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Eddie slouched in the hard plastic seat outside the principal's office. His thin frame bounced up and down even if he was covered head to toe in dirt and scratches. He was no stranger to bullying, but the entire class decided to jump him on the playground. When he fought back, the teacher singled him out to drag him to the principal's office for discipline.
Anger stirred underneath at the unfairness of it all, the other kids started picking on him first. Of course they blamed him and now the kids in class would just pick on him more. He sniffed and rubbed at his cheek, his bullies rubbed his face in the dirt until his nose bled and his cheek got a scratch on it. But that was nothing compared to whatever his dad would do when he found out his workday of laying around was interrupted by what he would call Eddie's bullshit.
Eddie knocked his knees and shoes together, he was always in trouble for moving around or not paying attention in class. His teacher said if he kept that up he might have to be held back, which would only give the bullies more fodder to make his life miserable.
The door opened and Eddie froze, sure he was about to be yelled at by his father. But his face lit up seeing Uncle Wayne was picking him up. Eddie nearly tripped over his chair as he got up to give his uncle a hug around the waist.
"Dang boy, they didn't even take you to the nurse's office first?" Wayne hugged his nephew back, not caring the dirt and blood was getting on his shirt, but also worried when was the last time the kid had a bath.
"Nuh uh." Eddie shook his head as he clung to his uncle. Wayne sighed and picked the little guy up, he was in second grade but still as small as he was in first grade when he lost his mom. Like when Liz died, his dad gave up and Eddie suffered for it.
"Well, Ed let's clean you up and how about I take you for a happy meal?" Wayne was worried he'd drop the kid the way he shrieked and bounced up and down in his arms. Damn kid always so full of energy, adorable when he was a toddler but hadn't calmed down since school started. Probably why he was always in trouble. While Al's solution was to yell at the kid, Wayne tried his best to give him attention even from afar.
After a good wash in the sink and some band-aids, Wayne entered McDonald's holding Eddie's hand. For once Eddie was quiet, his eyes looking even bigger for his small face as he took in everything, Wayne had to make sure he hadn't accidentally taken his nephew to Disneyland.
Like anyone in the Munson family could afford that.
Eddie's eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at the outdoor playground, bouncing on his heels in excitement. Wayne smiled at him. "Go ahead, son. Go play and I'll get us some food. What do you want?"
The bouncing stopped. Eddie hesitated, looking from the playground to his hand securely around his uncle's, like if he let go, his last tether to kindness would disappear. Wayne couldn't blame him, everyone else had failed the boy.
"You can order with me and I'll go watch you play when we get the food, how about that? What do you want, Eddie?"
Eddie's smile and bouncing returned. "Nuggets! Fries! And an ice cream." His tiny voice squeaked out.
While waiting in line at the register, Eddie kept turning his head to look at the playground. A little boy with shaggy hair was going down the slide, looking over at his mom who was holding a baby snuggled against her.
"Go ahead, Johnathan. Show Will how you go on the slide again." Came the mom's gentle voice as she bounced the baby on her knee.
"Go ahead, Eddie. I'll be right there." Uncle Wayne said and Eddie nodded before he took off running to the shoe rack, yanking off both of his sneakers without bothering to untie them and nearly falling again as he scrambled for the playground to jump into that ball pit to his hearts delight.
Eddie emerged from the ball pit, pretending he was a zombie digging out of his own grave and growled at the other boy. The other boy's eyes grew wide and he screamed, making Eddie shrink back that he had hurt someone else's feelings.
The shaggy haired boy turned around to Eddie. "Chase me."
"What?" Eddie asked a bit shy now.
"You're a monster, right? Chase me!"
Eddie's smile returned as he roared and chased the younger boy around through the tunnel system. "I'm a zombie and I'm gonna eat your braaaiiiinnnsss." Eddie yelled triumphantly.
Uncle Wayne chuckled as he set the tray of food down. "Come on, Eddie you need to eat your food before you eat some brains."
"I'm playing!" Eddie yelled from the colorful depths of the play place.
Joyce stood up with Will on her hip. "Come on Johnathan, we have to go. Your dad is coming over soon."
