The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 531

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.