Welcome to another edition of “Behind the Scenes of The Dream Doers Series.”
The Dream Doers and the Summer of Secrets begins on the last day of sixth grade for Alex and Tyler and class bully Zach. But today’s flashback story continues a short series of the first day of kindergarten for Alex, Tyler and Zach.
*****
“Tyler!”
The sleeping Tyler woke up, rubbed his eyes and darted his head back and forth. “I’m awake. I’m awake. Can we go now?”
“What are you doing in the van? I have been looking everywhere for you,” his mom Rachel said. “Don’t EVER leave the house without telling me where you’re going. Understand?”
“Yes. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
“I’m not mad. Just scared. I need to know where you are so I can be sure you’re safe.”
“Okay. Don’t worry. I’m safe. Can I go to school now? I made my lunch and everything.”
“I wish you weren’t so excited about going,” his mom said as she climbed in the driver’s seat and started the van. “Aren’t you going to miss me?”
“Sure. But I’m five now. I gotta find a best friend. It’s what kids do. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes. I’m just going to miss having you all to myself.”
“Guess you’ll just have to share me like you tell me to share my toys.”
“I guess I will.”
Tyler smiled the rest of the way to school and wondered what his best friend would look like.
When his mom parked the van, he saw a girl in the car beside his crying. Two boys who looked familiar jumped out of the car and ran ahead, but she just sat there looking scared. Poor girl. Didn’t she know how fun school is?
And where did he know those boys from?
Tyler held his mom’s hand all the way to the classroom so she wouldn’t start crying, too. He didn’t know why girls liked to cry so much.
He heard kids laughing and playing as he got closer to the classroom, but the crying girl from the parking lot whimpered behind him. If they were in the same class, maybe he could say something nice to her to help her. She might even want to help him pick out a best friend.
Just before they stepped inside the fun classroom, the crying girl’s mom touched his mom. “Excuse me. Aren’t you Rachel Davis?”
“Yes. Do I know you?”
“Not yet. I’m Anna Wilkins. I believe my boys came to say hi the other day when they saw you moving in.”
“Oh, yes. They were so sweet. They even asked my son Tyler to play, but he was too busy pouting about moving away from Chicago.”
That’s where he knew those boys from! But his mom was right. He was pouting that day and just didn’t feel like playing. He loved living in Chicago and hated having to move. Now that school was starting, though, he didn’t mind so much.
“I just didn’t feel like playing,” Tyler said. “I’m Tyler.”
“Hello, Tyler,” the Anna lady said. “This is my daughter Alexandria. It looks like you two are in the same class.”
The crying girl with big blue eyes hid behind her mom. More tears spilled down her face.
“Why is she crying?” Tyler asked.
“She’s just a little nervous about school.”
“Oh. I can make her un-nervous.” He walked around Anna so he could see the girl’s face. “I’m looking for a boy to be my best friend. Wanna help me pick him out?”
She just stared at him.
“Go on Alex,” her mom said. “I’ll be right here talking to Tyler’s mom.”
The girl let go of her mother’s waist and followed Tyler inside.
*****
This flashback story continues next week with another edition of “Behind the Scenes of The Dream Doers Series.” So stay tuned!
To Your Dreams,
Bonnie Jean
P.S. In case you haven’t yet been in front of the scenes of The Dream Doers series, it starts with The Dream Doers and the Summer of Secrets. In this young adult novel, best friends Alex and Tyler are forced to battle bullies, face their fears and keep strange secrets the summer they learn to do what they dream. You can hear the whole “Front of the Scenes” story for FREE. Just visit TheDreamDoers.com and fill out a super short form. Enjoy the story!