"Awww." Johnathan grumbled as he gave Eddie a high five and let his mom help him with his shoes so they could leave.
Eddie waved sadly to the boy as he left with his family. He sat down across from his uncle, quiet again as he played with the handle of his happy meal.
Wayne grabbed the box and opened it up, setting out the fries, nuggets, chocolate milk, and ketchup for his nephew. "Now Eddie, no toy or dessert until you eat your food."
Eddie nodded and Wayne didn't even know why he said anything, the boy started shoveling food on his mouth like he hasn't had a decent meal in a while. Knowing what Al was up to, maybe Eddie hadn't.
He passed his own carton of fries over to Eddie, "Slow down, kiddo. There's plenty."
Eddie looked up at him, still chewing while he dipped his nuggets in ketchup. "It's so good, I didn't even say thank you. Thank you, this is like the best day ever!"
Wayne felt himself melting into a smile at his nephew, but even the good feeling was tinged with worry for Eddie once again. "Let's see what you got." He opened up the Happy Meal and passed over the little bag to Eddie.
Eddie stopped chewing and wiped his fingers on his pants and opened up the little package, his face breaking out into a grin as he pulled out a tiny orange pumpkin with a smiley face on it. "It's a trick or treat bucket!" His face fell.
"What's wrong, Eddie? I thought you liked all that spooky stuff." Wayne asked concerned.
He turned the miniature trick or treat bucket in his little hand, the pumpkin smiling up at him much too cheerful for a little boy so sad. "I don't know if dad will take me trick or treating this year. Mom always did it but…"
Liz had died about a month before Halloween the year before. In the chaos of her sudden passing, Wayne was unsure if either Eddie or Al had done anything for Halloween. He wasn't even sure if the boy had any holidays since his mom died. Let alone the loneliness and neglect he seemed to be suffering.
The plastics plant was looking for people to apply for the night shift…Wayne knew a lot of people were parents who worked that shift to be there for their kids…not that Wayne was Eddie's father but as far as his care was concerned.
He wasn't really thinking this was he?
"I can talk to your dad, take you trick or treating. Maybe to Loch Nora to get those big candy bars I always hear about."
Wayne sat back to study the boy, still studying the little orange trick or treat bucket, considering. "Would that be okay with dad?"
"I-I'll talk to him. We'll have fun." Wayne says as Eddie shrinks back into his chair, not looking so sure. "We can get together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, any holiday you want, Eddie."
Eddie stopped eating to at him with his huge eyes. "I don't know, you know dad. Never can be sure."
"How about this? I'll teach you my phone number and if you learn it by heart I'll get you some ice cream after. Just call and your Uncle Wayne will come pick you up if your dad needs some time to…do dad stuff."
Slowly Eddie's smile returned to his face as he started to eat again. "Okay, if we go trick or treating, can I be a zombie?"
Wayne couldn't help but smile. "Sure, kiddo we can whip up a zombie costume for you."
It was amazing what a little motivation by a chocolate swirl cone could do. Wayne handed over the ice cream to Eddie as he repeated his uncle's phone number over and over again. This was the kid who his brother and the teachers had labeled such a problem child?
Eddie smiled up at him as they got in his truck, ice cream all over his face and dripping down his shirt. "Uncle Wayne?"
"Yes, son?"
"I mean it, this is the best day of my life. Thank you."
Wayne pat his nephew on his little head, his smile at the boy hiding the anger at his brother as he got ready to take the boy home. "You're welcome. You're sure you got my phone number memorized?"
Eddie nodded as he repeated it over and over, tapping his fingers on his knee as some kind of way to help remember. Kid was damn smart from what Wayne could see.
He dropped Eddie off at his dad's trailer. The little boy thanked him once again, giving his uncle a big sticky hug and repeated his phone number back to him once again. Eddie hesitated, like he didn't want to go in.
"Remember, boy. Call me if you need me. Day or night. I'm about to change my work schedule." Wayne told him with one more hug.
As Eddie made his way back into his house, Wayne sat with worry that something bad was bound to happen to his nephew. He'd say yes to working night shift, and look into what he had to do to adopt Eddie. Just in case.
He definitely wanted to give him more 'best days ever.' Eddie deserved better than what he got.