Page 19 of Single Teddy
“Glad to find you here,” he said, and we sat back down. Goodman grabbed a free chair from the next table, spun it around, and sat on it backward, leaning his arms over the backrest.
“What’s up? Any news?” Parker asked.
Goodman shook his head.
“Nothing yet, but I need some help with the surveillance of the house on Aster Lane. Things are getting a little busy over at The Outpost, and I don’t want to wear the others out.”
I still didn’t have much of an idea of what they were talking about, but after the catch-up, I could put two and two together. This had something to do with the criminal activities on the island. I wanted to know more, if only so I knew how much danger Bear was in.
“I can help. For sure,” Azrael said and turned to Parker, who agreed.
“Me too,” I added before I could think twice.
“No. It’s okay, Teddy. We promised to keep you out of this,” Azrael said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because you’ve got your hands full with Bear. We don’t want to put him or you in any danger,” Goodman said.
“You do it, and you’ve got a baby,” I pointed at Azrael.
“Yeah, I know, but…we’re already in the shit. There’s no need to involve you.”
I huffed and leaned back in the chair.
“The way I see it, I’m already involved whether I like it or not. The moment I set foot on this island, I became part of this. I work with Hawkins for crying out loud.” I pointed at Parker. “It’s a bit late to worry about involving me. Unless…”
Oh crap.
I hadn’t thought of that possibility.
“Unless you don’t think I’m good enough to do this.”
“No. What the hell are you talking about? Of course you are.” Goodman had raised his voice.
“Then I want to do this. I need to understand what I’m dealing with here.”
And maybe feel a little useful around here.
“Fine. It’s just surveillance, all right? Don’t do anything stupid.”
I glared at my old commander and shook my head.
“You don’t need to tell me.”
There was no way I was leaving Bear without a parent again. Which was why I needed to do this, as stupid as it sounded.
SIX
WESLEY
“How about a little brain break?” I suggested after our writing lesson, clapping my hands, if only to wake some of the more lethargic students. “How about drawing something for your family? Your favorite animal?”
I passed around some pieces of paper to those who were less eager to move and take out their sketch pads, then I took out the crayon boxes and placed them on the activity tables as the kids slowly populated them.
They were all very excited to have a little break, and who could blame them? They were so young, their brains still developing, and being asked to concentrate and learn for hours at a time every day. What a way to stifle their creativity and their development. But as with everything in this world, progress was slow, even with something as crucial as education. One would think it would be a priority for every government, but instead of investing in their future citizens, they cut back more and more every year and expected miracles.
I sighed and shook the thoughts out of my head. If I stayed on that track, I would get really depressed, like teachers often did when we thought about the system too much. I focused on my students, leaning against the front of my desk and watching them interact with one another.
