I nearly dialed 911 on the tattooed teenager holding a screaming baby inside an empty 1 AM laundromat. Then his bag tore open, and my stomach sank with utter shame.

I made a duck queen!”

Jackson opened his door so fast he nearly hit the curb.

Emma ran to him.

Rachel stayed several feet back.

Jackson lifted Emma and looked her over like he was checking for invisible bruises.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes! Rachel reads funny.”

“Yeah?”

“She makes the duck sound like Mr. Pickles.”

Mr. Pickles was my elderly neighbor’s bulldog.continue reading …