The Perfect Solution-A Suspense of Choices Read Online Free Page A

life's plan of success. Actually, success had begun when she had driven into Beaumont four months previously and had taken the Washington Avenue exit from the highway.
    Washington was the perfect street for a newcomer. There were plenty of convenient stores, gas stations, Laundromats, and fast food restaurants on either side of the street.
    The one thing Mona hated above being alone was having to scrounge strange cities for minor things and prayed to find a house somewhere on the perfect Washington Avenue. And BAM, just like that, she spied a house with a 'for rent' sign tacked to a tree in its front yard.
    Once she had contacted the owner and made arrangements to move in, it had only taken a few hours. From then on everything in her life had been perfect. Nothing would spoil this day for her.
    Looking at her watch, and patting the pockets of her jacket, she decides she has everything she needs and hurries out of the front door. Once outside she looks nervously at the houses surrounding hers. No one was outside. The nosey woman living in the house to the right hadn't come out to water her plants.
    "Stupid woman", Mona mumbled to herself. "Why does she only come out when I step out on the porch? And why water plants in the middle of the winter? And why is it every time I look over there she is waving and smiling like an idiot? Damn, there she is."
    Turning her head and pretending not to see the little wave the woman gave, Mona stepped quickly to the curb and slide into her car, she only had time for her son.

*****
    “ Brhin-Kristoffer Teddi”
    Three-year-old Brhin-Kristoffer Teddi sat on the edge of the tiny green cot that the daycare provided for napping. He yawned, stretched and tried to accustom his tired eyes to the harsh bright lights. When the lights were turned back on, whether they liked it or not, every child knew that naptime was over. A few of the toddlers hated being awakened and showed their feelings so well, no one would have a doubt. The heartbreaking crying and the gleeful screaming combined to make the noise in the room deafening.
    Looking around to see where the screaming was coming from, Brhin saw three little girls enthusiastically jumping up and down on their cots. While some of the other children were already moving about pulling out toys, a few toddlers were walking around the room aimlessly, thumb or finger in their mouths and tears on their cheeks. Many of the older children were painstakingly trying to straighten the too short sheets on their cots.
    Searching around for the teacher, Brhin finally spotted her standing with her back to the room and blindly missing the fact that parents were coming in and leaving out with their children. Not one of the parents acknowledged Ms. Franklin, the substitute teacher, as she stood facing the dressing table and changing a screaming toddler's wet clothing.
    "Hi Brhin, it’s kinda noisy in here, huh?" A soft female voice spoke behind him.
    "Hi. Yep the teacher is new." He answered.
    Brhin, who had climbed off his cot to fix its sheet, continued to do so without looking around. He knew Melody's mother by the odor of her perfume and didn’t feel the need to look up. Melody was his three year old girlfriend.
    "I like your haircut, Brhin." Melody's mother bent her knees to be at his eye level and fingered his curls.
    "T'ank you," He had a habit of occasionally dropping letters when speaking. "My mommy took me to the barber. I din't cry, but when they cut hers, she did." He giggled and turned around. "I think she was just play'n though. Did you know that Melody is in the bat'room?"
    "Yes, I know. I came to get her things."
    "Oh. Did you know that Melody likes my hair, too?"
    "I am sure that she does." She smiled at the dimpled grin that he gave her.
    "She's my girlfriend, ya know."
    "I know." She fingered his hair again. "How is your mother doing? Is she still sick? Do you want me to bring you home? I can go and call her."
    "Yep, she's still sick, but my Auntie Phae