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Andy started to search for her phone that had got lost amongst her books.
“Nicky!” Andy said when she found the phone. “What’s up?”
“Uhm, uhm,” Nicky said while laughing over something Andy couldn’t for obvious reasons see what was. “I need a little bit of help, so Seb doesn’t have one of his meltdowns.”
“What have you done now?” Andy wanted to know.
Nicky explained what it was he had done, which made Andy laugh.
“Oh, Nicky,” Andy said as she shook her head. “I’ll get your brother for you.”
“Thanks,” Nicky replied gratefully. “I owe you big.”
“I’ll add it to the tab,” Andy replied. “And try to stay out of trouble for now.”
Booker was in the middle of packing the last van when he saw Andy.
“Nicky sent me,” Andy said. “He is in a sticky situation.”
“Sorry what?” Booker asked. “Why didn’t he call me?”
“Because he knows your habit of having meltdowns,” Andy replied. “Remember the last time where he got on the wrong bus and ended up in Croydon?”
“I’ll take some deep breaths,” Booker replied. “So, what has he done now?”
From Andy had explained to Booker what Nicky had done to they were standing in the E.R. it only took 20 minutes.
“Hey Seb,” Nicky said with a big charming smile.
“Hey Nicky’s big brother,” Lykon said.
“Do you mind telling me why you’re glued to Lykon?” Booker wanted to know.
“We forgot that we had glue on our fingers when we high-fived over finishing our art project,” Nicky replied. “And then I placed the other hand on Lykon’s wheelchair.”
Booker rubbed his face, which made Andy place a hand on Booker’s shoulder, so he took some deep breaths.
“Nicky!” Booker said. “You’re..”
“What am I?” Nicky wanted to know.
“I don’t know,” Booker replied.
“Are you mad at me?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Far from it,” Booker replied. “This is just..”
“The funniest thing you have done in a long while?” Andy suggested.
“Something like that,” Booker replied. “Lykon, your parents?”
“On the way,” Lykon replied. “The nurse said she wouldn’t do anything before an adult showed up.”
“And that’s why we thought of you, Seb,” Nicky said. “Because you’re the coolest adult I know.”
“I feel flattered,” Booker replied. “Truly.”
“Sorry what?” Andy asked. “Where do I rank on that list?”
“You’re the most bad-ass adult I know, Andy,” Nicky replied.
“Thanks,” Andy said.
At that moment Lykon’s mother came into the room.
“What shall we do with them, Sebastien?” Michelle asked.
“I truly don’t know,” Sebastien replied. “But could we agree that we want to have them separated so we can get home with each of our own kid?”
“That does sound like a plan,” Michelle replied.
Nicky and Lykon looked at them.
“What are you talking about?” Lykon wanted to know.
“Adult stuff,” Booker replied. “I’ll see if I can find a nurse.”
While Booker looked for a nurse, Nicky and Lykon told Michelle why it was they were glued together.
Two hours later, Nicky and Lykon were separated and were eating burgers talking about the sleepover on the following weekend.
“Are we still building that fort?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Yes, we’re,” Lykon replied. “And then we’ll watch Alien.”
“Sorry, what?” Michelle asked. “Did you say Alien?”
“Yes,” Lykon replied. “Elliot in our class said it was a great sci-fi movie.”
“Nicky, you can watch Alien when you turn 17,” Booker said.
“Why shall I wait 5 years?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Because it’s not a movie for kids,” Booker replied.
Both Nicky and Lykon rolled their eyes.
“I’ll do my best to make sure they don’t watch it,” Michelle promised.
“I know,” Booker replied. “So, I drop Nicky off at 5 PM on Friday and pick him again on Saturday around noon?”
“I was thinking if Nicky could be allowed to join us on our trip on Saturday. We’re going to Legoland,” Michelle said. “We’re home around 8 PM.”
“Can I go, Seb?” Nicky begged. “Please, I promise not to watch Alien.”
“Yeah, you can go,” Booker replied as he ruffled Nicky’s hair.
“Stop it,” Nicky protested. “We’re in public.”
When they came home it was bedtime.
“Are you mad at me for today?” Nicky wanted to know.
“No,” Booker replied. “Boys will always do stupid things.”
“Do you still do stupid things?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Of course I do, because I’m one of the boys,” Booker replied as he tucked the duvet around Nicky.
“Like what?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Well, I once claimed a tree to impress a girl which resulted in a broken arm,” Booker replied. “And now it’s time for you to sleep.”
Booker placed a kiss on Nicky’s forehead.
“Night Nicky,” Booker said.
“Night Seb,” Nicky said.