Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 379

The ink on the notebook blurred into a dark stain.

He quickly closed it and handed it back to Fanny, worried he’d smudge the writing even more. “Sorry…”

Fanny tucked the notebook back into the box, giving a wry smile. “Don’t worry, dear. Over the years, I’ve thumbed through those pages so many times, it’s a wonder the cover hasn’t fallen apart. I can’t even count how many tears I’ve spilled onto it myself.”

Theodore was still holding the small stone, turning it over in his palm and studying it closely.

He remembered how rough and jagged it once was. Now, though, the stone had become smooth and round—polished by time and countless thumbprints. Who knew how many hands had turned it over and over, lost in thought?

“Do you remember this little stone?” Fanny asked gently.

Theodore nodded. “Yeah… it was from high school. One of our classmates carved it on a field trip. We found it by the river, someone etched a pattern on it, drilled a hole, and strung it into a necklace. After that, I lost track of where it went… Turns out Bart kept it all along.”

Fanny nodded, her voice soft. “He treasured it.” After a pause, she added, “Since it belonged to your class, you should have it.”

Theodore’s eyes widened. “Really? Are you sure I can take it?”

“Of course.” Fanny nodded again, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “We’d like to think there’s someone else in this world who remembers him—someone besides just the two of us old folks.”

“Thank you…” Theodore’s hand trembled as he clutched the stone.

“Fanny.” A woman’s voice called from the hallway.

It was a voice Theodore knew better than his own.

Emma had arrived.

He instinctively tightened his grip around the moonstone.

Carney and Fanny vaguely remembered a girl named Emma from the old class photos, but the memory wasn’t as vivid as Theodore’s. The boys always stuck together, playing basketball and roughhousing in the schoolyard.

“Oh, you’re all here! I’m so sorry for troubling you,” Emma said as she stepped inside. Carney and Fanny hurried to greet her.

Emma had brought some groceries—fruit juice, multivitamins, a box of cookies—and set them on the table before taking a seat next to Fanny.

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