Free Alexander by Kathi S. Barton

different than when you kiss me, huh?”
    “ Very. Men and women don’t always kiss because they’re married either. Though I haven’t been on a date in a long time, I guess they still do that.” She got up and pulled down the cookie tin. “But I would guess your grandpa Tom knows more about that than either of us.”
    Jack thought his grandpa Tom knew everything. He was sometimes fuzzy on the details, but he knew a lot. He decided to ask him about kissing when he got the chance. He didn’t think he’d get the same answers he got from his mom, but he’d bet they’d be more colorful. Jack thought he’d ask his new friend Mr. Alex when he saw him again. If he saw him again.
    Jack hadn’t told him mom about the stranger or his grandpa Tom. He did tell him about Mr. Alex. He’d told him how he’d shared a table with him and they’d had a good time. He didn’t want to tell him that Mr. Alex had walked him to the bus stop, afraid that his grandpa Tom would think he was a baby, but he hadn’t said that at all.
    “ Good for you. It’s always nicer to take a stroll when you have a buddy with you. You can watch each other’s backs while you do it. You say he’s a friend of Miss Caroline? Well, probably knows about your mom then.” Grandpa Tom was quiet for a minute. “Don’t think I’d mention him to your mom. She’s a mite protective of you and would probably make you stay away from him. But listen, boy, he touches you or does anything that has you uncomfortable, you tell Miss Caroline and beat your ass home, hear?”
    “ Yes, sir. I will.”
    Jack looked over at the paper on the fridge with everyone’s schedule on it. He was thrilled to see his grandpa Tom had to work again in the morning and wondered if his mom would work over too. He was torn about that. He wanted her home to rest, but he wouldn’t mind spending some time with Mr. Alex too.
    She got up from the table and started making dinner. He had to get his homework done before he’d be allowed to watch television so he pulled his book bag up on the table. He was just starting on his math when he heard his grandpa Tom’s keys in the door.
    After dinner was cleaned up, he and his grandpa Tom sat down to watch some TV. His mom had gone to take her nap and he looked over at the older man when a commercial came on.
    “ Grandpa Tom, I have something to tell you. Please don’t tell Mom.” He had to confess. It was weighing heavily on his mind.
    “ Can’t make a call on that until you tell me what it is that’s eating you up. If it’s about your momma’s burn then you can rest assured I’ll make sure she keeps it clean and dry.”
    Jack knew he would, and so would he. “No, sir. It’s about the man, Mr. Alex, and the real reason he walked me to the bus this morning.”
    Grandpa Tom turned off the TV and looked at him. He didn’t say anything, but Jack knew that he’d have plenty to say once he heard. So he told him everything including the man taking pictures.
    “ He was across the street when the bus came up. Mr. Alex, he walked in front of me the whole time like he didn’t want him to see me. I wasn’t scared when I was with him, but…well, I was about the man. It was like one of those movies where the kid is watched to see if he has a pattern then he gets snatched.”
    “ You say this man, Mr. Alex, he saw him too?” Jack nodded. “You didn’t approach the man, did you? Say anything to him?” Jack shook his head. “You don’t either.”
    Grandpa Tom sat back on the couch and closed his eyes. The room was dark, but Jack could see well enough to see that he wasn’t asleep. When he turned to Jack, he knew it was going to be something he didn’t like.
    “ I’m going to meet you down there tomorrow and have a talk with this man.” Jack started to protest; he didn’t want his grandpa Tom hurt. “I’ll meet this Mr. Alex. I’m not saying I’m going to tell him stuff, but I think your momma might need a little help with this