Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Miss Sheila? Is that really you?"

Sheila turned, catching Henry's gaze.

For a moment, Henry forgot all about looking for his mother. Beaming, he scurried over to Sheila's side.

Sheila's brows knit together, her voice soft and apologetic. "Henry, last night over dinner, you mentioned not liking the school lunches. I wanted to make you something myself to take today, but... I think I messed up."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the acrid smell of burning filled the air then flames leapt up from the pan on the stove.

With a frightened gasp, Sheila dropped to the floor, curling into a tight ball.

Henry, alarmed, wrapped his arms around her and shouted, "Dad! There's a fire in the kitchen! Dad!"

As he tried to soothe her, he gently patted Sheila's back. "Miss Sheila, it's okay. Don't be scared."

Timothy hurried in, drawn by the commotion. Without missing a beat, he turned off the gas and clamped the lid onto the flaming pan. The fire sputtered out almost immediately.

But Sheila was still trembling, unable to move.

Concern shadowed Timothy's usually composed features.

He knelt down beside her and called, more gently this time, "Sheila."

her head, her

am I really

flashed across Timothy's mind-a fire,

had been terrified of

fault. You shouldn't come into the kitchen

went through a fire once. She's afraid of it. You're not to ask her to cook for you,

shook her head, her voice urgent. "Timothy, it's not Henry's

up at Sheila, his heart aching. "Miss Sheila, you're so afraid of fire, but you

want you eating

eyes filled with tears as he hugged her tightly, his voice trembling. "Miss Sheila, you're too good to me. Please

Sheila to her feet, but her legs buckled. Without hesitation, he scooped

backpack. We're eating

up leaves. When she saw Timothy

yesterday, Sheila had insisted she was simply Timothy's sister-in-law. Now, she didn't seem

What would people think?

out, it would break her

come open the car door," Timothy

opening the

"Mrs. Carter isn't home.