“So who’s that?” I ask casually.
“Who’s who?” he says, dancing around the question.
I look pointedly at him. “That lovely young dame that you seem so very fond of.”
The Kid frowns at me. “You mean Amy?” He makes a rude noise and suddenly sounds like a nine-year-old again. “She’s nobody.”
“Is she in your class?” I ask, trying to keep my mirth from rising.
“No. She’s in a grade above me.”
“Oh. So she’s older.”
“I guess. Why are you asking about her?”
I shrug. “She seems nice. Was she at your birthday party?”
“No. I didn’t invite her.”
“Why not?”
“Well, because!” he sputters. “She’s… mean and… I just don’t like her!”
“She’s mean to you? Do you need me to talk to her teacher?” I say, keeping a straight face.
The Kid pales. “No,” he says hastily. “I think I can handle it.”
“I bet you can.”
He glares up at me. “Are you making fun of me?”
I grin. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good. Because I’ve had quite the day, and I don’t want to have to put up with your nagging.”
“My nagging?” I burst out laughing. Much to my relief, this cracks through him, and he starts laughing too. I reach over and ruffle his hair, and he complains good-naturedly but grabs onto my hand and pulls it into his lap. He plays with my fingers, humming quietly to himself. I wait.
“She eats meat,” he says finally.
“And that’s bad? I eat meat.”
“That’s okay, though. You’re my big brother. She’s just a dumb girl.”
“Those are always the best ones, huh?”
He eyes me with great consideration. “I don’t know, Bear. Are you and Anna okay?”
I grip the steering wheel tightly. “So, you heard that one too.”
He grimaces. “It was kind of hard not to, Papa Bear.”
“What did you hear?” I asked, suddenly nervous.
He shakes his head. “Just yelling. I’m sorry, Bear. I didn’t mean to hear it.”
I pat his hand. “It’s okay, Kid. I’m sorry too. It should have never gone down like that. I should have thought that through a little bit.”
“Otter took me to school today!” he says, excited. I grin sickly at the change in topic. “He’s never done that before. He took me to get donuts!”