Mary's Innocence

Finding Joshua

Mary pulled away from Marc, grimacing when she saw the large wet patch she made on his blazer. “Thank you.” She whispered quietly.

Marc gave her a heart stopping smile in return. “Anytime,” he said. “Friends?” He held out his hand expectantly.

Mary stared at the blonde haired boy in front of her in awe. His hair was styled attractively at a peak on his head, the whites of his eyes making his cerulean irises even more pronounced. Then there were his dimples and Colgate white teeth that you couldn’t help but admire. Mary blinked, realising he was still waiting for an answer. “Friends,” she finally said, placing her small hand in his.

He chuckled, “Victor’s staring at us strangely.”

Mary couldn’t even conjure up the courtesy to look at him, she was so angry that there was a fire in the pit of her stomach that nothing seemed to be able to smother.

“I’m guessing he’s the reason?” Marc frowned.

Mary didn’t need to say anything; the sudden tenseness of her shoulders said it all. “I have to pick up Joshua!” She suddenly gasped, slapping her forehead in realization.

“I’ll take you.” Victor and Marc said at the same time, as both of them stared at the other in amazement.

Mary hesitated for a moment, glancing at her plastic watch with a frown. “Are you sure?” She looked up at Marc. It didn’t take a fool to know that she was ignoring Victor.

“Of course, you’re late aren’t you?” He smiled.

Mary nodded gratefully, and striding over to Victor, she snatched her possessions out of his hands before turning around again. And as if he was air, as if he was wind, she didn’t even spare him a second glance.

Even the blind could see the glare he was giving her as she walked away with Marc.

***

Mary kept looking out the window anxiously, she was more than an hour late and she couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. There was a traffic jam so it was impossible to go any faster – she was fighting the urge to jump out and run there herself!

Millions of what if’s spurned through her mind and even Marc noticed her restlessness. “Don’t worry, I’m sure everything’s fine.” He assured.

Mary smiled weakly back at him but she couldn’t seem to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. 

When the limousine finally pulled up in front of Westfield Primary, Mary mumbled a quick thank you and practically jumped out of the car – not even waiting for the chauffer to open the door for her. “Joshua!” She called, her heart pounded loudly when only silence answered her. The swings where her younger brother normally waited for her, was empty.

She sucked in a breath and willed herself not to panic. “Joshua!” She called again, feeling her heart plummet when there was no response.  Scanning the area in front of her, Mary felt her eyes moisten in helplessness as she called his name, hoping that he would magically appear.

“Maybe your parents picked him up today, and they forgot to tell you?” Somebody suggested.

Mary turned around to see Marc standing there with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You didn’t leave?” She asked in surprise.

“No, you were running around the place like a cocaine addict, now I wouldn’t be a good fellow citizen if I left you like that, now would I?” He chuckled teasingly.