Page 25 of Bittersweet Legacy

I laughed at that. “Very nice to meet you, Super TT, I’m Esme.”

“Hi Me-me,” he waved enthusiastically. “So, we play?”

I nodded. “Absolutely!”

“Thank you,” Mike said, apparently surprised by my enthusiastic reply. “He grows tired fast, anyway.”

“I really don't mind.” It was the truth, I was looking forward to playing with this childlike man, who clearly didn’t have any hidden agenda or a mean bone in his body. I needed that more than I needed to go home to a house full of rancour and bitterness.

“Okay…” Mike trailed off as if he was having a hard time believing this. He took the blanket out of the backpack and set it down on the perfectly manicured lawn of the park.

I sat carefully across from Theo as he emptied his bag full of superhero figurines on the blanket. “You’re not joining in?” I asked Mike as he took a seat on a nearby bench.

Mike snorted, looking at Theo with mirth, “I’m not wanted when there’s a new player.”

Theo nodded thoughtfully. “What you want, Me-me?”

I looked down at the figurines pretending to take the matter seriously. “Can I mix Marvel and DC?”

“Yes.”

“Are we fighting each other?”

He shrugged. “Yes and I’m very good, my brother BB, we fight every week and I win.”

I smiled looking up at Mike who was taking in the scene with such kindness on his face. “You’ve got a good brother.” Mike was just so sweet and adorable, why couldn’t he be my brother?

“The best brother, I love BB. Two teams?”

I nodded. “You go first.”

And within five minutes the teams were made. I had Wonder Woman, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Superman and last but not least, Captain America. Unfortunately, after 15 minutes I’d lost, but it had been a close one.

“You’re good.” he confirmed, bringing his hand up and patting my head.

“You are too.”

“I know,” he replied, looking down at his figurines and arranging them in some kind of way, talking to them.

I chuckled and joined Mike on the bench.

“You were a worthy opponent” he commented, keeping his protective eyes on Theo.

“I tried my best.”

“He’s not very friendly usually, you know.” He threw me a quick questioning glance before turning toward Theo again. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him socialize like that with a stranger”.

“It’s an honor.” I replied genuinely touched by this. “What’s – what’s up with him?” It felt awkward to ask.

He sighed. “Williams syndrome. It’s a rare genetic disease, and it’s tough but he’s amazing.”

“Yes, he is.” I smiled, looking at him playing with his figurines. “But he is a precious gift no matter what.”

Mike looked at me again, with an added appraisal. “I’ve never seen you before. Are you new?”

I nodded, but I didn’t feel like sharing my life story. “Yes, I moved here quite recently.”

“We come here to play every Wednesday, weather permitting – what do you say about coming and playing with him? It will help him socialise, you’ll become a superhero expert and I'll get to see you again.”

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