Peanut Goes to School (Elder Races #6.7)(2)

“Never mind the academics,” Dad said. “You were right. He needs the socialization. The only people he interacts with are adults. He has to learn to relate to other children too, while he’s still a child.”

“I agree,” Mom told him. “I’m just fretting. Dragos, he’s so innocent.”

“I know, but that innocent boy is also a dangerous predator. He can already take down animals that are more than twice the size of his Wyr form.”

It was only one cow, Liam thought. He hadn’t thought it was that big of a deal.

Dad was still talking. “When he killed those cows, Hugh said he went into a complete frenzy.”

Okay, Liam might have forgotten about the other cows. His snout itched, and he rubbed it on one forearm.

“He needs to learn how to control himself,” Dad said. “And for that, he needs to develop social ties. Relationships will be the only real check on him when he grows to his full size. He has to care enough about other people so that he controls himself, for their sake.”

Mom whispered, “Like you?”

“Yes,” said Dad. “Exactly like me.”

They fell silent. Liam suspected they might be kissing, which they liked to do a lot.

From around the corner, in the direction of the kitchen, Hugh called out, “Liam, come on in. It’s time for lunch.”

He heaved a sigh. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to listen to Mom and Dad talk until they said something that made everything better. He wanted that hot, tight feeling to go away.

“Liam!” Hugh shouted. “Don’t make me come after you, buddy.”

He could tell Hugh was too cheerful to be mad. Hugh almost never got mad, but Liam also didn’t want Hugh to find out where he was, because then Mom and Dad would find out too, and what was the point of spying if you couldn’t keep it a secret?

Releasing his hold on the support beam, he let himself fall. Like a cat, he twisted in midair so that he landed in a crouch, right side up. Trudging around the corner of the house, he shapeshifted back into a human boy and went inside for lunch.

The rest of the day seemed to go on forever. Desultorily, Liam played Spy Wyr some more, but his heart wasn’t in it.

He was starting to feel nervous about school. What if the other kids didn’t like him? How was he supposed to learn to socialize, if that happened? From the way Dad was talking, it sounded pretty important.

And besides, what if he didn’t make any friends?

For supper, Mom cooked his favorite meal, spaghetti with meatballs, and Liam, Mom and Dad ate together in the breakfast nook off the kitchen. Mom had meatballs with her spaghetti too, but hers were the fake kind. Liam wasn’t like Dad about food—even though he liked real meat a lot better, he liked fake meatballs just fine too.

For some reason, tonight his spaghetti noodles were hard to swallow, and he pushed the meatballs around his plate, until Mom frowned and asked, “Are you feeling all right, sweetheart?”

He wasn’t sure. All his feelings were tangled up in a knot, and he didn’t know how to untangle them, or how to answer her. So, he shrugged and said, “Sure.”

She looked at him for a long, thoughtful moment. “I’ve never seen you without an appetite.”

After thinking about it for a moment, he shrugged again. “Me neither.”

Both Mom and Dad laughed, and then it was Dad’s turn to study him. Dad’s keen, gold gaze seemed to see everything, and Liam squirmed in his seat. But all Dad said was, “Maybe you’ll be hungry later, or in the morning.”

“Sure, maybe,” he mumbled, fiddling with his napkin.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and take your bath?” Mom suggested. “I’ll be up soon to tuck you into bed.”

Liam looked outside. It was still plenty light outside, but Mom had already talked to him about how he would have to go to bed earlier on school nights. At the time, he hadn’t minded, but now it kind of sucked.

“Do I have to?” he asked. “It’s so early, and I’m not tired.”

“Yes, you have to.” She smiled at him. Mom’s smiles were the most beautiful thing in the world, and they almost always made things better. They almost even made an early bedtime okay, but not quite.

He thought about arguing, but he could tell by the calm look on their faces that Mom and Dad were going to team up on this one.

He heaved an aggrieved sigh. “Okay, fine.”

As he slid out of his seat and stood, Dad swept a large arm around him and pulled him in for a hug. Liam leaned against him. Dad was so big and strong that when Liam leaned on him, it was hard to be afraid.

The problem was, he couldn’t lean on Dad forever. He had to go to school by himself.

As he straightened, Dad kissed him on the forehead. Mom said, “See you in a few minutes.”

Upstairs, he gave his bath toys some consideration, but he didn’t feel like playing anymore, so he took a shower instead. After drying his hair and putting on some underpants, he went to his closet and pulled out a pair of tan khaki shorts and a yellow and blue plaid shirt. The shirt had a collar, and it buttoned down the front. The yellow and blue colors reminded him of the sky.

It was his favorite outfit. He slipped on the khakis and shrugged into the shirt. He was just beginning to button it when Mom walked into his room.