'' I mean, he is not backstage; we can't find him anywhere, ''repeats his teacher. Realizing this is terrible timing, considering it's almost curtain call. Backstage and he goes on first along with Santa,'' I'll help you find him, ''says Liam.
''I'll go with you, ''says Hazel standing up, wanting to help search for Thomas'' would you mind staying here? That way, my parents and sister know what's going ''says Liam.
''Sure, no problem let me know when you find him, ''says Hazel.
''I will ''says Liam standing up and following his son's teacher, with a sense, of panic but has a sense of relief knowing. He couldn't have gone that far and has to be somewhere in the school if he didn't leave the school? Now the fear and anxiety are starting to kick in, big time, and Thomas was taught & knows better not to take off without telling anyone. As he is thinking of his boy alone somewhere, probably scared to death.
When all alone in an empty classroom is Tom thinking to himself, he wishes that his mom was alive to make things better, and his dad tries, however. It's completely different from when his mom comforted him, making all of his pain & troubles go away. His shining star and self of confidence were stripped away from him last year in one swoop.
When Liam is walking down one of the hallways, he spots his parents. As Avery walks towards him,'' hey bubba is everything okay?'' asks Avery.
''We saw Hazel, and she informed us on what's going on ''says Jeremy, completely confused on where on earth his grandson has wandered off to.''I don't know one minute he is, backstage and now. My little boy is missing, and I have no idea where Tom is ''says Liam. Wondering what even happened, he was okay not that long ago. Although last night Tom did ask him to go over his lines with him? Then asked if he could sleep with him? Maybe that has something to do with this?
''Let's all stay calm & not all panic & take a deep breath, we will find him ''tells Avery trying to keep her son calm, not to mention herself included.''Keep calm; how am I supposed to keep calm. My pride & joy is nowhere to be found, ''says Liam. Walking away, not understanding how his mom can think, he can stay so calm. With what's going on at the minute, I mean, what would his mom do in this situation if he suddenly went MIA.''Liam''says Avery following him as he puts his hand in front of her.
''I need to find Tom''says Liam walking away in the opposite direction, expecting his momma to understand where he is coming from? Although maybe what he thinks, compared to how things seem, are completely different, after all. It's an entirely different century compared to 1982 when he was Tom's age. Plus, he wants to prove Mayor Blake Moore wrong that his son is speaking and performing as Head Elf. Well, at least that's what Liam thinks is going to happen, not knowing what will be in store shortly when the curtain is ready to come up. It will draw the spotlight back on the Brown family once again without any of them even knowing it. When living in a small town such as Peppermint, gossip spreads fast when something happens. By the next day, the whole town knows nothing is private or unknown here.
Liam continues to search high and low, checking every classroom tries the last door on the right before giving up. Which is surprisingly unlocked and enters the room to find two little elf feet underneath a teacher's desk. Feeling at peace now that Thomas is safe and sound. He crouches down to see his little boy with his legs crouched up and his head in his lap as he looks up to see his daddy.''There you are, you scared me, buddy. Why did you run off and hide?'' asks Liam wondering why his little buddy ran off that is unlike him
''Without mommy here, I don't know. all of a sudden, I got petrified; I don't know if I can go out there and face all of those people, daddy ''says Thomas with a nervous tone in the back of his voice.''Bud, she is always right here, as he points to his chest, in your heart, ''says Liam trying to comfort his little buddy and to remind him that Zoey is always with him every day. Yes, he might not be able to relate in the same way with Avery being alive. However, he lost the love of his life.
''I know, but it's not the same everyone else's mommy's is here ''says Thomas as everything he is hearing is not making it at ease.''I know, bud, but just because she isn't here like you and I are doesn't mean that she isn't with us, ''says Liam
''I might be able to help, ''says Hazel approaching them as she overheard their conversation while seeing if Liam had found Thomas or not. ''How?'' asks Thomas curiously, not knowing that she has dealt with and experienced growing up, not having her mom there for school events or memorial moments.''Well, I also lost my mom as a child, ''states Hazel revealing this only twice since the incident happened.''You did?'' asks Thomas wondering what happened, and wonders if she can help him get through what he is feeling right now?
She then nods her head,'' yes, so I get where you are coming from; I was twelve when my mom died. There were so many big moments that she missed out on ''tells Hazel. Feeling comfortable enough with both Liam & Thomas to tell them both about her mom. Almost as there is an inner connection between the three of them with losing someone dear to all three of them.''How did you deal with it?'' asks Thomas curiously, wondering trying to get some perspective on this coming from someone. Who has been in the same scenario as he has?
''I turned to my big brother whenever I was sad or missed my mom because he was the only one who truly understood what I was going through. Can you think of someone who can be there for you and understand what you are going through?'' asks Hazel, already assuming what Tom's answer will be. However, she wants to hear it from Thomas first?