“How was preschool yesterday, Finn?” I probed as I pulled into traffic, glancing at him briefly through the rear-view mirror. He was so absorbed, putting together his Lego pieces. It was a cool Saturday morning, and I was taking him to the park as promised.
Cora was the one who opened the door for me, as I expected. Since our argument, back at my place, Elaine and I hadn’t spoken. I didn’t care, though. She was a despicable woman and a shitty parent. She could hate me for all I cared. I was so over her.
“It was…” he trailed off, scrunching up his little, adorable face as he tried to think of the right word to describe how his day went. “Good, I guess.”
“What’s the matter? You don’t sound so sure.”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Daddy,” he exhaled calmly.
My brows knitted together in a tight frown. “What do you mean? Did anyone hurt you?”
He hesitated, then blurted out. “It’s Tommy, Daddy.”
My frown deepened. “Tommy?”
He nodded. “Yes. He’s a big bully. He pinches me for no reason in class and threatens to knock out my teeth someday. During recess, he pushes me about.”
“What? Have you told any of your teachers about this?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Why?”
“Because… because he threatened to knock my teeth off if I told a teacher or Mommy. He’s really big, Daddy. He can break me into two.”
I waved his comment off in disgust. “Nonsense. You’re a Sturm, son. You don’t back down from assholes. You don’t take crap from anyone, do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy. Mommy said I should stay away from mean people.”
“You do that, and if they keep coming for you then what? When I was your age, Finn, I gave back every energy I received from people. If they were mean to me, I was a terror to them. If they were kind, I was kind as well. How long has he been doing this?”
“Since I started preschool,” he turned his glassy eyes towards the unmoving traffic we were currently stuck in.
Fucking hell. “Finn, my boy, I’m going to teach you something right now. When next Tommy comes around, promise me you’ll not let him corner you into a hole.”
He nodded slowly.
“Now, when next Tommy threatens to punch or beat you up, I want you to do this.” I held my hand up and made a fist. “You do this with your hand and you tuck your thumb around the outside.”
“Okay…” he murmured, brows arched in confusion.
“Can you do that for Daddy? Show me how you do your hand.”
“Like this, right?” he held up his hand and made a fist.
“Good. Just tuck your thumb around the front of your fist.”
He obeyed.
“Perfect. Next time he says he’s going to hit you, you attack him first. You don’t wait for things to go down before striking with your fist. Pull your arm back and punch him straight in the nose, as hard as you can.”
“But won’t the teacher punish me?” he frowned.
“She would. But Tommy will never come close to you again. He’d be so surprised and scared that he won’t dare mess with you. Bullies will keep picking on you as long as you show them that you’re weak.”
He stayed silent, ruminating.
“You should never ever back down, Finn. If someone’s trying to pick on you, show them that you’re not scared and they won’t dare come around ever again,” I stretched my hand sideways to ruffle his hair.
He beamed. “Thank you, Daddy.”
The traffic began flowing freely once more, prompting me to sit properly. “Anytime, mate. Now let’s go have fun at the park. How would you like a new football?”
His eyes widened with glee. “Yippe! Oh, Daddy. Yes! I’d love one.”
I chuckled. “We’ll drop by a sports shop, then. I’m glad we have the whole morning to ourselves, bud. I’ll coach you on how to play. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.”
“Yay!” he smiled cheekily, making a fist at me.
I laughed, holding my fist over to the back seat and he bumped it with his.
“Attaboy, mate.”
–
“Kick the ball a little harder into the post, Finn,” I shouted at the top of my lungs, jogging quickly over to the said post. The sun was sweltering and we were drenched in sweat, having been playing football for hours. He was a gifted sportsman, that I had no doubt about. Just a little more practice till he came of age, and he’d be pure, refined gold.
Samson had called earlier to inform me that he was coming over with Jess, Father, and the children. I figured that this would be the best time for Finn to meet them. It still felt a little weird, but there was no other way things could go.
I grinned as I watched Samson’s SUV make its way up the road, into the parking lot to stop beside my car. Maxwell and Effie were the first to alight, followed closely by Father who was trying to stop them from arguing. Samson went over to Jess’s side to help her out. The pregnancy clocked its full nine months last week, so we were expecting another Sturm anytime soon.
