Acceptance

“Rick?” A small voice called out from across the room.

“What’s up, Maru?” Rick answered, not picking up his head.

The girl walked over to the kitchenette, where he was sitting reading the newspaper.

“I’m hungry,” Maru whined.

Rick nodded his head, flipping a page of the paper. He then quickly looked up.

“You haven’t eaten?” He questioned.

Maru shook her head sadly.

Rick chuckled nervously.

“Come on, we’ll go grab something from the cafe.”

Maru’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Can I get a cheesecake!?” She cried out.

Before Rick could answer, the girl ran to go put her shoes on.

Rick let out a sigh.

*

“I told you to hold my hand while we cross the street, Maru!” Rick scolded the girl.

Maru smiled sheepishly and gripped his hand.

Rick bit his lip as not to let out a noise of pain.

The girl could not, for the life of her, control her strength. Even when doing simple things such as holding someone’s hand. Whether it be Rick, Sena, or whoever, it takes a lot for the victim of her touch not to wince in pain. And if the sound of pain slips, no one has the heart to tell the girl.

“We’re here!” The girl pointed at the sign excitedly.

Rick sighed in relief as he cracked his wrist.

*

“Oh, good morning Rick, Maru!” The waitress smiled at the two.

“Morning, Bonnie.” Rick gave a smile while removing Maru’s hat as the girl waved.

“What can I do for you two this morning?”

Rick skimmed the menu for a second; as he opened his mouth to answer, Maru nudged him with her head.

“What’s up, kiddo?”

“May I please get the cheesecake?” She whispered.

Rick chuckled.

“Yeah, sure.” He said.

Maru beamed.

“Bonnie, could I get the French toast and a coffee, please?”

“Mm!” Bonnie nodded.

Bonnie then turned to Maru.

Rick, knowing by now Maru liked him to order for her, looked up sheepishly.

“She’ll get a slice of cheesecake and a glass of chocolate milk, please.”

Bonnie smiled.

“Ok, sounds great!” She beamed, walking away.

Rick then turned his attention toward Maru, who was busy coloring.

“Wow, kiddo, the professionals would be jealous of your coloring skills!”

Maru quickly looked up, blushing.

“Really!?” She questioned eagerly.

“Mm!” Rick smiled, patting her head.

*

“Here you go, enjoy!”

Bonnie said, smiling as she placed the food down.

“Thanks, Bonnie.” Rick smiled.

Maru quickly lifted her fork and took a bite of her cheesecake eagerly.

Rick couldn’t help but laugh.

“How is it, kiddo?” He asked as he picked up a napkin to wipe her face full of crumbs.

Maru nodded her head happily.

As Rick was about to take a bite of his breakfast, a man hesitantly came over.

“Excuse me?”

Rick put his fork down.

“Hi,” Rick said, trying to suppress the confusion in his voice.

“I’m with the school board of this town; you’re not Rick Summers by chance, are you?”

Rick felt a flutter in his chest.

“Yeah, that’s me!” He replied with a big smile.

“Ah, fantastic! Allow me to introduce myself properly; my name is Jeff Davis.” The man extended his hand.

Rick quickly stood up to shake the man’s hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, sir.” Rick smiled.

“Sorry to interrupt your breakfast with your daddy, sweetheart.” The man smiled down at Maru.

Maru, who was too busy enjoying her breakfast, looked up, confused.

“Ah, anyway, we had problems with our phone systems for the past few days.”

The man then looked Rick in the eyes.

“We’d like to invite you to be Wildwood Elementary school’s new science teacher.” He smiled.

Rick tried his best to suppress his glee.

“I-I would love to.” Rick quickly stammered.

“I mean, yes, that sounds great.” He said, trying to catch himself.

The man let out a hardy laugh.

“Fantastic, we’d love to have you start next Monday then.” The man smiled.

Rick beamed.

“Thank you, sir sounds great!”

The men shook hands again. Jeff then walked away.

Maru swallowed her last piece of cheesecake as Rick sat back down.

He ruffled her hair happily.