Six Reborn

Lizzie had a great day at school. She didn't even want to go home at lunch. She played with Rosie and her new friend Nia at lunch, and she swore she saw Mary with friends too!

After school, she waited in the classroom for Mary to get her. Finally, a familiar black boot stepped into the room.

"Mary!!" Lizzie ran to her and gripped her.

"Hey Lizzie! Did you have a good day?" Mary picks her up so they can talk.

"Yeah I did Mary! I made friends! Rosie and Nia!! Did you make friends?"

"Sure did Lizzie. They're outside. Come on." Mary set her down and grabbed her hand. "Your mom won't be here for a bit, so we can go get Edward." Lizzie saw two girls and three boys waving them over. "Lizzie, those are my friends. Hey guys!" 

"Mary! Is this Elizabeth?" The girl with rainbow hair asked.

"Yes Belle. This is Lizzie. Lizzie, these are my friends. Maybelle, Alisa, Jonathon, Kevin, and Mark."

"Hi." Lizzie waved shyly, and hid behind Mary's leg.

"Lizzie don't be shy. They aren't like him. Or him." Mary ruffled her hair. "You wanna go get Edward?"

Lizzie nodded. "Yeah let's go."

Mary laughed. "Okay. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Maybelle hugged Mary, and so did Alisa. Kevin and Mark playfully hit her shoulder. Jonathon waved, and blushed when Mary waved back.

Lizzie tugged Mary away. "I wanna go get Edward!"

"Slow down Lizzie!" Mary laughed.

Edward was standing alone outside of the daycare, well not alone. He was with a young teacher. She had a kind smile and was smiling sadly.

Mary saw the sniffles and immediately picked up Lizzie and ran towards him. "Edward! Are you okay?" She asked as she set Lizzie down.

"He had a tough first day. Are you Mary? Edward Seymour's older sister?"

"Yes that's me. Who are you?"

"I'm the daughter of the daycare's owner. I take care of the younger kids. You can call me Lacy. Ms Lacy. None of the kids would play with him, and one of the older kids took his car and wouldn't give it back."

Mary gritted her teeth and picked up her brother. "Which kid?" 

"He's over there. Jacob. Oh his parents are here. I'll go take care of this."

"It's fine Ms Lacy. I'll take care of it. Come on Lizzie." Mary held Edward with one arm, and took Lizzie's hand with the other. "Hi, are you Jacob's parents?" She asked politely.

"Yes we are. Who are you?" The mother asked.

"My little brother started going here today, and he met your son."

"Isn't he delightful. Our little angel." The mother said.

"That's lovely. Anyway, Edward, my brother brought a car to the daycare. His first toy, he loves it. And it's my belief that Jacob took it."

The father looked taken back. "I'm sorry, who are you, and why would accuse a sweet boy of this! Jacob never does anything wrong!"

Mary raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess you don't notice him stealing a kid's juice box over there." She pointed. Jacob was yelling at a kid Edward's age to give him the juice box that the kid was holding.

Jacob's mother looked horrified. "Jacob Trevor Holten! You give that poor girl her juice box right now!"

The father looked at Mary. "I'm so sorry. We'll have the car returned right away. What's your name?"

"Mary. My name is Mary."

"Yes Mary. I'll go get the car." He joined Jacob's mother in scolding their son, and he reached into Jacob's backpack, and was horrified to find many other stolen toys!

"Jacob! How dare you steal all these toys!" The mother shrieked. She retrieved the red car and handed it to Mary. "I'm so sorry. He won't bother Edward again."

"Thank you Mrs Holten. I'm sorry about this." She gestured to the backpack full of toys.

"It's fine dear. I'm just wondering where I went wrong. You're a lovely sister. Do you ever babysit?"

"Just my brother and sisters." 

"Well may I have your number. You might be a good babysitter. Mary was it?"

"Yes that's my name, and here you go, just let me write it down. Edward, you want a piggy back ride?"

"Yeah Mary!" Mary shifted Edward from her arm to her back, and handed him the car. He proceeded to drive it on her back.

"Here you go. I'm available most days, and a lot on the weekends." Mary picked up her backpack again. 

"Thank you dear."

"Look Mary there's Momma! And Ari! And Jane! And Kitty!!!" Lizzie pulled Mary away.

"I guess I'd better get going. Nice meeting you." Mary waved her backpack hand at Mrs Holten.

Jane pried Edward off Mary's back. "We're you crying baby?" She asked, wiping the dry tears off his face.

"Yeah. But Mary made it all better!!!" Edward played more with his car as Jane carefully set him into the car seat.

Mary exhaustedly collapsed into the backseat. Kitty was next to her. "Long day Mary?"

"Yeah Kat. At least I made some friends, and dealt with Edward's bully."

Jane snapped to attention. "Edward had a bully!?"

"I took care of it Jane. It's all good, and I might babysit for the bully's parents and make a little money." Mary blinked a couple times.

"Wow Mary. Big sister or superhero?" Kitty asked, scuffing her similar boots on the car floor. But unlike Mary's Kitty had applied pink glitter to the front part, and had a stripe of pink spiked ribbon on the back of each boot.

"Cute boots Kat. Can you do mine. Just not like yours. I want mine special."

"Sure Mare. I'm thinking of making them my performance shoes, for when our musical is finished and ready to perform."

"Mare?"

"I dunno. Mary's long."

"So, you gonna go to school with us?"

"Yeah I guess so. We got my uniform and supplies today. I'll be two grades above you. In year twelve."

"Wow I'm sure at least we'll have the same lunch. You can hang with me if you don't have any friends tomorrow."

"Thanks Mare."

Lizzie was sitting behind them and tapped Kitty's shoulder. "Look what I made for you Kitty!" She handed her a messy pink wrapped lumpy package.

"Thanks Lizzie! Should I open it?"

"Yeah! Now!"

Kitty opened it and saw a spiked ponytail holder and a similar choker with a K on it. "Did you make this Lizzie?" She asked.

"Yeah! Do you like it?"

"Oh course!" It was done remarkably well for the work of a first year.

"I made assesories for Momma, Ari, Jane, Cathy, and Anna too!" Lizzie said, bouncing.

"Sit still back there Princess." Anne called from the driver's seat. Aragon was in the other car with Jane and Edward.

"Sorry Momma."

"I'm gonna sit up front before Anne starts the car." Kitty whispered before jumping into the passengers seat.

Lizzie bounced beside Mary. "Momma said to stop bouncing Lizzie."

"Okay Mary." Lizzie stopped bouncing and sat still.

"Mary Tutor-Aragon. Parenting master." Kitty joked from the front.