"You know, Holly, some say Jerrold keeps to himself because he's not blessed for his selfishness."

The other children added fuel to the conversation. “Yeah, he's so quiet and keeps to himself. We don't really understand him."

Holly paused, processing their words, and then decided to shift her focus. She chose to engage in butterfly-catching with her peers.

Lilah could feel the subtle shifts in the atmosphere and shot concerned looks in the direction of the children. Then, she Looked down at Jerrold.

Jerrold, sensing her gaze, offered her a piece of his grilled meat.

She gave him a tender smile. "I'm full, sweetheart. You have it."

Jerrold quietly acknowledged her response and continued eating.

Lilah's heart swelled with a mix of affection and sadness.

He was such a delightful child, and his quietness made him unique.

She harbored hopes for him to grow in his own special way.

“Is everyone ready? We're about to start our games!" the teacher called out, garnering everyone's attention. “We're kicking things off with some fun children's games. Please gather round, and I'll go over the rules."

The announcement had the children rushing over in excitement, all except for Jerrold, who chose to stay close to Lilah.

Lilah gently caressed Jerrold's hair. "Sweetheart, would you like to join the games?"

Jerrold responded with a small shake of his head.

To him, the games seemed too simplistic.

Yet, Lilah mistook his reluctance for social anxiety and tried to reassure him. “Honey, both your daddy and I will be right here, watching over you. You can always come back if you're uncomfortable.

Why not give it a try?"

Jerrold's decision to abstain from the activity fueled whispers among the crowd.

"Some say Mr. Harris' son has autism."

"I've heard he doesn't speak. It must be hard for Mr. Harris."

Though their words were hushed, the unspoken judgments were clear in their expressions.

Gerard turned to Jerrold. “If you participate, it would make Lilah really happy."

Jerrold's gaze met Lilah's. Her reassuring smile gave him a gentle push, and with a moment's hesitation, he approached the teacher.

Seeing his approach, the teacher offered him words of encouragement before diving into the game's rules. "Before you are twelve cards, all faced down with various patterns. Two of these cards are identical. The goal is to find matching cards flipped over by two different participants. We'll split you into four teams, and the first team to finish wins."