Sins of the past

Second.

“Honey,we should get back to the house now.It’s almost time for dinner and I need to get it going.”The woman's voice interrupts her son who is building a castle on the sand.

“But mommy,I am almost done building a castle for you and daddy.We will have many guards and there will be so many toys for me to play with.”

“I know baby.But it will be dark soon and your daddy will be home soon.”

The five year old stands and dusts dust off his shorts because mommy does not like sand all over her carpet and seats.He looks for his sandals which he left somewhere on the beach.His mother helps him look for them and he wears them and takes her hand as she leads him to the house a few miles down.

He likes it when mommy cooks because she lets him help with cleaning and setting table.Today is Tuesday which means Lasagna which is his favourite meal.He feels hungry and looks forward to eating a very big serving of lasagna.His mother will save him some for his lunch the next day and he will not share it with Greg because he refuses to play with the little boy.

He rushes to his room where his mother helps him shower.When he is wrapped in his fluffy yellow towel,his mother rushes to the kitchen to start pre-heating the oven then comes back to his room and gets him in his favourite spider man pajamas.The boy then follows the mother to the kitchen to finish dinner preparations.

The food is ready and the little boy wants to start eating the delicious lasagna but mommy says that they have to wait for daddy and eat as a family.The boy sits at his favourite spot in the living room and switched on the cartoon to watch the latest episode of spider man.Mommy comes and sits next to him and he lays on her lap while she plays with his hair.

The boy is almost asleep when there is a knock on the door.Daddy is home!The boy jumps from his seat and rushes to great his daddy at the door.He scoops him in his arms and swings him around.He always does that when he comes back home from work.He puts him down and he rushes to the dining table to take his position and wait for his food.Then daddy removes his shoes and places them neatly on the rack.He walks to the kitchen and kisses the mother who takes his bag and puts it away.He washes his hands and helps the mother to bring the food to the table.

“Daddy,I built you and mommy a big castle.It even has a big office for you so you don’t have to leave the house everyday.We can play when you are not working during the day and you can teach me how to ride my bike!”

“Is that so monkey?I am sure I will love your castle.”Daddy says in childlike amazement.

Mommy sits down at the table and serves the boy then passes the food to daddy.They hold hands to say grace after which the little boys ravishes his meal.

* * * * * * * * *

The little boy skips through the hallway as he heads to class.When he reaches the class,there is a crowd hurdled around a figure that is seated on the ground.Most kids seem to be laughing loudly and at something that is being said.The boy approaches the crowd to find out what is happening.On the ground is a little girl with her hair in pigtails,tied with superman hair bands.She is crying and seems to be reaching out to Greg who is holding her spider man back pack in his hands and removing all it’s contents and dropping them to the ground.She tries to stand and Greg pushes her backwards and she falls back to the floor.The other children are laughing again and pointing at the girl.

The little boy is overcome with anger.Who dares to make fun of spider man! He marches to Greg and grabs the backpack from him.At the moment the teacher comes in and the children scatter to their desks afraid of the consequences.The little boy picks the girls things from the floor and puts them back in the back pack.He then gives her a hand and helps her from the floor and leads her to an empty seat besides him.Mommy said he should be a good boy and make other people feel good too,he hopes he made the small girl feel good.

At lunch,he finds the girl huddled in a corner by herself.He approaches her and she smiles upon seeing him.He introduces himself and she tells him that her name is Katie.

“I’m sorry that Greg was mean to you.He refuses to play with me too.” He says while sitting besides her.

“It’s okay.My mom says that I should avoid mean people like Greg.” She says with a small pout.

“Why are you not eating your lunch in the cafeteria?”

“I am afraid Greg will find me there and I did not carry any lunch.”

“Why not?” He enquires curiously.

“I forgot my lunch in my mom’s car in the morning.” She seems genuinely sad about it.

The boy considers sharing lunch.Lasagna is his favourite meal but he likes Katie and mommy says it is good share.He opens his backpack and gets his packed lunch.He creates space between them and sets the lunch box between them.He cuts the lasagna into two pieces and offers one piece to Katie.She looks at him gratefully and smiles taking a bite.

“This is the best lasagna I have ever tasted.”She says while smacking her lips.

The boy smiles because someone else loves his mothers lasagna as much as he does.