“Alex Ruttingham?” the secretary called out, her eyes scanning the waiting room.
“You’re up, sweetie,” a tall woman with a stylish, short red haircut whispered to the boy beside her. He looked at her with imploring eyes: Mom, come with me. But she shook her head, gently reinforcing what had already been decided. “Remember what we talked about, honey. This is something all boys go through, without their moms. All your friends will do it, too.”
“But do I have to be first?”
His Mom brushed the honey-colored hair from her