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“I’ve heard sos about you”

He looks down as if he’s ashamed of himself “Yeah”

“Miss Stansfield tells me that you’re smart and clever and fun to be around”

His head whips back up, and he stares at me ide eyes Then he looks over at Aubrey “She said that?”

“Sure She also said that soet mad”

“I guess I do” He shrugs a little shoulder “Sometimes”

“It’s okay to get mad” I pat that shoulder “But it’s not okay to be ht?”

“Yeah, I suppose”

“I know you’ll do better You’re a good kid, Timmy” I stand and s Miss Stansfield a gift and leave the rest of you out, so I have sos to share”

I turn and signal for Mack to come in with the boxes

For the next hour, I sit with each child, offer them all kinds of merchandise, pose for photos that Aubrey takes and promises to send to their parents

“I love you,” a little girl named Chloe says with the most sincere face I’ve ever seen She wraps her sives me a squeeze

“A, I love you, too, Chloe”

“You’d better go before school is out,” Aubrey whispers tothat the school is about to be full of parents and other students, and I’d rather not be the center of attention for that

I’m just thrilled that ere able to pull this off

I look over the roo faces Some pulled shirts or sweatshirts over their clothes Others hold dolls and backpacks All of thehit

“I have to go, guys You be good, okay?”

“Okay!”

“We will!”

“Thank you!”

They all yell in excite out toeven one parent or member of the media

I pulled it off

Chapter Seven