The World From The View Of Heaven

His green eyes flick to me and he is distracted from his pancakes.

“How did you get here?” The kid asks. I feel my spine stiffen.

“How did you get here?” I ask in return.

“I asked you first,” he says, dropping his fork and leaning closer.

“Yes but you’re eating my pancakes in my house,” I fire back “I think I deserve to know.” The kid returns to eating once again.

“Got hit by a drunk driver almost a year ago,” he shrugged “I was gone within a few hours. I heard my mom sued the driver but that’s what Gran told me.” He stabbed another piece of pancake.

“I’m sorry,” I say, because technically that’s what we’re supposed to say.

“Wow I can hear the fakeness in that one,” he grins.

“You got me,” I say.

“Let’s go do something,” he says, hopping off his chair. “Do you have a deck of cards?”

“Uh yeah I think,” I’m a little surprised by his request. No eleven year old I ever knew requested to have a deck of cards. They usually want a new Xbox or a dirtbike or some useless thing like that. I search through a few draws before I find a deck of cards in a torn up box.

The kid teaches me this card game called Spoons he and his friends used to play in school.

“So why is a ten year old being a messenger boy?” I ask as he shuffles the cards.

“Well I’m saving up to go back,” he says, the cards fluttering together.

“Go back? Why would you go back to that?” I ask.

“It’s my sister’s graduation in a few weeks. I almost have enough for a passcard,” he says. I have to remind myself that not all people in the world are totally jerks and idiots.

I glance at the clock and realize it’s almost 11:00.

“Hey listen I have to go get ready. You can stay if you like. And keep the deck of cards. I have no use for those anyways.” I say and the kid just laughs.

“I know how women are. Go!” he shooes me upstairs. “Go get ready. I’m sure we’ll meet again Maddie.”

I laugh and just as I’m about to go close the bathroom door I yell, “Say hi to your Gran and sister for me!”

~

“Name?” the grouchy lady behind the tall desk asks.

“Madison,” I respond.

“Madison who?” the lady barks.