"Your favorite strawberry cake."
Child's Dad gently shook the cake box in his hand, decorated with cute little doodles.
He'd just gotten a call and gone to the door to pick it up.
"Come on."
Child's Dad winked at the mushroom-haired little girl.
"Have some cake first."
"We'll talk about everything else after you've finished."
Child's Dad set the cake box on the mushroom-haired little girl's desk.
The mushroom-haired little girl's gaze followed the cake unconsciously as it moved.
Child's Dad took the lid off the cake box.
Inside was a beautifully decorated cake.
The bright red strawberries looked plump and tempting.
Set against the cream, they looked especially delicious.
"Go ahead and have some cake."
Seeing the mushroom-haired little girl looking more and more "eager," Child's Mom smiled and gently nudged her shoulder.
Child's Dad put a slice of cake on a paper plate.
"Go ahead."
He stuck a spoon into the cake.
Then he pushed the plate toward the edge of the desk.
It was easier for the mushroom-haired little girl to reach that way.
As soon as the cake reached her mouth, a delighted expression quickly appeared on the mushroom-haired little girl's face.
Her eyes even began to sparkle.
Child's Mom and Child's Dad looked at each other.
Their faces, too, relaxed.
The mushroom-haired little girl had seemed so "down" earlier.
She hadn't acted like a little girl her age at all.
The mushroom-haired little girl happily eating cake now was the one they knew and hoped to see.
Child's Mom checked the time.
She didn't know if anyone would be at Lulu's house during the day...
It was worth a try.
If someone was there, they could arrange to meet after kindergarten today.
If not...
They'd have to