“Really?”
“Yeah. I believe he’s still here with us. He’d be sad if you didn’t go because he couldn’t be here. Let him enjoy watching you.”
“Huggie? Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Will you come with me?”
“If I’m not working. I’d love to come,” I say, pulling her in for a big squeeze. “Thank you.”
Her smile returns for only a moment before looking up at me with a serious expression. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Hit me,” I say, tickling her ribs.
“Why did your parents name you Huggie?”
I can’t help but snort. “They didn’t. My name is George.”
Her face scrunches up adorably, and I can’t stop laughing.
“My name is George Hughes. Everyone at the rescue squad started calling me Huggie instead of Hughes. You know, I think your dad probably gave me the name, now that I think about it.” I return to tickling her and am relieved when she lets out a full-on belly laugh that melts my heart. “I better stop this before I’m wearing your pancakes. Speaking of which, have you made the stack to take home to your mom?” Looking down at my watch, I realize we’ll have to head out soon so they will have time for baths before bed.
“No. I’ll make it right now,” she answers, jumping from my lap and pulling my arm toward the kitchen.
Suddenly, it hits me. “Did you two have any homework tonight?”
“Nah. I have a class project coming up soon, but my teacher doesn’t give a lot of homework.”
That’s a relief.
“But you might want to ask Seth. He got ‘Homework Hildegard’ this year.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Who’s Homework Hildegard?”
“She’s the toughest teacher in the whole world. And she gives out the most homework. No one ever wants to get her.”
Uh oh.
“Seth, Ruby is making your mom’s pancake stack. Any chance you can make her one too?”
He gives me a questioning look, wondering why they both need to make them.
“Just trust me on this,” I add.
“Okay.”
“Oh, and did you have homework tonight you should’ve been doing? I don’t want you to get into trouble at school because I picked you up and brought you here instead of doing your assignments. Ruby told me about Hildegard.”
Seth laughs. “No. I try to start all of my assignments during lunch, so I don’t have as much to do when I get home. So I can help Mom out.”
This kid.
“I think Miss Hooker gets a bad rap. I like her. She’s a good teacher, and her assignments aren’t hard. I’ve learned a lot in there.”
“Your teacher’s name is Hildegard Hooker?”
“Yeah.” He snickers.
