The air weighed heavy in her lungs, dust and fear propelling her forward.
“What’s going on here?” She put on her best you-don’t-scare-me face. But in truth? In truth, these boys scraped at a primal fear she’d never forget.
They saw right through her mask. Bullies always did.
“Simon, looks like your mom came to save you. Oh, wait. You don’t have one.”
One of the taller boys, a big guy who looked more like he belonged in college than on kid’s school bus, thought his buddy’s declaration was hysterical and led the group in laughter.
Lucy froze. She should say something. Do something.
The kid who started the laugh-off kicked a clod of dirt toward Simon and took off running down the road. The other boys followed.
Her fingernails dug into the pads of her hands. Her feet refused to move. She wanted them to move, but they wouldn’tgo. Then as quickly as everything had gone to hell, the world re-focused. She dropped to her knees beside Simon, the pebbles on the ground tearing at the skin around her kneecap. Pencils, colored pens, and notebooks had fallen from his backpack. His small hands worked to push it all back into the bag.
Lucy gripped his knuckles with her palms. “Simon.”
He shook his head. Her heart split as a thick tear trailed through the coat of dust on his cheek.
Silent, she helped him scoop everything into his backpack and supported him up. An intense need to hug the kid overwhelmed her. No, though, she wouldn’t embarrass him that way. Not after everything she’d witnessed.
“Where’s your dad?” Jeff had to know what had happened. She had to tell him.
“Work,” Simon mumbled.
“And Dixie?” Lucy glanced to Dixie’s apartment.
“Getting her hair fixed.”
“Who are you staying with until she’s done?”
“Mrs. Murdoch.” He kicked the toe of his sneaker into the gravel sending little rocks flying.
Mrs. Murdoch pushed ninety, slept most of the afternoon, and barely left her house. Not exactly a fun afternoon for a kid.
“I have some money for you. For watching Mitzy.” Lucy nodded toward her apartment. “Come on, I’ll grab it.”
“I like Mitzy. She’s fun to play with.” Simon toyed with the straps of his backpack as they walked side by side.
They stopped where Lucy had dropped her groceries. Together they got everything back in order. “You’re welcome to come hang out with her whenever you want. She’d like that.”
Mitzy didn’t like much. She did seem to have an affinity for Simon, though.
“Maybe.”
Lucy dug through her purse for her key. “Simon? Can I ask you something?”
“Okay.” He said it, but didn’t look convinced.
Call it a hunch, but Lucy had a feeling. “That day we met at the gas station. Did you have the slingshot because you were worried about those boys?”
He shrugged a one-shoulder lift. “Maybe.”
Every nerve in her body sounded an alarm. “You know it’d be bad if you used it on someone, right?”
He nodded. “Dad took it away. Just wanted to protect myself.”
Like that, her insides melted. She’d talk to Jeff and maybe…well…she had some other ideas, too.
