was a text from Adam.
Adam: Getting someone to cover my PE class early. On my way.
My stiff shoulders relaxed. I wasn’t sure what else to do. I messaged back a quick thank you and focused on the rest of the class.
“All right, everyone write your names on your papers and bring them up to the basket, please. It’s almost time to line up.”
The kids handed in their papers and then went back to their tables. I looked at Danny, who was still not making eye contact and was crumpling his paper tighter and tighter. It was almost time to go, but I wasn’t sure what to do.
I checked my watch and spun my ring. “Everyone grab your Santa hats and line up, please.”
Lydia stood and made the way to the front of the line. She was the line leader today and proudly stood at the front.
“Mason, your shoes are untied, and Caleb, hands to ourselves, please.” I sighed.
The door opened, and I turned to see Adam filling the entire doorway. His eyes searched the room and landed on me, and I gestured toward Danny. When he noticed Danny sitting under his desk, there was immediate sadness and exhaustion in his gaze.
The kids in the line had started fighting over space. “Okay, class, I am going to put Rudolph on, and I want everyone to practice the lyrics one last time.” I pushed play on the video on my phone. The music started, and I made my way toward Adam crouched near Danny.
Danny openly cried as Adam held him and rubbed his back. Adam sighed and shook his head. It was as if he held the entire world up on those big shoulders, and he was collapsing under the weight.
“Can I help with anything?” I squatted down near them. Danny pressed harder into Adam’s chest.
I think I was causing Danny more stress. I handed Adam the extra hat. “Here’s an extra hat that he is welcome to wear if he wants.”
Adam nodded and took the hat. He looked down at Danny. “He thinks he has been bad and Santa won’t bring him a present because I got frustrated with him this morning.” Adam whispered as his strong shoulders dropped.
