<b>Chapter </b><b>350 </b>


    Frederick looked stiff as a board, a man who had never tasted the bitterness of


    embarrassment, but was now caught in a whirlwind of awkwardness, by a three–year old


    little girl.


    Teresa grinned at him and said something that plunged him further into difort, “Don’t worry, Hayes‘ daddy. I won’t spill the beans to Hayes.”


    With that, she sat back down, looking pleased as punch.


    Frederick’s meticulously groomed eyebrows knitted together, a clear sign of his difiture.


    “You misunderstood.”


    But Teresa wouldn’t take that for an answer. She turned away, her sparkling eyes full of stubborn determination, “I saw it from the window. I strained my eyes just to make sure!”


    Frederick was speechless.


    Chuck and Hayes shared a look, their curiosity piqued. What were these two going on about? They couldn’t make heads or tails of it.


    Chuck looked at them, puzzled, and voiced Hayes‘ confusion, “What did you see from the window?”


    In unison, Frederick and Teresa replied, “Nothing!”


    Chuck scratched his head, utterly baffled. “Huh? Howe Mr. Winston and Teresa are in sync?” Even their tones were identical! It was downright perplexing.


    Hearing this, Teresa gave Frederick a mischievous wink and a grin. Of course, they were in sync. He was her dad, after all!


    After a while, they finally saw Manley emerging from the school building. He was sucking on a lollipop, stopping every few steps to take a lick, a familiar trail of snot hanging from his nose.


    Once he got in the car, they headed for the Sapphire Valley Estates.


    The moment Manley saw Teresa, he thought of her Vine Whip Alliance and his eyes lit up with excitement. Once Frederick had carefully wiped Manley’s nose clean with a tissue, the boy couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, “I wanna join the Vine Whip Alliance! If you let me, I’ll let you y with my toys!”


    Teresa was not the least bit interested. Manley was a slob! But he was also Frederick’s son, and she didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his dad.


    So, to sidestep the issue, she smoothly changed the subject, “Let’s all y together! I want to be the leader!”


    <b>11-57</b>.


    Manley cast a disdainful nce at Hayes. Why should he have to y with a dumb kid like Hayes? But if he yed along, maybe Teresa would let him join the Vine Whip Alliance?


    Reluctantly, he agreed, “Fine, I’ll be second inmand. Hayes can be the servant, fetching us drinks and snacks!”


    Hayes‘ face fell. It was always like this. In the world of children, he was always at the bottom of the pecking order.


    Teresa, sharp as a tack, noticed Hayes‘ dejection. She wasn’t happy about it either, “No way! Hayes can’t be the servant!”


    “Well, what do you want him to be then?”


    Teresa thought for a moment, her chin resting on her palm, “I want him to be my big brother!”


    Manley was adamant, “No way! If he’s your big brother, then he’ll be the leader!”


    Teresa took Hayes‘ hand, offering him her full support, “I’m fine with him being the leader!” “But I’m not!” Manley’s voice rose in protest.


    “Then you can’t join our Vine Whip Alliance!”


    Infuriated, Manley retorted, “Then I won’t share my toys with you!!”


    The atmosphere was charged, a fight imminent.


    Manley looked ready to start a brawl, even raising his arm to strike Teresa.


    Frederick caught Manley’s pudgy arm in a vice–like grip, his voice harsh and stern, “Who taught you to resort to violence when you can’t win an argument?”