Lilah gently dabbed the sweat from Jerrold's forehead, and together they took a seat next to Gerard, their attention captivated by the enticing aroma of food cooking on the barbecue. The savory scent had their mouths watering.

Suddenly, a petite figure emerged from the shadows, reaching out to clasp Jerrold's hand. "Jerrold," Holly began, her eyes hopeful.

“Would you like to join us? We have seafood over by our grill."

Without uttering a word, Jerrold delicately pulled his hand away, declining Holly's invitation through his silent gesture.

Holly's expression dimmed with disappointment, and she retreated to her group, where Holden and the rest quickly encircled her in comfort.

Lilah mused at the distinct social circles that seemingly formed even among kindergarteners. Yet, she couldn't help but be concerned about Jerrold's apparent isolation, recognizing its potential impact on his emotional and social well-being. Tenderly running her fingers through Jerrold's silky hair, she inquired, “Sweetheart, are there any classmates you're fond of?"

Jerrold simply shook his head in response.

“Why not?"

After a brief pause, he leaned in and murmured, "They all seem... not very smart."

Lilah, opting for discretion, chose not to delve further into the topic. The last thing she wanted was to become fodder for parent gossip.

As Gerard skillfully grilled the meat, Lilah prepared a wrap with lettuce and offered it to Jerrold. Watching him nibble on it contentedly, she began assembling her own meal. The evening ambiance was serene, the breeze gentle and invigorating. Out of the blue, Gerard's fingers brushed a stray strand of Lilah's hair behind her ear, their touch lingering momentarily.

Caught off guard, Lilah met his deep eyes, only to quickly avert her own. A rush of feelings threatened to overwhelm her, but she firmly reminded herself of boundaries.

In the midst of these reflections, Jerrold's whimper broke her trance.

He clutched his belly, his face contorted in discomfort. Alarm bells rang in Lilah's head as she anxiously inquired, “What's the matter?

Does your stomach hurt?"

Gerard's countenance grew grave. Without hesitation, he summoned the on-call doctor.

Given that the group hailed from the elite circles of Eleywood, precautions like having a dedicated doctor on standby were taken to ensure the well-being of everyone during outings.

"It's likely something he ingested that didn't sit well with him, leading to diarrhea. We should get him to the restroom," advised the doctor after a cursory check.

Jerrold hurriedly made his way to the restroom and was inside for an extended period.

The doctor couldn't identify a specific trigger for the upset stomach.

“Why's Jerrold taking so long?"

Maggie, her face etched with concern, approached. She jostled Lilah's shoulder, but Lilah brushed her off. Unexpectedly, an item slipped from Lilah's pocket, drawing Maggie's startled gaze. Her expression turned accusatory. "“Lilah! Did you do this? He's just a child; how could you be so cruel!"

Lilah, puzzled, asked, "What are you talking about?"

The doctor, using gloved hands, retrieved the fallen object and remarked, “This can induce diarrhea."