Soos was getting in line with the other kids for their weekly fluoride treatment when the PA system crackled to life.

"Will Jesús Ramirez come to the office, please. Jesús Ramirez to the office," Principal Yi droned. She didn't sound too interested but Soos was glad that she always took the time to pronounce his name right. He decided to grab the bouncy ball from his bag before heading out.

"Ohhh, Soos did something bad," Amira stage-whispered, sending the class into giggles. Soos turned to smile at the rest of the class and waved as he headed out the door.

His Abuelita was sitting in the office, her daisy-print dress clashing with the muted decor.

"Hello, Abuela!" Soos greeted cheerfully. Then very seriously he held up one finger, "Wait a second."

He walked over to the secretary's desk and stood on his tiptoes. He dropped the red rubber ball and watched it roll toward her.

"For Principal Yi. She needs it more than I do."

"Thank you, Soos," the secretary smiled, catching the ball before it rolled over the edge of the counter and standing up to hand it off to the principal.

"Let us go, Soos."

"Do I really get the whole day off, Abuela?" To say that Soos's eyes were the size of the moon would be a gross exaggeration. They were much bigger.

Alba nodded, a tiny smile gracing her lips.

"Oh boy! I get to go to my favorite restaurant and I don't have to go back to class!" He grinned, swinging his legs. His sneakers smacked into the wood paneling under the booth seats and he looked down, admiring the disco light show his sneakers were putting on. One Hello Kitty sneaker for his right foot and Spider-man for his left. He'd gotten two pairs of shoes as early birthday gifts and he hadn't been able to decide which to start wearing. Both seemed like the best idea to him.

"Why don't you go play for a bit? I think it will take awhile for our orders to come." It was a Thursday and the place was deserted. It was okay if the pizza was lukewarm by the time Soos remembered he was hungry. He'd still love it. And she'd end up ordering more later anyway. Soos jumped out of his seat and ran off into the glittering maze of Hoo-Ha's Game Zone.

It did not pass Alba's seasoned abuelita-sense that Soos did not ask what day it was this year.

Alba discovered a postcard in the mailbox. She was glad Soos had already gone in the house but was prepared to hide the card in a coupon magazine at the slightest sign of movement. Unable to quell her curiosity, she found herself reading it.

This time of year always leaves me thinking of our loss. Your daughter was a beautiful woman and I'm happy we got the chance to know her for as long as we did.

"Then why don't you come here and love the child she left behind?" Alba huffed, ripping the Golden Gate Bridge in half. She tossed the postcard in the trash as she walked through the door.

"Soos, I'm gonna make some dinosaur cookies!"