“Absolutely, short stuff. You are mine.”
She had tears in her eyes when she finally let go of me. I looked up and Olivia was crying too.
“Aw, come on. None of that. I don’t do tears. That’s where I draw the line.”
Macie
Epilogue
I could still remember my first day of Kindergarten. It wasn’t that long ago as I am only in the second grade now. I’d been so nervous and yet I knew everyone at my school already. This time I didn’t know anyone and it was in the middle of the school year.
Baine took off work to take me to school. Nothing like having your parents walk you in to your new class. I’d taken to calling Baine papa bear because he had somehow gotten more protective of Mom and me in the few days since they bonded.
We were all still adjusting. It had been just me and Mom for so long. Living with a man was weird. Still, I loved having him there. He was fun and let me get away with stuff Mom would never allow. That was our little secret though. He was trying to do his best for me so I knew it was only a matter of time before that changed. I planned to enjoy it while it lasted.
“You ready for this, short stuff?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We checked in with the principal first. She told me my teacher would be Ms. Heather, but she was out on maternity leave for a few more weeks so Ms. Shelby would be my substitute until then. I was happy to hear it. Shelby hadn’t mentioned it, but then she probably didn’t realize I was a second grader. I was sure I was going to be the smallest kid in class once again.
I knew that just meant I had to hold my head a little higher and not let it show that it bothered me.
“Oscar, are you free for a few minutes?” she asked.
I turned and grinned, happy to see a familiar face.
“Hi, Oscar.”
“Hey, Macie.” Then he looked back towards our principal. “What did you need? I was just dropping off attendance.”
“On your way back to class, could you please show Macie to Ms. Heather’s class?”
“Yeah, sure. Come on, Mace.”
Mom and Baine started to follow. I turned to them. “Um, could we say bye here?”
“You don’t want us to walk you to your classroom?”
I shook my head. “No offense, but being the new kid is hard enough as it is.”
“Sure thing, kiddo,” Baine said.
I was so relieved even though I could see I had upset Mom. Still, this was wolf territory, and I knew I was already the oddball on top of being the new kid.
Baine leaned down and whispered. “Just remember, bears are way cooler than wolves. Don’t let them give you any shit.”
I giggled. “Language,” I mouthed to him.
He rolled his eyes.
Mom hugged me. “I’ll be here to pick you up as soon as the bell rings. Just come right here to the office until we sort out pickup and everything, okay?”
I nodded and lifted my chin as I walked into the hallway. Once I was out of their view I stopped and took a deep breath. “I can do this,” I whispered to myself.
Oscar nudged me. “Your dad’s right. Bears are definitely cooler.”
“Easy for you to say, you’re a wolf. Everyone here’s a wolf.”
“Maybe.”
“What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “My biological dad is a tiger. My mom doesn’t think I know it, but I can hear as well as any wolf.”
“But your mom’s a wolf?”
“Yup. So at least you know you’re a bear. I don’t really know what I am.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We can’t control what our spirit animal is. Grandma says only God can do that.”
I nodded. “Sounds like something my grandpa would say too.”
“Having Shelby for a teacher will help you adjust. You like her, right?”
“Yes. She’s very nice. I stayed at her house the other night.”
“So, see? Plus, Zander’s in that class too.”
“He is?” I perked up knowing I would have a friend in my class.
“Yup. You’re going to be fine, Mace.”
“Thanks, Oscar.”
He stopped in front of a door and knocked before peeking in. “Ms. Shelby, you have a new student today.” He put his hand on my back and gently pushed me into the room. “This is my friend, Macie.”
He didn’t have to say that, but from the whispers and excitement in the air I felt like maybe it was cool that he did.
“Macie. I didn’t realize you’d be in this class,” Shelby said.
I just smiled.
“Please take the seat next to Penelope. You can share her book for now. I’ll pull you one over lunch.”
“Thank you.”
I took the seat she pointed to. I was glad she didn’t make me introduce myself or anything. The girl turned and glared at me. I knew we weren’t going to be instant friends.
“Macie comes to us all the way from Colorado and I hope you all welcome her. Remember class, we’re all friends here.”
Penelope sniffed the air around me. “You smell funny,” she whispered.
“Penelope, that’s enough.”
“I heard she’s not even a wolf,” a boy two seats back said.
“So?” I said. “You’re just a kid. You’re not a wolf yet.”
“Class that’s enough.”
A sunk down in my seat when Shelby gave me a disappointed look. For the rest of the morning, I kept my head down and tried to shrink even smaller than I already was.
When we were dismissed for lunch, I could hear the whispers of my name. Several kids even pointed in my direction. My cheeks felt like they were on fire, and I was ready for the day to end. I didn’t ever want to come back to this school.
I brought my lunch, so I went straight to the table I was directed to. I sat on the end. I didn’t expect anyone to sit with the smelly new kid. I knew I didn’t stink, but they all smelled weird to me too. I wanted to cry, but I knew it would only be worse if I was the smelly new crybaby. I wasn’t going to give Penelope and her friends the satisfaction.
When we’d taken a bathroom break on our way to the lunchroom, they had ganged up on me and I knew they were trying to make me cry, but I refused. Mom said that stubborn streak came honestly from my dad. I didn’t know what that meant before, but now that I knew my father, I understood what she meant. I didn’t want Baine to be disappointed in me. He hated when Mom or I cried.
I took my food out, afraid one of them would comment on my lunch too. I stared down at it not wanting to make eye contact with any of them.
When a tray landed on the table across from me, I jumped and looked up. Zander sat down and gave me a smile. He was taking pity on me and somehow it made me feel even worse.
“Don’t listen to any of them, Mace. You don’t stink to me. I think you’re cool.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Zander.”
The tone of the whispers changed around me, and I could feel all eyes on us, but somehow, I didn’t feel so alone.
He sipped his chocolate milk and took a bite of his cheeseburger, then he pushed his tray to the side and pulled out a pencil and piece of paper from his back pocket. He wrote something, folded it up and passed it to me.