Andrew made it over in time to hear Serena introduce herself as she very seriously shook the hand of a very small child.
“I’m eight, how old are you?” she asked the girl. Before the girl—or, more likely, the man who was with her— could answer, Andrew stepped forward.
“Serena, we’ve talked about introducing yourself to people without me,” he said, trying to sound only a little disapproving and not angry.
“You were right over there, though,” Serena pouted. She still let go of the littler girl’s hand and backed up a step closer to her brother.
“Thank you,” Andrew said. He gave the adult man a rather awkward nod. “I apologize if she bothered you.” Most people with children in a park didn’t mind another child coming up to them, but some of the ones with younger kids were warier of strangers. Which Serena and Andrew were, as a matter of fact, which was why Andrew stayed a few paces away from Serena and her newest “friend.” As much as he’d rather put himself between her and a stranger, Andrew didn’t want the unknown man to feel his child was being threatened.
“I’m eight, how old are you?” she asked the girl. Before the girl—or, more likely, the man who was with her— could answer, Andrew stepped forward.
“Serena, we’ve talked about introducing yourself to people without me,” he said, trying to sound only a little disapproving and not angry.
“You were right over there, though,” Serena pouted. She still let go of the littler girl’s hand and backed up a step closer to her brother.
“Thank you,” Andrew said. He gave the adult man a rather awkward nod. “I apologize if she bothered you.” Most people with children in a park didn’t mind another child coming up to them, but some of the ones with younger kids were warier of strangers. Which Serena and Andrew were, as a matter of fact, which was why Andrew stayed a few paces away from Serena and her newest “friend.” As much as he’d rather put himself between her and a stranger, Andrew didn’t want the unknown man to feel his child was being threatened.
