The Apple of My Eye

Chapter 531 The Encounter

As Sheryl was checking out the kindergarten facilities, she heard a boy's voice from the fence. "Can

you help me get down?" he pleaded.

She followed the direction of the voice and saw the boy sitting on top of the fence. Sheryl found herself

staring at a cute little boy with big eyes, and his suit with matching serious expression amused her.

Sheryl surmised the little boy must have been up there a long time and didn't know how to make his

way down the fence. Fortunately, he saw someone to ask for help.

Squinting due to the sunlight, she asked,"How did you get there?" He was seated, but Sheryl felt a little

nervous that he might fall. She held a hand over her eyes to see better and waited for his reply.

The contempt she heard in his voice surprised her. "Are you stupid? Of course, I climbed to get up." At

that moment, Sheryl recalled an obscure man's face and his voice gently saying,"Stupid!"

The memory shocked her a little, and she remained still.

"Hey! Did you hear what I said?" His voice broke into her thoughts. She peered at him again. The boy

now seemed nervous, afraid of being seen by others.

Before she could help him down, Sheryl wanted to put the boy at ease. "Are you a student at this

kindergarten?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes, I am." The boy now looked at Sheryl with fearful eyes. He pleaded,"Please help me

down. I'm scared."

The woman took pity and helped him get down slowly. Once his feet touched the ground, she asked

him pointedly,"Tell me honestly why you climbed the fence."

His face blushed in embarrassment. Reluctantly, he admitted,"I don't like being in school." He slowly

looked into Sheryl's eyes.

The boy had already learned everything they were teaching in kindergarten and didn't care to mingle

with other children not as intelligent as him. He resented the feeling of isolation, which was why he

didn't want to be in school.

"But why?" Sheryl prodded. It confused Sheryl how someone so young could appear so mature.

"Where are your father and mother?" she inquired. Horrified at the thought, the woman added,"Do they

know you tried escaping from school?"

The boy mumbled,"I have no father." Then he quickly lowered his head in humiliation.

His expression and behavior made her feel sorry for the boy. And she was reminded of Shirley, whom

she raised alone. While her little girl also had no father, there was Anthony who played the role of her

father.

"Don't be sad, little boy," she automatically consoled him. With her maternal instinct, she hugged the

child for comfort.

Charlie was an unusual boy. He didn't like being close to or touched by anyone, including his mother,

Leila.

When Sheryl wrapped her arms around him, his instinct was to push her away. But surprisingly, he felt

reassured in her arms.

It was like feeling motherly love for the first time. He remained still for several minutes without saying

anything.

And he suddenly didn't want to end the embrace.

Sheryl felt like she was hugging her Shirley. She understood how difficult it was for a woman to raise a

child on her own, so the young mother did her best to provide him with a bit of care.

'Children like him should be in school and be given the proper care by his parents, ' she thought.

Sheryl was guessing that the absence of a father to love him was the main reason the little boy was

running away from school.

Finally she asked,"What's you name?" She squatted to be eye level with Charlie and started rubbing

his shoulders.

"Charlie Zhang," he answered. Up close, she was surprised to notice that the boy's eyes were big and

bright, just like Shirley's.

Charlie's eyes were almost magical that anyone looking into them would be deeply attracted.

"Charlie," Sheryl repeated while holding his hand. She knew she just couldn't leave the young boy

alone so Sheryl inquired,"Can you tell me where you're going?"

"The library," he replied quickly. His answer amazed Sheryl. Here was a little boy going to the library.

She was expecting him to say a game room or an amusement park. His choice of the library was

something she never imagined.

"What did you say? Where did you say you were going?" she asked again. Charlie looked at her

strangely for repeating the question. But Sheryl was truly in disbelief.

"I'm going to the library," he said again. As soon as he learned to speak, Charlie learned everything his This is from NôvelDrama.Org.

teachers were teaching in school. Sitting in class bored him, and it was a waste of time to stay there

without learning anything new. So, Charlie often escaped to the library to read books. This time the

teacher blocked the secret door of his escape route, so he had to try another way.

Fortunately, Sheryl saw him. Otherwise, he didn't know how to get down from the fence.

She patted his head and smiled. "Well, let me take you there." Sheryl thought it was too dangerous for

him to go there alone, so she offered to drive him there. When they arrived, Charlie approached the

assistant and politely requested,"Please hand me the book called Astronomy and Geography on the

top of this shelf."

"Someone borrowed that book. I'm going to check if it's back. Please wait a minute," the assistant

answered Charlie pleasantly. Charlie was obviously a familiar face in the library.

The assistant found the book and Charlie moved to sit down at a nearby desk and started reading.

Sheryl approached him, curious as to what he was reading. It startled her that the book was not for

children yet the boy was so engrossed in it.

'He can already understand that?' she wondered. His maturity and attitude made her think if he was a

genius.

Then she thought about her daughter. The girl was about the same age as Charlie and was smart. But

she still couldn't count numbers correctly.

In her mind, it was such a huge difference between the two children.

Charlie was quite absorbed with the book so Sheryl didn't bother him.

Other librarians saw the boy and greeted him,"Wow, your mother is also here, Charlie!"

Another said,"Your mom looks very pretty, Charlie."

He would smile but say nothing.

Realizing that Charlie was too concentrated on his book, Sheryl stepped out of the library to buy a

hamburger and drinks in case he got hungry or thirsty later.

She chose hot drinks even if it was summertime because Sheryl believed they were more healthy for

children.

The boy was preoccupied reading that he didn't notice Sheryl go out. When he finished the book and

wanted to leave, he couldn't find the woman and started to panic.

Worry was written all over his tiny face. His expression of one brow arched was similar to that of one

man. Charlie didn't speak but walked very quickly, and the frown on his face was an indication of his

feelings.

He was walking fast searching for Sheryl when she noticed his nervous expression as she came back

to look for him.

His worried look vanished the minute he saw the woman. As she approached, he stared into her eyes

and asked,"Where did you go?"