Prologue
Seven-year-old Mackenzia ‘Kenzia’ Jordans sat on the swing in the playground at school and watched the older boys kicking a ball around. She pulled her legs up when the ball came to her and she squirmed when one of the boys came running to her.
“Hello.” The boy said while passing through between the swings. “Are you one of the new first graders?”
Mackenzia nodded and she stood up and moved away from him.
“It is okay, I will not hurt you.” The boy said while picking the ball up. “You can come and swing further.”
“My daddy is not here to push me.” Mackenzia said softly.
“Oh.” The boy said. “I am Alexander.”
“Mackenzia. My daddy called me Kenzia.” Mackenzia said.
“I like your name.” The boy said. “My dad calls me Alexander or uses my full name.”
Mackenzia giggled and she turned when the school bell rang. “I got to go.”
Alexander waved at her and then ran to his friends again.
Mackenzia took her backpack from the ground and then went to her class.
A year later ten-year-old Alexander Everest stood on the sports field and watched as some girls began beating a girl up and he ran to them and broke the fight up. “Alisha, you know better than that.”
“What? Are you going to go tell on me with dad?” Alisha asked. “She is nothing but some trash that should have been left in a trashcan.”
“If you do not stop and apologize right now, I will tell father.” Alexander said. “And if I ever find you bullying anyone else ever again, I will tell him as well.”
“Fine. I am sorry.” Alisha said and she stormed off.
Alexander sighed and then helped Mackenzia up. “You okay?”
Mackenzia nodded and she took her backpack that was yanked open with all her stuff strewn along the wall.
Alexander helped her pick her stuff up and then took the comb from his backpack and he untied her hair before he combed it back and tied it up again. “Now you look a little less like a ragamuffin.”
“Thank you.” Mackenzia said. “You should go play further.”
“They can manage without me.” Alexander said. “Let me go and get you a sandwich from the tuck shop because it looks like my sister and her friends stole your lunch.”
Mackenzia shook her head. “They were beating me up because another boy already stole my lunch from my locker.”
“Why is everyone stealing your lunch?” Alexander asked.
“To make me feel unwelcome.” Mackenzia said. “They have been doing it since my second week here.”
“Oh wow.” Alexander said. “Did you tell your parents?”
“My mom brought a man to our house shortly after I started school and she must have been doing something bad because when my dad got home he screamed at her and chased her and the man out and my dad has not been spending time with me. He is sick but he has to keep on working so I can come to school. I do not want to come to school.” Mackenzia said softly.
Alexander looked at her and then put his arm around her shoulders. “It is okay. I will bring you some lunch to school every day until my dad gets back from England, and then I will tell my dad and he will tell the school.”
“But you told your sister you would not.” Mackenzia said.
“Alisha never usually listens to me. So I was surprised that she actually gave you some sort of an apology.” Alexander said. “We can meet at the swings every day in recess.”
“Thank you.” Mackenzia said softly.
“You are welcome.” Alexander said and he took her to the tuck shop and bought her a juice, some candy and a sandwich and he sat with her until she had finished it just before class started. “I will see you tomorrow.”
Mackenzia nodded and she went to her class and found school a little more enjoyable since then.
Alexander sat on the swings about six months later a week before summer holidays started and he played idly with his toes in the dirt and then looked up when someone sat down next to him. “Oh hi Emily.”
“Hi. I know you are waiting for Mackenzia but the principle took her home early.” Emily said.
“Why?” Alexander asked.
“I do not know; it is something to do with her dad.” Emily said.
“Oh okay, thanks.” Alexander said and he stood up with his backpack and went to play with the boys but he got a little worried when he never saw her for the rest of the week.
The day school started again Alexander ran to the swings where he had to meet Mackenzia and he looked around and then went to the hedge when he heard someone crying. He climbed in through the hidden hole and then looked at Mackenzia. “Kenzia, what is wrong?”
“Leave me alone.” Mackenzia said and she turned her back on him.
Alexander frowned and he took the sandwich from his backpack and placed it on her lap. “I made that for you this morning.”
“I am not hungry. Leave me alone Alexander.” Mackenzia said.
“Kenzia, just tell me what is wrong? I am not leaving until you did.” Alexander said.
Mackenzia turned to him and wiped her cheeks. “My dad died the week before summer holidays.”
“Oh.” Alexander said. “I am sorry, no one ever told me.”
“Alisha knew.” Mackenzia said. “I got told the whole class got told the very next day.”
“Alisha is a little spoiled brat.” Alexander said. “She does not tell me anything.”
“It does not matter anyway.” Mackenzia said.
“It does matter.” Alexander said. “With whom are you staying now?”
“My Aunt and Uncle but they are mean and rich.” Mackenzia said. “My daddy never liked them but they are the only relatives I have left and unless they sign papers I am not allowed to go into foster care.”
“I see.” Alexander said and he spent all of recess in the hedge talking with her and he got her back to class before he raced to his class and about a year later he gave her a ‘pretend’ proposal as a promise that he would always be there for her when she got more and more distant from everyone.
