Real Men Knit(84)

Jesse turned away and picked up his knitting needles. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Damian watched him, his eyes practically heating Jesse’s hands. “I think you do. If not, you’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Lose herself. Jesse looked at the little display hat he was knitting and suddenly thought of Kerry and her words to him. She had done so much for them over the years, silently and not so silently. He thought of her holding that damned recycling when Erika had stayed over and he wanted to kick his own ass again. All her afternoons with the OKG making the shop more than a business, but a home away from home for them. The coffee and snacks always at the ready now for him and his brothers since Mama Joy had been gone. He looked at each of his brothers as they gave him knowing looks back. And now they were freaking hungry and wanted lunch. He threw down his needles. “Fine. I’ll make your hungry asses some lunch, but I’m not doing dinner too.”





27




Kerry looked around the classroom. Everything was neat and ready. Desks lined up perfectly. Art supplies in place for today’s project. The kids would be coming in soon, and she was glad. It felt good being at work. At least here she could pretend that she was happy and busy and not a complete heartbroken wreck who desperately missed a man she hadn’t heard from in over a week. For all she knew he’d probably moved on from her to the next.

She let out a long sigh then and got a hard nudge from Val in return for it. “That’s the third one, you know, in as many minutes.”

“Third what?” Kerry asked, turning to her friend. They only had a few more weeks as teaching mates before they went on break and then came back to take on their new roles. Kerry was still excited about her new job, but it was hard to get as happy as the changes warranted when her heart was being torn in two.

“Third sigh,” Val said.

Kerry frowned. “You’re actually counting?”

“What else can I do? It’s about all I get out of you lately, since you’re useless when it comes to conversation. I thought at least if you’re suffering and heartbroken, we could commiserate over what a jerk that Jesse Strong is. But you won’t even give me that. Just these awful sighs. So I’m counting.”

Kerry shook her head as the kids began to file in. She frowned as they all finally took their seats.

This was the second class that Errol had missed. He’d been on track for a perfect attendance award, and now that was ruined. Not that he wouldn’t get other awards at the upcoming end-of-season assembly, but still, she couldn’t help but wonder what was keeping him from class.

“Did we get a call from Errol’s mom about him being absent? It’s not like him. You think they may have gone on vacation?” she asked Val when the kids were having some quiet time.

Val shook her head. “I didn’t hear that, but I can check in the office.” Then she frowned. “Wait a minute, I know they didn’t go on vacation, because I think I saw his mother at the grocery store yesterday. I’ll make a call.”

“Okay, but let’s be careful. I remember he was being bullied by some boys about knitting. I wouldn’t want to make things harder for him by causing problems at home.”

Val nodded. “Yes, but we have to check it out.”

Kerry smiled, though her worries were still strong. “Ay, ay, captain,” she said, and smiled wider when Val blushed.

“Oh, do go on!”



* * *





The next day Kerry was happy to see Errol back and the class complete again. Still, she could detect a change in him; the usual happy spirit that was normally in him seemed faded. Val noticed it too. “So what do you think?” she asked Kerry when the kids left to head for their music program.

Kerry shook her head. “I don’t know. He said he’s fine, and it was all the right words, but something is not right. When I asked him if he was looking forward to the start of the school year, he seemed pretty down. That worries me, because he is a good student. Then he brought up going out for the basketball team, which is great, but he’s never showed interest in it before.”

“I know,” Val said. “I can’t help but wonder if it has to do with Troy and his crew. During free time I heard them saying something to him about him giving up his girly arts and crafts and joining the team.”

Kerry sucked in a breath. “Those little jerks.”

Val nodded, then shook her head. “I know. But I put a squash on it. They thought they could flex in front of the girls by picking on Errol. Not that it worked, but what do they know at that age?”

Kerry shook her head. “They need to learn and quick.”

“That they sure do,” Val agreed.





28




With the end of the summer just about here, the kids were excited but so very restless. They were more than ready for their short two-week break before the school year would begin, and they were showing it by being generally rambunctious, and at times downright surly know-it-alls.

Then, to top things off, on this day, instead of it being bright and sunny, or at least just bright-ish enough that they could go outside for free play time, there was practically a mini monsoon, and they were stuck inside bouncing all that pent-up energy off the center walls and back at the teachers and counselors.