Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Hello, Mackie. You look like you feel much better now.”
Grey watched his Little boy turn multiple shades of red before answering, “Yes, sir. Thank you for helping me.”
“My reward is seeing you healthy and ready to have fun with the Littles.” He stepped forward to hold out his hand to Mackie and then to Grey. “Thank you for joining us tonight.”
Zoey jumped in, physically hopping in front of Mackie. “You have a kangaroo stuffie. It’s super cute.”
“I do,” Mack answered. “Hops is almost as good at hopping as you are, Zoey.”
She leaned in as if she were sharing a secret. “I practice a lot. Almost as much as I roller skate.”
“Zoey, I found your skates in the backyard in the stump. I’ve put them back on the time-out shelf and added two weeks to the time they will sit there,” Dr. Richards decreed. “I don’t suppose you know how they got there?”
Looking at Grey from the corner of his eye, Mack wondered if Grey would reveal the Little girl’s actions the night they’d visited Dr. Richards. He hadn’t said anything that night to Dr. Richards as far as Mack knew. Was that how the doctor had known to go look for the skates?
“By the stump? Maybe they flew there?” Zoey asked, looking past Dr. Richards to see who had arrived next. “Look, Charlotte and Benton just got here.”
“Go greet them. We will talk about this tomorrow.”
“Mack, come with me. You’ll love Charlotte. Everyone does,” Zoey invited, reaching out to take Mack's hand and draw him forward with her.
A few steps away, she met Mack’s gaze and winked. “Whew! Narrow escape.”
Mack put his hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing out loud as Zoey’s eyes twinkled. “You are going to be in so much trouble,” he whispered.
“Probably, but my Daddy loves me. Even if I do drive him crazy sometimes. Honestly, I don’t know why he doesn’t like my skates.”
“Probably because you always crash?” the young woman with long ponytails suggested.
“Probably. He ends up patching my elbows and knees a lot. Daddy has cute Band-Aids,” Zoey pointed out.
Mack loved that she was always so positive.
“You keep Gordon’s in the green. He buys so many bandages from us,” the giant man with a gray beard pointed out. “But no hurting yourself.”
“I never try to slide across the floor. It just happens. I’m whizzing along and…” Zoey waved her arms theatrically as she wobbled. “All my parts go in different directions.”
She started to lose her balance. The man reached out to stabilize her, dodging a flailing hand that threatened to bonk him in the nose. “Whoa, Zoey.”
“Thanks, Benton. This is Mack. Mack, this is Charlotte and her Daddy, Benton. They’re the best. Benton owns the best shop. Gordon’s. It has all sorts of stuffies and fun clothes,” Zoey shared.
“I’m glad to meet you,” Mack said, smiling at them both. Already he could tell they were kind people. He took a deep breath and added bravely, “My Daddy calls me Mackie.”
“I’m glad to meet you, Mackie. Charlotte loves meeting all of Zoey’s friends. I’ll go introduce myself to your Daddy,” Benton said. “Be good. No zooming.”
“No zooming, Daddy,” Charlotte promised. “He vetoed my request for skates and won’t carry them at Gordon’s.” She made air quotes and said in a low voice, “No Little will get hurt because of something at my store.”
The three Littles tried not to laugh but exploded when they looked at each other. Benton’s voice drifted to them. “Why do I always think I’m the one they’re laughing at?” Of course, their chuckles multiplied.
“Let me get you something to drink.” The doctor waved the men into a seat in the waiting room/gathering area. “Zoey, bring your backup gigglers.”
Instantly feeling more at ease, Mack rejoined Grey and settled on the couch. Zoey sat right next to Mack. Mackie felt his Daddy’s gaze on him. It was good to know the man was focused on him. He felt secure here. The worry about what people would think about him eased, and Mack reached for Hops to hug the stuffie close.
“Zoey, your Daddy mentioned when we were here before that you have stuffies that you carry around with you.” Grey changed the subject and Mackie knew he was giving him some time to adjust to being so brave.
“Oh. I do.” She reached into the front of her oversized T-shirt and pulled out a fluffy stuffed chick.
“I don’t remember how many I’ve added throughout the day. Here, hold this,” she asked Mackie.
Slowly, she started divesting herself of all the friends she’d added over the day. A minute later, Mack held three small stuffies from her pockets. He ran his fingers over the soft fur and squeezed their squishiness.
“I think that’s it,” she said, gathering all the creatures into her arms and hugging them.