



“Beats me, Kiddo,” I answer, lost, slowly shaking my head. . “I can ask you the same.”
“Brian,” Baylee cries and runs past me to hug him. This again pleases me for reasons not known even to me. The kid who looks awfully similar to me is sweet Baylee’s brother – rather twin brother from what I gather. When they stand together, their resemblance is striking. I turn around and catch sight of the other kid, slightly elder, with his ass planted on the grass, already wailing. The other kids rush to sit beside him and I shift my focus back on Brian.
“Who are you?” he asks, looking up at me with a hardly masked scowl.
“He is my new friend. Mr. Nate,” Baylee answers, smiling my way. Brian’s scowl hardens as he narrows his eyes at me. He’s clearly not ok with his sister socializing and befriending strangers. The protectiveness and anger that shines in his eyes makes me admire this kid.
“How do you know him, Baylee? We are not supposed to be talking to strangers- young or old,” he grits out.
“Chill out.” I don’t think my smile will have an effect on him, but I try anyway. “I’m trustworthy. I’m a friend of your new teacher and just helping out here.”
“So says all the kidnappers,” he scoffs. “I’m no fool. You stay away from my sister.”
I have an urge to actually roll my eyes. A kidnapper? Really? I’m not forgetting this day or these kids. Never been mistaken for a kidnapper before.
“That’s so mean,” Baylee scolds him. “You say sorry. He’s reaaalllly nice, Brian.”
He gives me a once over and looks straight in my eyes. “Wolf in sheep’s clothing. Can’t trust.”
Wow. That’s how his sister picks rather complex and sophisticated words for her age. Her brother is a smart and cocky kid. Even his nature reminds me of myself. How peculiar is that? Not only does he look like me, he even thinks and behaves like me.



