Room for More by Beth Ehemann Page A

they needed fifty #2 pencils—each.
    “Welcome to school supply shopping.” Kacie giggled as she walked over and grabbed a cart.
    I looked down at the cart and back at her. “I don’t think that’s going to be big enough.”
    She grinned and shook her head. “Oh boy. You’re in for a rude awakening. Girls, come on!” Lucy and Piper returned the tiny stuffed animals they were playing with to their bin and bounced over to us.
    “They’re six. Why on Earth do they need one hundred pencils?” I mumbled to myself as I followed along behind Kacie. “I’m twenty-seven. I don’t think I’ve used one hundred pencils in my entire life.”
    By the time we were on the second half of the list, I was having more fun than the girls, throwing everything not nailed down into the cart.
    “Brody, we need regular crayons, not glitter ones.” Lucy frowned as she peeked over the edge of the cart.
    “Oh, did I grab glitter?” I grabbed six of the biggest packages of regular crayons they had and tossed them in the cart. Lucy reached in to grab the glitter ones and put them back, but I stopped her. “No. We’ll get those too.” I winked.
    Kacie came back from the bathroom with Piper and her eyes got wide once she saw the cart. “Whoa!”
    “I know. We’re having fun.” I laughed.
    Kacie tugged on my shirt, pulling me away from the girls. “Brody, listen. I appreciate all the fun you’re having with them, but I’m on a budget. I can’t afford all this.”
    “You don’t have to. I can buy my girls school supplies.”
    “I can’t let you do that.”
    “Kacie, have I ever told you what to do with your money?”
    She bit her lip and shook her head.
    “Then don’t insult me by telling me what to do with mine.” I reached over and kissed the end of her nose. “I’m having a blast. Let me do this.”
    Before she had a chance to argue, I turned back to Lucy and Piper. “All right, Twinkies. Where were we?”
    We walked around Target until the cart was completely filled with school supplies, new backpacks, and glitter princess heels. They obviously weren’t on the school list, but Lucy’s and Piper’s eyes sparkled when they saw them. That was all I needed to see.
    “Your total is $312.41,” said the cashier.
    I heard Kacie gasp quietly, but I didn’t bother to look at her as I took my credit card out and swiped it. We started toward the exit when a couple of boys nervously walked up to us.
    They looked to be about ten years old and nervous as hell. One of them opened his mouth to talk but shut it before anything came out. The other one nudged him and he started again. “Uh, are you… Brody Murphy?”
    I took a step away from Kacie and the girls and put my hands on my knees so I was closer to the boys’ level. “I am. What’s your name?”
    “Uh, Cole.”
    “And you?” I glanced down at his friend, but he didn’t say anything. His red hair fell in his face as he stared at me, blinking rapidly behind his black-rimmed glasses.
    Cole nudged him. “That’s Dylan. Um, can we have your autograph?”
    “Of course. What would you like me to sign?”
    “Here, take this.” A woman, who I assumed was the mother of one or both of them, walked up and handed me a piece of paper and a pen.
    “Thanks.” I took the paper and ripped it in half neatly. “Cole you said?” The kid nodded eagerly.
     

     
    He grasped the paper in his hand, holding it close to his face as he stared down at it excitedly.
    “My man, Dylan.” I turned toward the other boy. “If you want me to give you an autograph, you’re going to have to say hi.”
    His eyes were as wide as saucers as he took a deep breath. “Hi,” he said in a barely audible voice.
    I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Good enough.”
     

     
    “Do you have time for a quick picture?” their mom asked.
    “Absolutely,” I said.
    Both boys turned to face her and I stood in the middle, squatting slightly. “Smile, Dylan,” I said as she clicked the