Skyler could never have imagined that a man that old could have been so strong. He must have been like an hundred or something. But still, he saved him from that horrible flower!

He would never, ever like flowers again! Ever! It was not fair. So he screamed again. Now Mommy was here too. And he was certain she had seen. All of it. But did she actually see him touch the thing first.

Maybe, if she blinked just at the right second, she didn’t see when he might’ve been pushed against the stupid flower, then the dumb leaves grabbed hold… No, that won’t work. Tried that when he’d broken Mommy’s favorite picture. Brandon hadn’t gotten in trouble for that one. Crap.

Maybe, if she thought he was hurt, she would be too concerned about him to punish him. Right now, anyway. Okay, he decided. That’s what he was going with this time. Injury. So he wailed away.

When the old man finally let him go to help the crazy old lady with the mask on, Skyler ran to Mommy. And fell down on the ground.