Page 66 of A Little Luck

I think about having the same thing with Piper and Ryan. Wrapping up a day at the community center or at the waterfront mission, picking up Ryan from school, and meeting her at the newspaper office. Fudge would most likely be hanging around, maybe he’d be the resident news cat. Then we’d all head home together.

“Uncle Adam?” A worried look is on Ryan’s face when he glances up at me, and concern pricks my chest. “Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything.” I give him a reassuring smile.

“It’s kind of embarrassing.” He gets quiet.

“Here.” Nudging his arm, I lead us to one of the benches lining the square alongside the gazebo. “Want to have a seat and talk about it?”

He nods, following me and putting Fudge on the ground before climbing onto the bench and bending his knee so he can face me. The way he moves hits me with nostalgia when I realize he’s turning into a little man.

I remember the videos Piper would send me when I was overseas in the Navy—his first birthday, and the way he looked at everyone with wide eyes and an even wider smile as they sang to him; his first steps, staggering and stomping faster to his cheering mom with the biggest smile on his face.

I remember his first day of kindergarten, and how he ran straight to Owen and the two of them walked into Mrs. Priddy’s class like they were ready to take on the world. Piper, by contrast, was ready to cry all the tears. I took her straight to El Rio, and we drowned her sorrows in mimosas.

I remember the night he was born, and seeing him so tiny with those big eyes watching me, I loved him like he was mine as much as hers. Even if it’s not true, I want it to be.

“Did something happen at school?” It’s been a while since I was in fourth grade, so I’m not sure what might be embarrassing him.

“We were at gym class, and one of the boys said something I didn’t understand.”

My concern turns to worry, but I hold my expression steady. “Okay.”

He doesn’t meet my eyes, and his fingers tug on his shoelaces nervously. “It was one of the big boys…”

I can tell whatever happened is really bothering him, and I hope I can make better progress with his problems than I do with his mother’s.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. I was your age once, too, remember? And I’ve got two big brothers.”

He nods, still not meeting my eyes. “He said…” Ryan clears his throat, and his voice gets a little quieter. “He said looking at Sadie Sink made his dick hard. I don’t know why he said that, but sometimes it happens to me, and I don’t know why it happens either.”

His face is bright red, and I scrub my fingers over my lips, remembering how indelicately my older brothers handled the “boner” discussion when I was his age. I plan to do better than that.

“Is Sadie Sink one of the girls at your school?”

He shakes his head no. His eyes are still fixed on his shoelaces, and his face is still blazing. “She’s that girl onStranger Things.”

“Gotcha.” I nod, racking my brain for the most age-appropriate way to explain this. “So, when that happens, it’s called an erection, and it’s totally normal. Nothing to worry about. It means you’re getting older, and sometimes blood rushes to your penis. That makes it get hard like that, but when the blood leaves, it’ll go down again.”

“Why does it happen when he looks at Sadie Sink?” His brow wrinkles, and he finally meets my eyes.

“Does it happen whenyoulook at Sadie Sink?” He shakes his head no, and I put my hand on his shoulder, giving him a little side-hug. “When it does, ask me again, and we’ll talk some more about it, okay? In the meantime, just know it’s part of being a guy. You’re totally normal.”

He still seems conflicted, but his face is less red than it was a minute ago. “Why does it do that all by itself? It’s embarrassing.”

Welcome to the world of being a guy. “It’s all biology, I’m afraid. You can try changing positions or going for a walk. Maybe wear a long shirt?”

He frowns up at me, and with a blue-lined slushy mouth, it’s hard to believe we’re already here, having this discussion.

“Does it happen to you?” His brow furrows.

Not when I see Sadie Sink. But I keep my tone sincere. “Yeah, but when it happens to me, it’s different because I’m a grown-up.”

“It’s not blood rushing to your penis?”

“It’s still that, but when you’re older, it happens for a different reason. It has more to do with making babies.”

His lips twist, but he nods, sliding off the bench to stand in front of me. “Am I going to get hair down there, too?”

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