The Return by Jennifer Torres

Chapter 1
Back to the Beginning
    It was a normal day.
    The sun was big and bright within a blue sky that was filled with puffy white clouds.
    Laughter filled the air as children amused themselves outside the small nursery school. A young girl giggled with delight as the ball she threw bopped a little boy right on his head. Another squealed with joy as his tiny plastic car sailed down a long toy ramp.
    As the young teacher kept careful watch over her students, she could see the playground alive with activity—every swing taken and a sandbox full of happy faces.
    Ms. Wolpert loved her job at the school. She had gotten it right out of college and considered herself blessed to have a career around children. She loved each and every one of them—and they loved her right back.
    â€œHere, Ms. Wolpert, I made this for you,” said a little girl with big eyes and blonde pigtails.
    The teacher took the work of art and carefully studied the picture of a tall woman with dark hair, long eyelashes, and red lips which she could see must be her. Holding her hand was a little girl with golden pigtails—and the word
love
written in big crayon letters above.
    â€œOh, Polly, this is a masterpiece,” she cooed as she ran her hand atop Polly’s head. “I absolutely love it.”
    Polly grinned widely and stood up on her tippy toes to whisper in her teacher’s ear.
    â€œYou can take it home with you if you want to.”
    â€œI do, Polly, I really do! Thank you!”
    She knew she wasn’t supposed to have favorites—and she didn’t. But she hoped that one day she would have a little girl just like Polly.
    With her mission accomplished, Polly ran back to join the other kids.
    â€œAnother love note?” said Ms. Horne with a smile. “You have become quite popular in your first year here.”
    Ms. Horne, who had been at the school for nearly ten years, was a trusted mentor to the young teacher and also a dear friend.
    â€œI’m going to run inside and try to grade a few papers. Think you can handle things out here on your own?” she asked.
    â€œOf course, you go ahead,” Ms. Wolpert replied.
    â€œThank you so much, and listen, do me a favor, keep an eye on Matthew. He still seems a bit shy around the other kids, and I worry that he’s spending too much time alone.”
    â€œYes, I noticed that, too. I’ll check on him now,” said Ms. Wolpert as her eyes scouted the playground for little Matthew.
    Just then, a shadow passed over the school, darkening the yard for a moment. She looked up to see if the beautiful sunny day was about to turn to rain, but there wasn’t a cloud in sight.
    How strange, she thought. Maybe it was a plane. But it would have to be a large plane—a large, fast plane.
    Within minutes she had spotted Matthew. He was under the picnic table by himself.
    â€œHey, Matt,” she called lightly as she reached for his hand. “Want to play on the swings?”
    He eagerly took the pretty teacher’s hand and came out from his hiding spot, putting both arms around her in a big hug.
    â€œOh, sweet little one, why are you all by yourself?” she asked, knowing he probably couldn’t tell her as he was barely two years old.
    She carried him over to a swing, gently placed him down, and began to push him from behind. Matthew felt safe, and then she began to sing, softly and sweetly, and he felt happy.
    â€œGirls and boys, come out to play,
The moon doth shine as bright as day;
Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
And come with your playfellows into the street.
Come with a whoop, come with a call,
Come with a good will or not at all.
Up the ladder and down the wall,
A halfpenny roll will serve us all.
You find milk, and I’ll find flour,
And we’ll have a pudding in half an hour.”
    After a while, Ms. Wolpert put him down and led him over to a small group of boys.
    â€œNow you go have fun,” she