A Conversation with Ender

Mrs. Thompson called Ender over to their table, and he walked over with a curious expression on his face. "Ender, sweetie, can you sit down with us for a minute?" Mrs. Thompson asked, and Ender nodded, taking a seat next to Ashley. Ashley took a deep breath and tried to think of the right words to say. She didn't want to scold Ender or make him feel like he had done something wrong, but she did want to help him understand why it was important to be careful about what he shared with his friends. "Ender, Mommy and I wanted to talk to you about something you said in class yesterday," Ashley began, trying to sound calm and gentle. "You told your friends that you don't have a dad, and that Mommy is often sick." Ender looked down at his feet, and Ashley could tell that he was feeling a little self-conscious. "I was just telling them about us," he said quietly. Ashley reached out and gently lifted Ender's chin, making him look at her. "I know you were, sweetie, and that's okay. But sometimes, when we share things about our family with others, they might not understand, and that can make us feel sad or uncomfortable." Ender looked up at her with big, curious eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked. Mrs. Thompson chimed in, "Well, Ender, sometimes people don't understand families that are a little different, and they might ask questions or make comments that can hurt our feelings. But that's okay, because we can always talk about it and figure out ways to handle it." Ashley nodded in agreement. "That's right, Ender. And we want you to know that it's okay to have questions and to talk about your family. But we also want you to be careful about who you share things with, and to make sure that you're feeling comfortable and safe." Ender nodded, looking thoughtful. "I'll try, Mommy," he said, looking up at Ashley with a determined expression. Ashley smiled and hugged him. "I know you will, sweetie. And I'm proud of you for being so brave and honest. Let's work together to find ways to handle these kinds of conversations, okay?" Ender nodded, and Mrs. Thompson smiled. "I think that's a great idea, Ashley. And Ender, I think you're doing a great job of being yourself and sharing your thoughts and feelings. Keep being you, okay?" Ender grinned, looking relieved, and Ashley felt a sense of gratitude towards Mrs. Thompson for her help and support. She knew that she wasn't alone in this, and that with Mrs. Thompson's guidance, she could help Ender navigate these difficult conversations.