Chapter 200

Marvin leaned back, arms crossed, and asked, “So, tell me, what’s so great about your Ms. Penice?”

Keen, clearly annoyed, retorted, “Ms. Pearce buys me all sorts of delicious stuff!”

Marvin nodded knowingly, “Oh yeah, until you end up with a stomachache.”

Keen protested, “Ms. Pearce cooks for me herself.”

Marvin chuckled, “Ah, like that seafood chowder that almost sent you to the ER?”

Keen tried again, “Ms. Pearce can play the violin….”

Marvin interrupted with a shrug, “Well, she’s no match for Stella.”

Keen opened his mouth, searching for words, “Ms. Pearce also… she also…”

Marvin smirked, “Ms. Pearce also cries, blames others, and takes what’s not hers… Ms. Pearce is really something special! But I should thank you. If your taste wasn’t so lousy, Dad and I wouldn’t have had the chance to snag someone as amazing as Stella. Oh, and by the way, this weekend I’m going to the amusement park with Stella and Dad. Want to come? Oops, guess you’re not invited!”

Marvin looked at Keen, twisting the knife further with his words. “Wow, it really feels great to win, doesn’t it?”

Keen’s face turned red with anger, and he lunged at Marvin, ready to throw a punch.

Marvin stood his ground, grinning, “Go ahead, hit me. I’ll just tell Stella, and you’ll have to apologize again.”

Keen, despite being provoked, managed to keep a cool head. He scoffed, “One apology in exchange for knocking you out is worth it!”

Marvin taunted, “Go on then, because a black eye will just make Stella feel sorry for me and hate you more. You have no idea how sweet she is to me after you act up… just like a real son.”

Keen’s fist hovered in mid-air, his resolve wavering. Marvin excelled at playing the victim, consistently drawing sympathy from others. Consequently, all the teachers and children at the preschool adored him. Even some of the girls had warned Keen to stop picking on Marvin. But before Marvin showed up, Keen had been the most loved kid in their preschool.

A Marvin turned to leave, Keen’s cold, determined voice stopped him. “So much for liking my mom’s cooking. You didn’t even drink that soup; you passed it around to the other kids.”

Marvin paused, turning to face Keen with a sly grin. “Oh, you mean that?” Marvin pointed to a thermos nearby. “That herbal tea was made just for me by Stella.”

“I asked Stella to make extra so I could share it with the kids. But… there’s none for you. Jealous much?”

With those words, Marvin dismissed Keen and ran off to join the other kids fighting over snacks.

The weekend came around quickly. Keen stood near the entrance of the amusement park, scanning the crowd. He couldn’t believe his mom would really go to the park with Marvin, that little troublemaker. His mom had never even taken him. He remembered wanting to go with both his parents, but his dad was always too busy, canceling at the last minute. His mom wanted to take him, but without his dad, Keen lost interest. Then Rachel came along. Rachel had invited him and his dad to the amusement park on his mom’s birthday. They went, leaving his mom at home. Keen suddenly felt a twinge of sadness. So, this is what it’s like to be left behind?

Just then, he saw three familiar figures walking into the amusement park.