“Hey, Finn, get over here. I’d like you to meet my family,”
He stopped what he was doing and bounced over, peering at them.
I ran my hand through his hair, my smile so wide, my cheeks were hurting. “That’s them, Finn.”
“Oh,” he bit his bottom lip, wringing his hands nervously. I patted his back gently to reassure him. Elaine was right, he could get very shy and timid. The troupe reached us now and Samson barked at Effie and Maxwell to shut the hell up and comport themselves. My nephew and niece, of course, dared not utter another word.
I’d always had the idea that all kids were the same, but Finn coming into my life proved that stat wrong. While Effie and Maxwell were outspoken and one hell of a character, Finn was calm and reserved. “Hey, guys,” I greeted them, trying to get Effie’s attention as she was suddenly so distracted, staring at Finn. My little boy hid his face behind my pants, shivering in fright.
Samson and Jess’ attention had been equally arrested by Finn. They stared at him with their tongues hanging out, shocked to the bones. “It… it can’t,” Samson spluttered. “What the hell, man? He looks just like my son.”
I chuckled, proud. The resemblance between Finn, Maxwell, and I was uncanny. We looked like triplets born in different years. “Say hi, Finn.”
He glanced up at me, almost close to tears, holding onto my hand for dear life. “This is Uncle Samson and Aunt Jessica. And this is Grandpa, and your cousins; Effie and Maxwell.”
They all stepped forward, shaking his hands one at a time.
“You look like your cousin, Finn,” Samson beamed, pinching his cheek affectionately. “What a cute little boy.”
Father bent and scooped him up into his arms, twirling him about. “He’s such a strong boy, Max. Elaine has been certainly been taking good care of him.”
Finn started crying and Father placed him down. He rushed back to my side, latching onto my wrist for dear life.
“He acts just like Maxwell,” Jess remarked with a laugh, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I love him.”
“Don’t we all?” Samson scoffed.
She swatted his arm. “Don’t be salty. Who’s up for lunch?”
The kids started jumping in excitement while Finn remained quiet, watching them in fascination. I couldn’t blame him, my family was a full-on comedy center. It was certainly going to take a long while before he got used to them.
–
“So, how are things going between you and Elaine?” Samson asked, sipping from a beer bottle. It was a little past four, and we were seated on the grass, watching the children run around like maniacs. I spied Finn kicking his football idly, my heart swelling with pride. I could look at him all day. He was such a beauty to behold.
“Badly. She still insists on working despite my efforts to make life comfortable for her and Finn. It’s infuriating.”
“Have you tried to hear her reasons? How can you pay her rent and buy her a car, and yet she still insists on working? What for?”
“I swear, she just loves getting on my nerves. I was arrested the other day when I went to stop her, and guess what? She didn’t follow me to the station, but stayed back for the interview.”
“What the hell?” Samson growled, narrowing his eyes. “Has it gotten to that? God, she has no respect for you.”
“I don’t want her anymore. She’s the most despicable woman on planet earth. I’m mad at myself for ever thinking she was worth it.”
“Calm down, mate,” he shook his head. “But you were in love with her only last week? You said you felt like she was the one.”
“I did feel like it but after all she’s done, turns out I was wrong. She’s wild and so full of herself. That same day she defied me, she overslept in a stranger’s place and forgot to pick up Finn from preschool. I swear, I was fucking pissed when I got an emergency call from the school, alerting me that Elaine hadn’t shown up and Finn was the only kid left in school.”
Samson’s jaw dropped. “Fucking hell, man. She sleeps around too?”
I shrugged. “Probably. But she says he found her by the roadside and helped her to his place. The absurdity of that!”
“You need to pull her in line, man. I wouldn’t take that shit with my kids. They’re like diamonds to me. Finn comes first. You have to protect him. Whatever it takes.”
I nodded, feeling my protective instincts kick in as I watched Finn running around with the kids now. He still looked out of place, but that was something time would take care of. He was my entire world now.
I have to protect him.