Different carpet.
Different paint.
Newer books.
But the plastic chairs were still lined beneath the big window facing the parking lot.
And in the chair closest to the
glass sat a little boy.
Five years old.
Messy brown hair.
Dinosaur shirt.
Shoes that flashed when he moved.
He was watching the parking lot.
Then he heard the door.
Turned around.
Saw Julian.
His entire face lit up.
“DADDY DINOSAUR!”
Theo launched himself across the room.
His shoes flashed with every step.
He crashed into Julian’s legs.
“You came back!”
Julian laughed and knelt down.
Theo immediately asked,
“Did you bring him?”
Julian reached into his jacket.
Pulled out the green T. rex.
Theo hugged it against his chest.
“I knew you’d come back.”
Then he whispered,
“Heroes always come back.”
A moment later, Theo noticed me.
He studied me very seriously.
“Who’s she?”
“That’s my wife. Dani.”
