Chapter Text
“Mamá, wake up! It’s my first day of school! I can’t be late!” James said excitedly, pulling off the covers of his parents’ bed.
“What time is it, mi tesorito?” Euphemia muttered with her eyes still closed.
James looked around for a clock and found one on the nightstand, “Um… 5:38.”
“Go back to bed, baby. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to get ready. You won’t be late, I promise,” Euphemia said patiently.
“Okay, mamá.”
Later that morning, Euphemia found James playing with his toys in his room, already dressed in his school uniform. His buttons were misaligned and his shoes were on backwards and untied. She smiled softly from the doorway.
“Good morning, baby.”
“Morning mamá,” James turned and smiled brightly at her.
“Someone’s excited for their first day of school. I’m so proud of you, getting dressed all by yourself. Can I help you with your buttons?” James nodded and stood up so Euphemia could crouch down and adjust his shirt. “There you go, now, can you switch your shoes and I can help you tie them?” James toed off his shoes and switched them and Euphemia tied the laces for him.
“Thanks, mamá.”
Euphemia smiled and cupped his little face in her palms, “Of course, baby. That’s what I’m here for. Now, let’s go have breakfast, yeah? Papa is making waffles, maybe if you go now, you can ask him to add chocolate chips. A special breakfast for our special boy on his first day.”
~~~
“Do I have to go?” Peter grumbled, pouting as his mom brushed his hair.
“Don’t be like that Peter, you’re going to have so much fun,” Linnea tutted gently and patted Peter’s back, “Now, go brush your teeth, you don’t want to be late.”
“Okay,” Peter relented and went to brush his teeth.
Peter packed his lunch and a sweater into his navy blue backpack before dragging his feet to the car. On the drive to his new school, Peter stared out the window while his mom told him all the great things about kindergarten. Linnea dropped him off with a kiss on his head, “Be good, try to make some friends.”
“Bye, mom,” Peter turned and shuffled towards the classroom, adjusting his too-big backpack on his shoulders.
He was greeted by his teacher, a cheery woman with gray curls and a round face who introduced herself as Ms. Sprout. “And what’s your name, honeybun?”
“Peter,” he replied softly, “Peter Pettigrew.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Peter. I’m sure we’re going to have lots of fun this year. Let’s go join the other kids on the rug, okay?”
Peter sat on the rainbow-colored rug next to a boy with messy black curls. The boy turned toward him and beamed, “Hi, I’m James. What’s your name?”
“Peter,” he replied simply, unsure of how he felt about the other boy’s enthusiasm.
“I like you,” James declared, “We’re going to be best friends forever.”
Well, that was easier than Peter thought it would be. Peter offered a small smile, “Okay.”