One day, I saw him surrounded by a group of kids.
They shouted, "A wild child abandoned by your mother."
Spencer silently endured it without crying or making a fuss. He was so quiet as if he didn't exist.
Overwhelmed with a sense of justice, I swung my school bag and charged into the crowd of kids.
Later, Spencer and I sat in the yard of my house, eating sandwiches.
As usual, he didn't say a word. I wanted to tease him.
"Spencer, if you always act like a boring person, you won't be able to find a wife when you grow up."
Spencer's ears turned red in an instant. He said, "You're so fierce. You can't get married."
I grinned at him and threatened him, saying, "If I can't get married, I'll marry you!"
Spencer continued to eat the sandwich in a daze. After a long time, he said, "When I grow up, I'll marry you!"
Before I could say anything, my grandpa burst into laughter. I laughed along with him.
Spencer looked up at us, his eyes shining.
The way he looked as innocent and helpless as a child had been ingrained in my mind for fourteen years. He had been on my mind from the first time we met until now.
Spencer said, "The airport is not the place to talk. Let's talk at home."