Only Way Out

Chapter 32 Maple Tree

"I don't really know much about my childhood. I know I was from Hawaii and I remember living there for a while but then I remember moving all the way to Michigan when I was 8. It was a big change considering I've never seen snow before. It was beautiful but cold. My dad didn't have anything really packed. In fact we never really had much at all. We were always on the road or streets I guess. Until we moved to Michigan that is. Everything was just kinda well normal I guess until we moved here and I met you all but that's a different story. Everything was pretty good then high school hit...my dad got really depressed for some reason and he just disappeared. He left me a note though. I've never really read it to be honest. I've been to afraid to..." maple says
"Should we read it now?" Donovan
"If you're ready that is" chug says.
Maple sighs then says "You know what...I think I am..." she then reads the letter out loud.

Dear my baby maple leaf,
This is gonna be a hard read for you but you need to read this. I found you in a trash can when you were only 3 months old and barley even holding your head up. I pretty much lived in and out of jail. I did some pretty bad shit. I robed stores, broke into peoples houses, took illegal drugs, didn't pay rent, and more than that. I guess it wasn't to bad but you know. You're a smart girl you can figure it out. As you know we've lived on and off of the streets and in motels that we're cheep. I gotta say though baby doll when I met you my whole life changed. I went from a no good Texas street rat to a changed papa in Hawaii. Well sorta changed. I used to feed you those little creamer things you'd get at a motel. I didn't know what babies ate. I didn't know really anything about babies but I learned quickly. I had to for you my little leaf. I used a hanker chief for a diaper for you for a while. God you stunk. You were a loader. I had to steal from a bunch of stores to get whatever you wanted. I didn't want to put you in a foster care or an adoption center because I didn't wanna loose you. You're parents didn't want you obviously but I did. Hey...you remember pookie? I know you do because you take him everywhere. Well pookie was stolen from a jackass entitled jerk's basket in a small Walmart shopping mall. The woman had a brat that was throwing things at everyone screaming about wanting a chocolate bar and the mom was just yelling at people who were trying to either shut the kid up or yell at the mom for having a kid that yelled. So I went to her basked and took pookie from the upper basket. It was probably that brat's favorite toy but now it was yours. You loved that thing. Probably as much as I love you. Except I love you more than that I hope. I'm sorry I had to leave you. I wasn't myself anymore. You're my grown up baby now and I knew you could take care of yourself. When you were 8 we moved to Michigan and you know this of course. Well you wanna know where I got that money to move all the way there? Well it was between selling drugs and working for this Irish mafia boss. I remember you used to play with one of the worker's sons. A little purple haired boy kinda like you except Irish I think. Doesn't matter though but I got the money. Well we moved to Michigan and my job wasn't pretty. I was hired as gun tester in that group. And by that I had to put on bullet proof outfits and see how powerful these guns were. Nearly killed me. I hope you don't have to get into that. I hope you find someone you love and make a family out of them. You're my smart girl I know you will. Just promise me you won't do what I do. Be a good girl. I'm leaving you because the mafia was fed up. I tried my best to give you the best life now you go give yourself and your new family one. And if you ever get a boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever tell them to take care of my baby maple leaf.

Love, papa tree.

Maple starts crying a bit. Everyone sorta does. We all hug her then let go once she calms down. Donavan seemed to hold her a bit longer than the rest of us. I guess he knew how she felt in a way.

"This is one of the last things I ever got from him. I have pookie, a photo, and this letter. Our house got burnt down when I went to work. I know what living on the streets is like. That's why I try to make the best of what I have now. And taking care of you guys of course. Oh uh donavan?" Maple says
"Yeah?" Donavan asks
"I think you were that boy in the letter....do you remember this thing?" Maple says then gets out a shoe string from her bag and wraps it around her finger.
Donavan gasps then says "I remember you now! Aglet buddies! Oh my god!"
"Aglet buddies?" Chug asks
"Yes. Donavan and I played for a little bit when our parents talked. We were left in a room that had nothing in it so we played with our shoe laces. He gave his to me and I gave him mine and I've kept it sense. I try not to loose things from people I like" maple says.
"That's sweet maple" donavan says
"Yeah....so I never really had a parent...how did I get to Michigan? How did....wait the mafia right. They probably flew me and my dad there...but still I wonder who my real family is...." maple says and then sighs
"It's us" I say
"Heh yeah...it's you guys. You guys are all I need" maple says
"Wait so do you not have a real license? Like are you not a real person?" Travis says
"Well I guess the mafia helped with that part. Because I have a bank account at least. And I have a drivers license and a passport that's real. So I guess? But I don't know where my birth certificate is..." maple says
"Same with me maple same with me." Donavan says.
"That's weird...but cool!" Travis says
"Yeah I guess it kinda is" maple says trying to still hold back some tears.
"I guess you and me are kinda like siblings are we maple?" donavan asks
"I guess so......You know what. Yeah you are my brother. You might be from another family but you're my brother now ok?" Maple asks
"Ok!" Donavan says happily. This seemed to perk both of them up a bit.
"Heh speaking of siblings. Should I go next?..." Neil asks
"Fuck yeah go next babe!" Todd says.