Not Caleb, But Josh??

Last week, being spring break, the neighborhood kids were out and about. A boy in Caleb's class hung out around our house off and on. On a few occasions, I noticed a girl walking around the block with him.

One afternoon T (as I'll refer to him) showed up on our porch asking if Caleb wanted to come down to his house. Josh was bored and asked if he could go too. "I don't care. Just be back by 5 o'clock so we can eat"

Caleb was back in less than 15 minutes... which I thought was weird, but whatever... Josh called from T's house wanting to talk to Caleb. I could only hear Caleb's part of the conversation, "...Cuz I don't want too." Caleb kept insisting.

Curious as to what was going on I questioned Caleb. "What did Josh want?"

"He wanted me to go back down to T's, but I don't want to"

Caleb... not wanting to be social.... not wanting to hang out with friends... very odd, "Why?"

Caleb shrugged his shoulders and continued to watch Tv. My brain started churning so I continued to question Caleb... I was thinking maybe the girl with T was the reason for Caleb's strange behavior... "Who is the girl with T?"

Trying to focus on his Tv show, hoping I would go away, "Emily F"

Gasp! That's the Bra Strap Girl... She's back. Now I am really full of questions...
*note* {if you read the Bra Strap story, I mention another girl named Emily- that is Emily C. I didn't mention Bra Strap girl's name in this story}

Now I pick up the pace of my questions, "Is she why you don't want to go over to T's? Does she ride on your bus? Is she in your class? Do you like her? Does she like you?

Caleb had only been nodding or shaking his head to my interrogation- that is- up until my last question, "Does she like you?" When I asked that question, Caleb snapped his head in my direction, half a smile creeping across his face, "No. T says she likes Josh."

JOSH!???... She's a foot taller than Josh. (she's a foot taller than Caleb too so I don't know why that thought suddenly popped in my head)...

Stunned at Caleb's response, my interrogation paused so I could let this new information sink in. But I quickly gathered my wits and began a new line of questioning, "How do you know she likes Josh? Does Josh know she likes him? Does Josh like her?" Still stunned and in a tiny panic I order Caleb, "Go back down to T's and find out what is going on."

Caleb didn't really have any answers to my questions. The shock was starting to wear off and Caleb and I had a better conversation.... Josh is small for his age and very shy. He is NOT a social person and sometimes doesn't handle new situations very well... Caleb understood my concerns... as he, himself, has been concerned for Josh, afraid some older kid is going to stick him into a locker someday... Caleb agreed to keep his eyes and ears open for anything concerning Josh.

A few minutes later Josh, T and Bra Strap came back down to the house. Caleb joined them on the porch and I tired not to be nosey. They played ball tag in the yard mud til about dark. Then Josh and Caleb came in and T and Emily went on their merry way.

Josh took his shower, then played Ps2 the rest of the evening. I went in his room a few times to watch hm play, eyeing his facial expressions very close. He can be an easy read but I didn't see anything odd so I didn't ask him any questions. I didn't want to question him about the girl and put ideas in his head, only to have her break his heart.... not that she would, I will just have to keep my eye on things and see whats what...