#28 Lord Over Those You Love

A young boy with a thick head of dark brown hair stood next to a bright yellow "school bus stop" sign. He swung a plastic "Ben 10" lunch box as he talked and sung to himself.

Jacqueline Bloom turned the corner onto the street where the little boy stood. The black Lincoln chugged up to the yellow stop sign. Jacquie got out with the engine still running and crossed around it.

"Boy you know you need to stand two giant steps back from where you're at?" asked Jacquie.

"Daddy!" said the young boy as he threw up his arms.

Jacquie scooped up the boy and held him in one arm, "how ya doin' big guy?"

"I'm good. I miss you."

"I know Jake, did your mom just drop you off?"

"Yes, Ms. Testman is on her porch across the street keeping an eye on me, till the bus comes to take me to school."

Jacquie looked across the street and saw an old woman knitting on her porch as she sat in a rocking chair. He waved high. The old woman waved back. As Jacquie looked back at his son the sound of another car came from behind him.

A dark green Jaguar roared up to the stop sign right behind Jacquie's Lincoln. The man inside turned his car off and got out.

"You must be Jacquie." said the man as he took off his sunglasses and put them inside his slick expensive jacket.

Jacquie sat his son down, "Who are you?"

"That's Joe, Mommy's friend," said Jake.

"Joe?" asked Jacquie.

"LeStrauss, Joe LeStrauss," replied Joe as he extended his right hand.

Jacquie kept his right hand on Jake's shoulder and stared into Joe's eyes from behind his glasses.

Joe looked at his hand and seemed to quickly shrug it off, "I was hoping we'd get a chance to meet. I...I didn't think it would be like this though. Tiffany has been letting the neighbor watch Jake get on the bus but I just worry about him ya know? Ah sure ya do, I guess that's why you're here."

"Are you trying to tell me we had the same idea, to check in on my son?" Jacquie's eyes narrowed.

"Jacquie, don't be like that," said Joe.

"You can call me Mr. Bloom, Mr. LeStrauss. I don't mind the idea of you making sure my son is safe. Just make sure you don't cross any lines that may offend me. Right now you're "Mommy's friend" and that's fine. If it were just me and you I'd tell you what I think about, suffice it to say, good luck, buddy. But just know this...Jake, who is your dad?"

"You are, Daddy," Jake said with a giggle.

"You hear that, Mr. LeStrauss."

"I know, Mr. Bloom, I know. No one is trying to replace you. But correct me if I'm wrong, you aren't actually supposed to be here. You don't have any visitation rights."

"No one is going to stop me from seeing my boy," said Jacquie through angry eyes.

Suddenly a yellow bus zoomed by the Lincoln and Jaguar.

"Daddy, the bus!"

"Its okay Jake. I understand how you feel, Jacquie. Jake how would you like your dad to take you to school, oh but wait the school administration knows about the court's order don't they.

Jacquie's eyes narrowed again, "Jake why don't you go with Mommy's friend, Joe, today. I'll see you really soon."

As the Jaguar sped away, Jacquie mumbled, "what a prick."