39: New Friend

It was raining cats and dogs when Eva went to pick up Elijah from school. The heavy downpour made the roads shimmer like silver ribbons, and water splashed up from the tires as she carefully maneuvered her car into the parking lot. Her windshield wipers struggled to keep up with the rain, and the sky above was a dull and dark gray.

Clutching her umbrella, Eva rushed through the puddles to the main building. Her shoes were soaked by the time she stepped inside, but she barely noticed. She was already scanning the room for her little boy.

She found Elijah still in his classroom, sitting at his table with a book opened in front of him. Most kids his age preferred an endless collection of toys, but not Elijah. Books were his world. Even before he could talk, Eva had noticed his fascination with them. She remembered those nights spent reading "Goodnight Moon" and "Where the Wild Things Are" while his tiny fingers traced the pictures on each page.

Miss Daye, his teacher, was at her desk sor