Never Grow Up

Bo.” Kari ran her hand over his soft head. “Did you do that on purpose?”
Bo didn’t say anything, of course. But Kari was almost certain she saw something on their dog’s cute face.
A happy smile.

16
Balance Beam of Life
ASHLEY
Ashley started the game by drawing a man.
Mr. Garrett was talking about math shortcuts at the front of the room, but the game was way more fascinating. Ashley passed the picture to Elliot. The plan was for Elliot to add something to it. He would then pass it to Natalie, who would add something. And the drawing would come back to Ashley.
Natalie hadn’t been sure. “I don’t want to get in trouble,” she whispered.
“We only get in trouble if we get caught.” Elliot had rubbed his hands together. “This will be intergalactic!”
If aliens ever invaded Earth, Ashley would want to be on Elliot’s team. She was sure about that.
Now they were on the game’s sixth round, and the man in the picture was getting funnier each time. He currently had wings, and roller skates, and he wore a helmet. He held a bouquet of balloons and a parrot sat perched on his shoulder.
“There’s a trick to learning your nines,” Mr. Garrett was saying, “when it comes to multiplication. What you want to do is…”
Ashley tuned him out. She took the picture from Natalie and stared at it. Natalie’s last turn had added a mustache and glasses to the man. Without meaning to, Ashley let out a sudden laugh.
It sounded loud, even to her.
In a flash, Mr. Garrett was directly in front of her desk. His mouth bunched up, like he was eating a lemon. “What is that?” He pointed to the drawing.
Ashley smiled. “Hi…” She did a slight wave at their teacher. “This…” She folded the drawing and held it close. “Was just a great way to pass the time.”
“Pass the time?” Mr. Garrett’s eyebrows raised, higher than she had seen a man’s eyebrows go. “This is math, Ashley. Not free time.”
“It was my idea.” Elliot stood. “I’m the problem here.”
“Actually, I believe I’m the problem.” Ashley nodded. “Because that seems to be a pattern.”
Natalie threw her hands up. “And I tried to stop them.”
Mr. Garrett reached out. “Let me see it.”
Ashley pressed the drawing to her stomach. “I’m a bit reluctant to give it up, if I’m honest…” It was kind of a masterpiece. What if Mr. Garrett threw it out? She cleared her throat. “Perhaps I could have a few minutes to decide.”
“No, Ashley.” Her teacher kept his hand extended. “Give it to me. Now!”
About that time, Ashley noticed the rest of the class. They were all staring at her. Natalie was shaking her head very fast. Like a warning system.
Ashley sank a bit. “Fine. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance. Really.” She handed over the drawing. “I would like to state, though, that the drawing is mine. So please… sir, can I at least get it back? Later, maybe? When it’s convenient? Or perhaps as an early Christmas—”
“Stop talking, Ashley.” Mr. Garrett studied the drawing and Ashley was sure she saw him smile. He folded it up and closed his eyes. He exhaled.
“Pretty funny.” Ashley whispered. Hopeful. “Yes?”
Mr. Garrett removed his glasses. “Ashley, you and Elliot and Natalie will stay inside today during recess and clean the chalkboards.” He was still holding the drawing. “Math is not a chance to pass the time.”
“But…” Ashley remembered something. “I don’t want to be a criminal. I promised myself. And my parents.”
“You are not a criminal.” Mr. Garrett looked at her. “But there are consequences.”
“Ha!” Chris called out from the back. “That’s what you get for passing notes!”
Ashley turned around. Landon covered his face with his hand. Possibly this moment might make him think twice about being friends with Chris.
Mr. Garrett pointed at Chris. “You will join them.”
“What?” Chris threw his hands in the air. “What did I do?”
Mr. Garrett made a sharp turn back to the front of the room. He set the drawing on his desk. “That’s all, Chris. We will now get back to math shortcuts.”
Landon raised his hand.
“Yes?” Mr. Garrett looked ready to call it a day.
For a few seconds, Landon seemed to collect his thoughts. “Mr. Garrett, Ashley was just having fun.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work out. “Could they have a second chance?”
“Mr. Blake… do you want to join them?”
“No! I was just saying… it doesn’t seem like they did any harm.” Landon stopped there.
“Landon, Chris, Ashley, Elliot and Natalie…” Mr. Garrett had officially run out of patience. “You will all clean the boards during recess. He turned to the chalkboard. “Where were we?”
Ashley gave Landon a quick look. “Thanks.” She whispered the word very soft.
He smiled and nodded.
Ashley turned her attention to the front of the classroom. How about that! Landon Blake had stuck up for her. He wasn’t only her friend, apparently.
He was on her side.
And that made Ashley smile all the way through math.
Cleaning the boards turned out to be a hoot. Ashley and Natalie and the boys raced to see who was the fastest cleaner. And then they tried synchronized cleaning. Ashley laughed harder than she had all day at that fun.
Before school ended she and the chalkboard gang told Mr. Garrett they were sorry. They were. Because passing time during math was the wrong thing to do.
Ashley told her mom and dad about the criminal act later that evening, when everyone else was in bed.
“I’m sorry, Father… Mother.” Ashley hung her head. “It was very childish.” She looked up. “Which is actually my goal lately. Being young. Not growing up.” She smiled. Then she remembered the point here. “Anyway, I am sorry.”
Dad looked straight at her. “I’m glad you’re sorry.” He hugged her. “And please, Ashley, keep your drawings in your sketchbook from now on.”
Which was what she did that night. A perfect drawing of a man with wings, and roller skates and a helmet. He held