Page 11 of A Daddy for Maddy

Maddy

Iwatched in frozen shock, unable to move, as the toy race car made a neat arc in the air before me. The next thing I knew, it had hit me on the forehead. I rocked backward, falling on my elbows. Kornie keeled over as well, and my drink, which I’d barely sipped, slopped over onto the carpet at my side.

The shouting stopped. Everyone was staring at me. I put my hand to my forehead, and it came away clean. At least I wasn’t bleeding.

For the next few seconds, I felt nothing. My skin was numb where the toy had hit me.

Mister Menacing came toward me. “Boy, are you okay?”

I sat up, grabbing Kornie to my chest. Only then did my forehead began to sting. A lot. I’d have a lump for sure. My jaw trembled. My eyes started to fill, blurring my vision. I didn’t know what to say. And there was no daddy here who was mine to protect and comfort me, because that’s what they did, didn’t they?

Mister Menacing put his hand on my shoulder, then announced loudly, and with a shivery pleasant authority to the entire room, “No fighting!” He glared at the two boys. “Where are your daddies?”

Boy one said, “I don’t know.”

Boy two said, “I don’t know, either.”

Valente said, “They left them alone in here.”

“You know fighting means suspension,” Mister Menacing said. His voice was deep and powerful, full of gloom.

The boys bowed their heads, looking chagrined.

“Go find your daddies now,” Mister Menacing ordered. “I don’t want to see either of you around here for the next two weeks. If I do, you’ll be tossed to the curb.”

The boys meekly left.

Mister Menacing turned to me. His hand on my shoulder was solid and warm. “What’s your name, boy?”

“M…Maddy.”

“Where’s your daddy?”

“I don’t have a daddy.” My voice came out low and shaky.

“That guy you came with isn’t your daddy?”

I shook my head. “He—he’s Dan. My roommate.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded, trying not to let the tears spill.

“Let’s go find your friend.”

“No. I’m okay. I don’t want to bother him.”

Mister Menacing glanced around the room. Everyone was staring at us.

“You sure you’re okay?” He got down on his knees beside me. Up close, he smelled different from the rest of the club, not leathery but more like pinewood and Christmas, and in this moment he wasn’t snarling. His voice didn’t boom.

I blinked. A hot tear slid down my cheek. I heaved in a stuttering breath. My head did hurt awfully bad now, but I didn’t want to complain.

“I guess that’s my answer,” Mister Menacing said.

I tried not to sniffle.

“My name is Colin.” Mister Menacing stood up, then held out his hand. “Come on, Maddy. You’re coming with me.”

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