MY UNEXPECTED ROMANCE

I take my time to remove the strawberry cream from my hair, the one my five-year-old son plucked me with. It's an easy explanation: Tyler doesn't want to go to school today.

It certainly does take me by surprise.

I have to wash my hair all over again, towel it to a minimally dry texture, then head back to the dining room. Tyler isn't here anymore, and he's removed his books from his backpack. Plus, the phone begins to ring the moment I stuff one of his drawing books back inside.

"Tyler? Come out, sweetheart," I shout above the ringing phone. "You know I have to go to work, right?" I add, as a matter of fact.

Sometimes, my five-year-old son can be this way. I'll have to spend one hour out of my morning shift trying to find where he's run off to hide, get him prepped up again, and put him in the car, not forgetting to lock the doors.

I pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, Claire, Are you at work already?"

"How nice of you to ask, Claire, but I'm not."

"Everything alright?"

"Tyler doesn't want to go to school again."

"Oh, my. Why don't you put the little imp on the phone so I can talk to him?"

I sigh. "If only I could find where he is."

"Poor you," said Claire. "Anyways, I was hoping to ask you a favor."

I turn my head in the direction of the kitchen door when I hear a noise. "Hmm. It looks like I should be the one asking for favors right now."

"It looks like I beat you to it," says Claire.

"What do you need?"

"I need you to stand in for me for the night shift, Claire. Something has come up."

"That urgent?"

"That's urgent," replies Claire.

I thought about this for a moment. "How about we help each other?"

"I know what you are going to say, Claire. But bringing Tyler with me will seem kind of awkward."

"I can't take him to work with me, Claire, and you know that."

"I'll be meeting with pedophiles."

I laugh. "Nice try, Claire. So when do I bring him over?"

On the other end of the phone, I hear her sigh. "Don't worry. I'll come and grab the imp. I don't want you to be late twice in one day."

"Thank you, Claire. So, tell me, who exactly are you meeting with later today?"

"I don't think I can tell you that at the moment, Claire," Claire says after an abrupt pause.

"Why not?" I say.

"Because I'll tell you all about it tomorrow," she promises.

"Would you listen to how sly you try to be?" I say. "Well, I have to go now," I add, and I replace the receiver. Even if Claire had not agreed to babysit Tyler while I stood in for her, I still would not say no to her. She's been like a backbone to me ever since Tyler and I lost both a father and a husband. Sometimes, I see her as a missing rib, literally speaking.

I call out for Tyler and get no response. After two more minutes of searching, I found Tyler in my wardrobe. And he doesn't run off this time.

"Do you know what might happen if I lose my job, Tyler?" I demand as I squat and hold my son by the shoulders.

He pouts and squeezes his face. "Sorry, mom. But I don't want to go to school today."

"Well, you have made that clear, Ty," I say. "What I need you to tell me is why don't you want to go to school?"

"I get scared."

"Of what?"

"Questions."

"What kind of questions? Is it the teacher?"

Tyler shakes his head.

"Is it your head teacher?"

Another shake of his head. "The other pupils," he replies.

"Your mates? And why would their questions scare you?"