Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“So I’ll attend class online at school with Ava and Mia?” she asked, the sniffles and quick breaths still making it hard to speak. Amelia handed her the juice box and encouraged her to drink, pressing additional napkins into her hand.
The counselor’s warm, encouraging smile gave my heart a chance again as I scooped Liv into my lap, hugging her tightly.
“Yes. And you’ll probably see them more each day than you did last year,” Mrs. Pinkney said, then turned to explain that statement to the adults at the table. “As you know, they don’t attend the same classrooms together, but Livie will have her sisters popping in and out throughout the day.”
“And I’ll get recess and lunch with my sisters?” Livie asked. “Because they’re my best friends and make me stronger.” Livie raised her chin as if she’d made her decision and wouldn’t back down.
“Absolutely.”
I felt the relief flood her small body. Her hand covered mine, wrapped around her. She glanced at me with her swollen, tear-streaked face.
“I think I’m okay now,” she said and hiccupped again in my face. Her entire body shuddered.
“Livie,” Ms. Pinkney started. “You’re part of a small group of exceptionally-bright young minds. That’s the way they reference you.” She tore off a sheet of paper from her notebook and handed it to Dash. “This is the contact information for American Mensa. Mrs. Crabtree has taught Livie for the last two years and feels like she needs a support group. Once you give me the green light, I’ll send her test scores over with the other information they’ll need. They have appropriate age groups, and instruction lessons to keep their minds active. Most of the gatherings will be online, but there are in-person groups in Houston as well. They’ll require parental involvement to create safe spaces for her to meet other children like herself. I believe that’ll do her wonders in meeting friends.”
Dash took the piece of paper, reading over it before passing it to me. “Livie, if you’re in, we can do this on a trial basis. When you find your place, you’ll sprout like a weed, nothing will hold you back.”
She nodded and only gave a single hiccup while turning her body to better face me. “Paw, can we try the group in Houston? Daddy will say yes, but you have to too.”
I glanced at Dash who smirked brilliantly at me.
“Livie-baby, I’ll always do my best for you, but we didn’t know this was a problem. You need to talk to us more.”
She reached up, circling her arms around my neck, squeezing me. I accepted my hug and gave one in return while staring at Ava.
“What I want to know about now is this stepping on crayons. That seems excessive.”
“Paw, you can’t be mad. They’re mean to Livie to her face, because she’s better than they are in everything,” Ava started, talking so fast I had to replay her words over. “It makes me mad. People are stupid.”
“Ava,” Dash’s hands splayed across the table. “You aren’t helping your case by calling other children names.”
“Should we have been notified about her behavior?” I asked Mrs. Pinkney.
“I knew,” Amelia confessed, her tone holding hints of possessiveness and anger. “I’ve never disciplined her for protecting her family.”
Ava bubbled up with a laugh. “Abuela told me to squirt glue on their hair.”
“Okay. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that,” Mrs. Pinkney said, getting to her feet again. “Can’t blame her for family protectiveness, and Amelia always sends new supplies to school for the other children.”
“That’s right,” Amelia said, her arms crossing defiantly over her chest. “Better than they deserve.”
“Okay, again,” Mrs. Pinkney said, taking her purse and notebook. I rose too, bringing Livie up and on my hip. I couldn’t remember the last time she let me carry her this way, but I missed her as a baby and got a few moments to pretend we were still that family. “No, stay together, you don’t have to show me out. Livie, I hope you like our idea. We’ll be there to support you the whole way.”
She nodded and extended her hand like an adult would do. I loved her so much. “Thank you, Mrs. Pinkney. My Paw’s strong. He can carry all of us at the same time.”
“I see,” Mrs. Pinkney said, waggling a brow my direction. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. When I get a solid move forward, we’ll begin getting her room together.” She lifted a hand, waving goodbye to the group. Liv and I followed her out. When the front door closed tightly, Livie hugged me again.
“I feel better, Paw. You can put me down,” she said, her legs going straight until I put her down.
“Ava, no more breaking other people’s stuff,” Dash started before I had a chance to say the same thing. Dash veered in a different direction. “Tell them your paw’s stronger than their fathers, and he’s going to beat them up.”