“Brad how are you today?” His head bobbed slightly on his large neck.

“Fine Miss. Carlin and you?”

“Fine as well,” I unlocked the back door and undid Ashley’s belt allowing her to bounce out of the seat and hug Brad who smiled and hugged her back before going back to his strong manly exterior. Ashley was the only child I think to get that reaction, Brad has told me several times that she sat by the gate surrounding the building and its play ground and would talk to him while she ate lunch and shared some of her gummy bears with him.

Now usually I just let Spencer stay in the car with Brad watching her and run Ashley in but today is her first day at the school so I start to unbuckle her and she gives me this weird what are you doing look.

“Ready for your first day?” I asked setting her on the ground so I can close the door.

Brad scratched his head for a moment, “Oh I didn’t know we were gaining a new one today,” he bent down and stretched his hand out to her, “I’m Brad…”

Spencer shuffled behind me, not good with new people while Ashley was eager to meet new children and adults anyone who would listen to her, “Spener…” her voice muffled against the back of my knee.

Christine and I had a bet going on which girl would say the name Spencer right, so far Ashley was getting better but still refused to put the c in place of the d she’s been using and Spencer well she seemed not to want to use the c at all.

“Well Spencer its nice to meet you officially,” He stood up and nodded to Ashley who was standing by the gate talking to her friend Aiden Dennison and his mother, “She talks non stop about little Spencer there,”

“Really?” He nodded with a gentle smile and opened the gate for all of us. Picking Spencer up and taking Ashley’s hand we followed behind Mrs. Dennison and her boy into the building where tons of other children sat playing or saying goodbye to their parents.