Chapter Twenty-Two
Dylan was all smiles as he left the firehouse an hour later.
Man, it felt good to have gotten some of that weight off his shoulders. Who knew just having a conversation could help so much.
Remember all those times Teagan has tried to talk you into therapy? This is why. It feels good to share.
He made a mental note to call a therapist.
He began to contemplate all the conversation he’d just had when his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice saying, “There he is.”
He looked up and saw the Wildcats hurrying down the sidewalk toward him.
“Glad we found you in time,” Harrison said. “Things are really heating up around here.”
“What’s up?” Dylan asked.
It was Eli who answered. “We have it on good authority that the Bears are looking to make a move against us. We don’t think it’ll be today. Too risky. We think it’ll come at night. They want to shake us up before the big match tomorrow. Get us off our game.”
“Just in case, carry this on you at all times,” Aurelia said, handing over a small pumpkin blaster. “But it’s probably best if we stay together. There’s safety in numbers.”
“Good thinking,” Dylan said. “My Mommy is going to help with the Thanksgiving prep, anyway. I offered to pitch in, but she said they had everything covered. So, I’m free.”
“Same here,” Eli said. “Nancy seemed to not want me around the Thanksgiving prep.”
“Probably because shenanigans would follow and then everything might get messed up,” Aurelia said.
Everyone laughed.
“I can’t deny it,” Eli said.
“Come on,” Stella said. “Let’s go to the ball pit and plan what to do next.”
The group made their way to the community center. Inside, they passed the group of people working in the kitchen and main room. Teagan was arranging a decorative piece on the long table that would serve as the dessert bar. She looked up, smiled, and called out, “You having fun, sweetie?”
“Yes, Mommy,” Dylan said.
Her heart was full. It wasn’t lost on her that he was deep in Little Space. Just twenty-four hours before, he would have probably felt too uneasy and self-conscious to refer to her as Mommy. At least out in the open like that. He did it sometimes when it was just the two of them, but it was obvious he felt apprehensive about it even then.
Not now.
Dylan had regressed to where he needed to be.
And Teagan couldn’t be happier.
***
The Wildcats hurried toward the ball pit, their hands linked, and jumped in.
The plastic orbs clacked loudly, some flying up before raining back down to join the colorful sea once more.
“This is awesome!” Dylan said.
“Want to have slide races?” Stryker asked.
“Race you there,” Dylan said.
“Do we need to get a plan first?” Katie asked. “You know, how to defend against any incoming Black Bear attacks.”
“I guess we should,” Stryker said. “But I doubt they’ll try anything too crazy. Probably just a few paint gun attacks here and there until the big game tomorrow.”
“I think they’ll strike at night,” Eli said.
“Probably,” Stryker said as he continued swimming toward the tower that jutted up from the center of the pit. Dylan was right behind him and the duo made their way to the top.
“Hey,” Stryker said, upon coming onto the platform. “Someone left their stuffie up here.” He picked it up and held it over the railing, showing his friends below. “Do y’all recognize this?”
He felt something inside the plush doll rumble a second before he heard the ticking noise.
“Oh crap!” he said.
He threw his arm back and launched the thing like it was a football. He was hoping it would clear the ball pit before it exploded, but no such luck. The stuffie burst open, revealing itself to in fact be a glitter bomb.
Its contents rained down on the Littles below. The ripped doll fell limply to the balls where it lay like a deflated balloon.
“It’s in my hair!” Katie said.
“Mine, too,” Aurelia said.
Stella had perhaps taken the worst of the glitter shower. She wiped her face and looked at the sparkling, shimmering residue on her fingertips. “The Black Bears are behind this. It has to be them.”
Eli nodded. “That was a well-constructed glitter bomb. I admire the craftsmanship. And there’s only one other person besides me who’s in town right now that would think of something like that.”
The group all answered in unison.
“Natasha!”