‘I’m so sorry to be like this. Most of the time, I’m fine. I can keep it together at work, but the thought that it’s affecting my little boy…’
‘Don’t worry about it. It’s only natural for both of you to be sad. I understand what you’re going through.’
Grace was taken right back to having to tell the girls that Phil wasn’t going to make it. That all the treatments, the hospital stays, the special diets and the exercise programmes had been in vain. But this wasn’t about her. She needed to focus.
The woman’s eyes were on her, and Grace saw the compassion in them.
‘Yes, I really do think you understand.’
Stelios’s appearance in the doorway stopped the conversation in its tracks.
‘Esai etimi, Mama?’
Grace didn’t need to speak Greek to know that the boy was bored and wanted to go home.
His mother was already up and out of her chair.
‘Yes, I’m ready, little one.’
Grace spoke under her breath.
‘So, I will come up with some ideas to help Stelios, and we’ll speak again. I wish you the very best.’
‘Thank you. I’m so pleased you are his teacher.’
An idea came to Grace as Stelios put his hand in his mother’s and they walked out together. She rushed upstairs to the shared kitchen. Great, Charlie was still there.
She had to admit his ready smile had a certain charm.
‘Grace. What can I do you for?’
When she explained what the boy was going through, and what he could do to help, Charlie didn’t hesitate.
‘Of course, no problem. I was close to my grandad too. He was the one constant in my life, especially after my parents split up.’
Charlie was no longer smiling. There was certainly more to him than Grace had first thought.
‘So, if I OK it with Thanassis, you’re up for coming in towards the end of the lesson tomorrow?’
‘Sure thing.’
* * *
The whole class cheered when Charlie came in with Buster just before lunchtime. After explaining all about dogs and how to look after them, Charlie got the children to point out and name all Buster’s body parts in English.
A long, slow look around the classroom followed.
‘And now I need an assistant to help me with some tricks…’
Every single hand went up.
Charlie pretended to look from child to child before alighting on Stelios. He gave Grace a quick glance, and she dipped her head to confirm.
‘How about you? Do you like dogs?’
Stelios nodded and looked more animated than Grace had seen him since lessons began.
‘Would you like to help me?’
