Chapter 597: Epilogue (24)
Holly Wood stood up. “Mom, I get so bored at home by myself. Why don’t I go with you? I can help you read the table and make sure you don’t lose everything.”
At this, Mrs. Lynch’s expression soured. “Absolutely not! You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be running around.”
Holly Wood gave a slight smile. “It’s fine. I’m going stir-crazy cooped up at home all day. It’d be nice to get some sun. Besides, with all the reporters and paparazzi out there… it wouldn’t matter if they snapped a picture of me. But if they got one of you, Mom, it wouldn’t be good if Leon made headlines because of it.”
Mrs. Lynch’s eyes narrowed as she sized her up. “Holly Wood, what are you trying to say? That I can’t go out and play a few hands of mahjong?”
“I never said you couldn’t. Wouldn’t it be better if I went with you?”
“Who asked you to come along? You’re such a busybody. Crying crocodile tears.”
With that, Mrs. Lynch stood up and went back to her bedroom. A few moments later, she emerged, all dressed up, with a purse on her arm and high heels on her feet.
Holly Wood didn’t chase after her. ‘Some people know they’re in the wrong but refuse to change. When they end up making a huge mistake, they have no one to blame but themselves.’
After school, the three friends went home, then made plans to go to the school not far from their neighborhood.
To find Melody White.
Elmer Grant’s little face was alight with excitement.
When they got to the school gate, they spotted Melody White a short distance away. Dorothy Ellsworth quickly called out, “Look, guys! Isn’t that her?”
The two boys looked, and sure enough, it was.
Elmer was about to run over, but Dorothy playfully held him back. “What’s the rush? How about we mess with her a little first?”
“How?”
Dorothy covered her mouth with a giggle and grabbed Dylan. “Dylan, you pretend to be Elmer and go say hi. Let’s see if she can even tell the difference between you two.”
“Okay.”
A smile on his face, Dylan swaggered over to her.
Dorothy and Elmer waited behind a large tree, watching from a distance to see what would happen.
Dylan patted Melody White on the shoulder from behind. “Melody!”
Melody White turned around to look at him. “Who are you?”
Dylan froze for a second, then replied, “It’s me, Elmer! We were in kindergarten together in Harrowin. Don’t you remember me?”
Melody White, who wore her hair in pigtails and was dressed in a little skirt, thought for a moment before it dawned on her. “Oh, it’s you, Elmer! It’s been so long, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
The smile on Dylan’s face froze. “Did your mom and dad move here too?”
“My mom and dad got divorced, and my mom married my stepdad, so now we live here. Hey Elmer, what do you think? Is my dress pretty?”
Dylan nodded. “It’s pretty.”
“Here, you can have this.” Melody White offered him the half-eaten chicken drumstick she was holding.
Dylan shook his head. “No thanks, you can have it.”
“Okay.”
“Are you happy living with your stepdad?”
“I am.” She beamed. “I get all sorts of yummy food and fun toys every day, and I get to wear pretty clothes. Plus, my stepdad and my mom never fight.”
Dylan nodded. “Melody, you’re my bride-to-be, remember? I’m going to marry you when we grow up.”
Just as he said this, Elmer and Dorothy walked over and overheard.
“My mom says that’s just silly kid stuff. It’s been over half a year, I’d already forgotten about it. You can’t take that seriously.”
Hearing this, Elmer’s face fell.
Dylan pressed on, “Why not? I meant what I said. I even had my daddy ask around everywhere to find you.”
Melody White’s eyes widened. “Elmer, you have a stepdad now, too? I thought you didn’t even have a dad. When I used to come over to your place to play, it was always just your mom. You guys lived in that shabby old apartment building, and there were so many bugs.”
Dorothy spoke up. “He’s not a stepdad. Elmer’s daddy is his real dad.”
Dylan dropped the act. “This isn’t fun anymore. Melody, I’m Dylan. *This* is Elmer.”
Melody White just nodded. “Okay, well, you guys can play by yourselves. I’m going home. My mom’s waiting for me up ahead.”
Elmer grabbed her hand. “Melody, can I come find you to play again sometime?”
Melody White just smiled. “Elmer, you don’t have to. My mom says I should play with boys from rich families. It’s better for me that way. Your family is too poor. You can come play with me when you’re rich.”
Hearing this, Dorothy blurted out, “Is that really Melody?”
Dylan answered, “Who else would it be? It looks like her mom completely brainwashed her.”
He glanced over at Elmer and saw his face was completely devoid of a smile. Then, Elmer turned and ran off.
“Elmer!” Dylan and Dorothy exchanged a look and immediately ran after him.
Elmer ran all the way home. When Dorothy and Dylan got there, Dylan asked, “Dad, where’s Elmer?”
“He went upstairs.”
Dylan and Dorothy went upstairs together and found the bedroom door locked from the inside. They had a spare key, but Dylan didn’t use it.
“Let’s let him be. Elmer’s probably really sad.”
The two of them went back downstairs. Dorothy said, “I’m going to head home for dinner.”
Dylan nodded. “Okay.”
“Son, what’s wrong with your brother?”
So, Dylan told them the whole story.
After Quentin Grant and Nora Ainsworth heard the story, they found it both ridiculous and infuriating.
“Some parents these days… they drill these horrible ideas into their kids’ heads from such a young age. It really just hurts the children and isn’t good for their development,” Nora Ainsworth said.
“After this, that girl is absolutely forbidden from seeing our Elmer again.”
“But she used to be such a sweet girl, so lively and cheerful. It’s only been half a year. How could she change so much?”
“Kids are impressionable. They’re easily influenced and brainwashed by adults,” Quentin Grant said. “Nora, you should go upstairs and talk to him.”
Dylan said, “Mom, Dad, just let him be by himself for a while. He’ll figure it out.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
When it was time for dinner, Elmer did indeed come downstairs on his own.
“Elmer, hurry, it’s time to eat! Mommy made your favorite dish—rice with crab.”
Elmer sat down sullenly, grabbed a spoon, and started scooping rice onto his plate, then ate with his head down.
Nora Ainsworth said, “Elmer, sweetie, you’re still so young, you don’t understand these things yet. When you grow up, you can have any girl you want.”
Quentin Grant nodded gravely. “That’s right! When you’re older, Daddy will find you a girl who’s… well-stacked. I won’t let you down.”
Nora snorted with laughter. “Yeah, find one with wide hips. She’ll have no trouble giving me grandchildren.”
Elmer huffed. “You guys are so shallow. I’m going to find a wife I have a real spiritual connection with, someone who shares my interests.”
Quentin Grant roared with laughter. “You little brat! When you grow up and marry her, you’ll be making babies every night. You think you won’t have a shared interest then?”
Dylan knocked on the table. “Ahem. Let’s watch our language in front of the children, please.”