She looked away. "It's not just that. It's Donnie, too. Donald talked about some sort of joint custody when he brought him up to meet me. I'm not sure I can be a mother so soon, even if it's only part time. I'm an only brat-child. I haven't even had any sibling practice. Donnie's got a bundle of problems and I know I'll love him, but it scares me to think of the responsibility." She sighed. "But worse, I know if we don't get involved with the boy, that bitch will screw him up for good." She turned and looked at Dean. "Having a child nowadays is tough enough but jumping in in the middle of the game is bewildering. How would you like to become an instant father? Scary prospect, isn't it?"
Dean nodded. "He's a nice little boy, a bit immature, but very intelligent." Dean glanced up the street to see Donnie and Martha coming toward them, hand in hand.
Franny smiled and left the porch and to meet them. Dean couldn't hear what she said, but the boy gave her a hug and gestured to Martha who had hurried ahead to where Dean remained standing on the porch.
"Who's your girlfriend?" Franny asked Donnie as the two joined Dean and Martha.
Donnie blushed and Martha pretended she didn't hear so it was up to Dean to introduce her. "This is Martha Boyd. She's our friend." Dean gave the girl a hug as she shyly took Franny's outstretched hand. Martha, although half her age, was taller by two inches than the elfin Franny.
"Pleased to meet any friend of Donnie's and Bird Song." She turned to Donnie. "Where's your old man?" she asked. He motioned with a turn of his head back toward the ice park. "Come on. Let's wait in his room. Surprise him." She winked at Dean.
"Let's you and me get an ice cream," Dean said to Martha as the others entered Bird Song. The young girl hesitated but he took her hand and didn't give her time to decline.
Dean continued to hold Martha's hand as they walked uptown and found a place open on Seventh Avenue, a couple of blocks from Bird Song. On the way, Dean chatted about inconsequential things but pointedly asked about school.
"It's okay, I guess. There're some jerks."
"You'll never run out of dopes and ninnies," Dean answered.
"I do pretty good at most stuff and the teacher is nice enough but Janet doesn't like her."
"Janet doesn't have to go to school. You do. Besides, you don't have to like a teacher. Then he added, "But it does help if she likes you."