April Showers

"Why did you do that?"  I saw The Flave scream at Elayna.  He was holding his swollen, red cheek.  

I haven't really told you about them.  My new kids.  The newcomers.  Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.  I'm not sure.  We were in a minute of complete joy, a pep rally at school to get the kids amped up for state testing.  Yes, testing sucks, but I like it when my school has special events.  I watched the kids scream and dance with glee.  Like many times when I am surrounded with absolute happiness, I felt like I was going to cry.  I thought of Lola.  I felt like I might need to leave the room.  Then, Flave's teacher ran up and said that Elayna had smacked Flave across the face, hard.

"Wait, why?  Was she pissed off?"  I asked.
"No, that's how they play.  But he's crying, I told him to go to the bathroom."
I watched Flave sit back own and question her, his eyes puffy with tears, cheeks swollen.  Flave and I have had issues, more with his parents, but I was heartbroken.  I can't see them hurt.  I just can't.  
"You hit me!!"  I saw him howl, hand to his face.  

I walked up the hill at the end of the school day.  Eduardo's sister picked a flower and turned to blow it at me.  The fuzzy little white things went right up my nose.