When Emily picked up little Charlie from nursery, her husband James immediately noticed something was off. It was plain as day that his wife was in a strange, agitated state.
“Something happen, love?” James asked, his concern growing.
“Oh, James, something did.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him into another roomaway from their sons ears. “They might kick Charlie out of nursery.”
“What?” James’s face fell. “How can that be? We pay the fees on time!”
“I dont know if they can, but the manager told mein no uncertain termsthat if we dont get him under control, hell be out like a cork from a bottle.”
“She really said that?”
“Word for word. Quietly, just to me, but crystal clear. And she said the other parents are talking about writing a group complaintto social services!”
“Youre joking!” James stared at his wife, baffled. Their sweet, cheerful little boy couldnt possibly be causing trouble. “Why would they want to complain?”
“Because Charlie keeps hitting the other children.”
“Our Charlie?” James nearly laughed but caught himself. “Hes tinyhows he hurting anyone?”
“Apparently, hes walloping them left and right!”
“Even the girls?”
“I didnt ask!” Emily snapped, nerves frayed. “As soon as I heard, I just grabbed him and ran home. James, if they expel him, what do we do? Where will we send him? Id have to quit my jobor you would! How would we pay the mortgage? Im going mad just thinking about it!”
“Hold on, dont faint on me yet,” James said, thinking hard. “First, we need to figure out whats got into our boy.”
“I asked him on the way home, but he wouldnt say. Just clammed up and puffed his cheeks.”
“You asked. Now its my turn.”
James walked into the nursery, where Charlie was happily playing with his toy cars as if nothing was wrong.
“Right, Charlie, we need to have a serious talk,” James said firmly.
“Uh-huh,” Charlie muttered, not looking up. “Go on, Dad.”
“Stop playing first,” James said, even sterner.
“James, talk to him properly!” Emily scolded from behind.
“Yeah, Dad, talk properly,” Charlie echoed cheekily, still rolling his car.
“Tell me and Mumwhy are you hitting the other kids at nursery?”
Charlie froze, the toy car in his hand. He kept his eyes down, silent.
“Do you hit the girls too?”
“No,” Charlie mumbled. “No point hitting them.”
“So the boys deserve it?”
“Course they do.”
“And whys that?”
Charlie shot his dad a sulky look, then glanced at his mum.
“What if its a secret?”
The way he stared made James falterbut only for a second.
“Charlie, are you my son or not?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Then we dont keep secrets from each other.”
“From you, maybe,” Charlie muttered. “But Mum…”
“What?” Emily gasped. “You keep things from me?”
“Yeah.”
“Since when?”
“‘Cause theyre boy stuff.”
“Ah, *boy stuff*,” James said, winking at Emily. “Sorry, love, but if its proper bloke business, best leave us to it.”
“Fine,” Emily huffed, stomping out.
“And no eavesdropping!” James called after her. Then he leaned in conspiratorially. “Alright, mate, out with itwhy are you thumping those boys?”
Charlie sighed, turning away slightly before admitting quietly, “They keep hugging her.”
“Who?”
“The boys.”
“Who are they hugging?”
“Miss Thompson.”
James blinked. “Who?”
“Our nursery assistant. She pats their heads, and they cuddle up to her. Really tight.”
“And?”
“I dont like it.”
Jamess eyes gleamed with curiosity. “Why not?”
“‘Cause *I* should be the one hugging her.”
“Says who?”
“Dad…” Charlie gave him a pitiful look. “You only hug Mum, right? And me, cause Im your son. But other blokes dont!”
“Mums my wife,” James chuckled.
“Miss Thompsons gonna be *my* wife,” Charlie whispered. “When I grow up. Im gonna marry her…”
“Ohhh, I see.” James bit back a laugh. “So youve got a crush on her, eh?”
“Yeah…” Charlie nodded glumly.
“And youre jealous.”
“You get jealous of Mum too,” Charlie muttered defensively.
“Me?”
“Yeah. You and Mum argue about it all the time.”
“Oh, son…” James rubbed his forehead. “Guess youve got the family curse. My dad was the same, and his dad before him. Us blokes always suffer for it.”
“Suffer?” Charlie frowned.
“You think jealousys fun? But listenif you keep whacking those boys, youll get kicked out. Then youll *never* see Miss Thompson again.”
“Never?” Charlies voice wobbled.
“Course not. No nursery, no Miss Thompson.”
Charlie gulped.
“Look, mate, I get it. But you cant go round clocking kids. And usually, the lady gets to choose who she hugs.”
“But she doesnt choose! She hugs *everyone*!”
“Thats her job, Charlie. She *has* to hug all the kids. Understand?”
“Has to?”
“Yep. Doesnt she hug you?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, shes got to hug them too. If she stops, shell get sacked. Then youll *really* never see her.”
Charlies eyes widened.
“So… she *has* to?”
“Absolutely. Rules are rules.”
“…Really?”
“Scouts honour.”
Charlie sighed, then gave a small grin. “Alright. Fine. But… does she *have* to kiss them too?”
James coughed. “Eryes. All part of the job.”
“Blimey.” Charlie shook his head. “What a rubbish job. Maybe I wont marry her after all.”
From the next day, the nursery manager had no more complaints about Charlie.
