The Promises of Childhood
Prologue 14 Years Ago
Liam Jameson aged 9 almost 10
Sarah Larson aged 7 almost 8
Sarah
“Stupid, stupid dress.” Tears roll down my cheeks as I struggle to take it off. It won’t budge though, and I huff in frustration. I want to scream but I’ll get in trouble. I plop down miserable and wait.
“Sarah? What’s wrong?” Liam Jameson walks over to where I sit hiding behind the stage. I can’t talk because I’m hiccupping with my sobs.
He sits next to me and waits until I stop. “I hate this dress.” I tell him angrily.
“Take it off. It’s a costume.”
“I can’t get it off. I’m too chubby.” I admit to him. More tears fall down and I sniffle.
“You’re not chubby. Your arms are too short. Let me help.” He stands up pulling me to my feet. “Raise your arms. This is what I have to do with Caycay.”
I do and he reaches for the skirt slowly tugging it over my head. “There. Off.” He smiles with triumph and I try to smile but cry more.
“It’s off. Why are you still crying?” He asks standing closer to me.
“I don’t want to marry a frog.” I whisper to him.
He looks confused before he nods. “Your princess character marries a frog?”
“Yes.” I say still grumpy.
“It’s not real Sarah. Just pretend. The school play. You can marry a prince later.”
“What prince would want me? Dustin Turner says I’m too fat for a prince.” I mumble.
“Dustin Turner is a stupidhead. I’m not a prince but I’ll marry you, Sarah.” He smiles at me, his missing bottom teeth showing. He’s the cutest boy I know. And the sweetest.
“Ok.” I say quickly. “Will you come live with me at Mom and Daddy’s house when we get married?”
“No because you share a room with Maggie. And silly, we have to get our own house. We can buy one next door to one of our parents.”
I nod at him happy forgetting all about my dress and the frog I have to marry. “Ok. I would like that.”
“Come on. Mama said it’s time to go eat pizza. You’re coming home with us and Beth and Noah and Dalton.” He picks up my dress and takes my hand. I grip his hand tight as we run along the back hallway to the theater seats. Aunt Sofie sits there with Caylee, Sean, Noah, Dalton and Beth. She smiles at us. Noah is helping Caylee tie her shoes. Don’t know why, he’ll give her a piggyback ride to the car. Always does.
“Good job finding Sarah, Liam. Who wants to go play games and eat pizza?” We all shout yes.
Liam
Sean kicks me under the table, and I make a face at him. As soon as we finish our pizza, we grab Noah and run over to play on the air hockey table. Noah’s going to beat us, but the girls don’t follow us to this game. “Sarah was crying?” Sean asks as they begin to play.
“Dustin Turner said she was fat.”
Noah mutters “St….stupp…idhe..hheeead.” It’s a silly insult but Mama said we aren’t allowed to call anyone stupid. She said nothing about stupidhead. Stupidbutt would get us in trouble too probably.
“That’s what I told her!” I point to him.
Sean frowns hard. “He was mean to Violet too.”
“Caylee ttt…tt.ooo.” Noah says quietly. Our sister’s name always comes out perfectly. Other words he still stutters if he’s mad.
Noah points across the arcade and we look. He’s there with one of his friends. Sean nods. “Let’s go.”
“If Mama catches us….” I start but Sean shakes his head.
“Mama will string him up for us. ‘Member what she said about the littles in our family. We take care of them because we’re biggest.”
Noah nods. We march over there all puffed up like penguins; Noah in the middle of us like always. We’re bigger than most nine year olds and Mama always warns us to be careful with other kids because of that. Dustin’s friend sees us, and I watch as his eyes get big before he takes off running. Sean’s face is really mad. Dustin turns and he might be two years older than us, but we are half a head taller than him. Sean pokes him in the shoulder. “You better stop being mean to our girls.”
Dustin makes a noise. “And you’re going to stop me?”
“If you don’t leave them alone, yes.” Sean says without backing down.
“No. I’m going to take Beth’s shoes again tomorrow.” He blusters trying to shove Sean. Noah pushes him back with both hands. Dustin stumbles hitting the machine behind him. Now Noah’s really mad.
“I’ll get you for that! Or maybe I’ll take Caylee’s snack tomorrow at practice. Or fatty Sarah’s.” I stare at Noah and his lips are white they are pushed together so hard. We nod at each other before I pull my left fist back and he pulls his right one back. We punch him in the face and he screams like a girl. We didn’t even hit him that hard knowing we’d really get in trouble. He hits the ground, and I tower over him. He's holding his cheek. “You don’t call her fat anymore. And you leave my little sister alone or we’ll find you again.”
“Mine ttt..ooo.” Noah says slowly.
“Boys….” I turn around and see Mama standing there watching us.
“Mama we can….” Sean starts but she holds her hand up.
“I heard what he said. Your daddy’s here, Liam and Sean. Take Noah back to the booth. I’ll be watching. I’ll take Dustin back to his parents.” She eyes him like mad Mama and I try not to laugh. She looks at us like that when we’re really in trouble. Dustin is about to hear alllll about it.
Before we get far, she leans down and whispers. “I’m proud of all three of you for standing up for your girls. But maybe come tell me before you hit him. It’s not always the best way. Now go.”
I watched her until we were out of her sight. She isn't mad at us like I knew. I don’t know what she told his parents, but he didn’t bother the girls ever again.
We sat there with Daddy until she came back. They stared at each other without saying anything before he puts his arm around her. Sean and I always say they can talk with their eyes. I know they do when we get in trouble. I hear Caylee laughing as Noah gives her half his cake. He smiles at her when she hugs his arm for it. Sarah isn’t eating her ice cream, just playing in it with her spoon.
“Not good?” I ask her. It looks delicious to me.
She looks up at me. “Ice cream makes you chubbier.”
“But it tastes good. You’re not chubby. You’re pretty Sarah. Mama says we have pretty little ladies.” I smile at her. Daddy leans down next to us.
“Liam’s right Sarah. You are a beautiful little girl. He knows how to spot pretty things. Enjoy your ice cream sweetie. No one that matters thinks you are chubby.”
“That’s what my daddy always says, Uncle Webb.”
“Your daddy is pretty smart. And right about his girls.” Uncle Webb says as he ruffles my hair.
