The man and William continued to stare. They both stopped and averted their eyes to the woman who fed William earlier running in.
“I’m so sorry Jay! I forgot to tell you!” She said.
“Tell me what? You had a kid and he’s dressing up in my room?”
“Cut it out! As if I would mess with a man! I just found him on the side of the road when I went to pick up dad!”
“A child on the side of the road? Did he have clothes?”
“Yes but they were oversized. They can probably fit Kaleb.”
“So what I’m hearing is that you found a child on the side of the road with oversized clothes, gave him a ride here, probably bathed him cause I don’t see any dirt, and gave him my clothes and room!”
“Ok listen, I did bath him but momma wanted him to wear clothes his age. Besides you don’t even fit them anymore!”
“And my room? I was planning on my boys sleeping here!”
“They still can! It’s not like we got a million rooms! We got other family coming to visit too! This room will probably be used for the kids anyways!”
William felt awkward standing there wearing nothing but underwear. He found a pair of shorts and tried them on. It felt almost like a perfect fit, but he didn’t want to spend any longer almost nude.
“Is that a tattoo? Isn’t he four? When did he get that?” Jay went up to William and touched his tattoo. He screamed in pain as his tattoo burned once more.
The woman pulled Jay away and started to comfort William. She soothed him until he calmed down. “We don’t know his situation right now, but we do know he is too young to deal with all of this. I suggest you think before you do something stupid!”
The woman lifted William once more and cradled him, “Let’s go fix that burning!”
In the kitchen, the woman asked the older woman for their “special remedy”. She told her where it was, and William was handed a rag.
“Put it in your mouth honey. If it hurts just bite down. It’ll be over soon!” William didn’t have time to put the rag in his mouth. When the woman finished her sentence, a green lotion like substance was applied to his back. He wanted to scream but he used the rag instead. He bit down until he didn’t feel the burning anymore.
“There we go, you should feel better now!” The woman said. Suddenly, two identical boys come running in laughing. They looked a little older than William, and they look similar to Jay.
“Where are you two boys running to?” The old lady asks. The two boys stop running and answer in sync, “to daddy!” And continue running. One of the boys turned back around and went up to William.
“Who are you?”
“William”
“Is that a tattoo? Cool!” The boy was about to touch it, but the woman stopped him, “Touch it and you’re getting a spanking!” The boy refrained himself and put his hand down.
“How old are you? I’m this many!” The boy olds up five fingers. The old lady speaks up, “You know how many that is! Now what number is that?”
The boy counted his fingers. When he got to 5 he said it with joy. William held up six fingers, “I’m six”
“You’re six? But your so small! My babysitter has a little baby brother who is bigger than you! Are you a baby?”
“No I’m not a baby!”
“Ok. I gotta go see daddy! Bye!” The boy waved as he ran off.
The woman got on her knees and became face to face with William. “You’re not a baby right? Even if you are that’s ok. No one will judge you. If Elliot and Tyler say something you tell me and I’ll make them a baby too!” The woman wiggled her finger on his stomach and made him giggle.