The Tragedy of a Ten Year Old

The Talk

The next day Max woke up hours after anyone else. When he walked out to see if either of the adults were there. He walked in wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a yellow t shirt hugging Mr. Honey nuts to see Gwen sitting in the office doing paper work

She looked up "good morning Max how are you feeling?"

"Im ok I was just wondering" he started "if you guys could um uh i um" he stopped

"What is it max" she walked over sitting him on the couch "if somethings bothering you your could just talk to us"

"Well um since im now a uh foster kid I was wondering if you and David could um uh a adopt me maybe I-if you want to"

Gwen couldn't help but giggle a little "oh Max we were talking about adopting you anyways Honey, so yes we will go through the process of adopting you" she hugged the young boy

"Really" he hugged back tightly climbing into her lap "I thought you'd say no" he started to cry

"Why would I say no Max?"

"Be-because I I have be-en a a dick all su-umm-mer" he said

"Ok and you only did that because you didn't want anyone close so you didn't get hurt that's not your fault hon" she said rubbing his back "stay here ill be right back" she says while pulling him off of her lap leaving him curled in a ball hugging his bear slightly crying

She walked out into the mess hall where the rest of the group was with david pulling him aside "hey Gwen what's wrong is it Max again?"

"Yea but hes not crying for his normal reason he is crying because he asked me if we could adopt him and he didn't expect me to say yes do if you could reassure him that would be great"

"Did he really ask that?" He asked his wife in an extactic tone

"Yes he does but can you talk to him so he will stop crying"

"Ok" he smiled

"Hey Max," David started walking into the cabin "I heard you asked Gwen if we could adopt you" he sat down on the couch pulling Max into a hug on his lap

Max nodded

"And you thought she would say no?"

The child nodded again

"Im very proud of you for being so brave by doing that," he smiled at the boy "can you look at me and yell me why you thought we wouldn't want to have you in our care? You can say no if you want to"

"Ive been a jerk all summer especially to you give me one good reason why you want to keep me"

"That's because I know that underneath all of that hate and anger there's a kind and loving boy who's just trying to protect himself from the evil in the world"

He stopped shaking almost as soon as soon as David said that but his face was still covered in tears "you know" Max giggled "that's a pretty kick ass reason"

David laughed as well "thank you Max" he said as he dried the child tears "Gwen and i will love to adopt you"

"Thanks dad" Max hugged the councilor again "love you"

"I love you to buddy" he picked the boy up and walked back to the mess hall where ge had clung to David dragging the bear along showing off his stay off bruises and scars

"Wow did his parents do those to him?" Nikki asked Gwen

Gwen nodded

"What's up with Max? Why I'd he on top of David like that?"

"He just asked us to adopt him and we told him yes"

"Did you really" the nerd squeaked "that's great"

"I know"

Later that night

"Max is have to put you down, i need a shower since I carried you the entire hike"

He shook his head "i don't want to let you go"

"Can I give you to your mom?"

"Mom" David nodded "ok"

"Hey honey," max leaded into her arms clinging to her "your tired arent you?"

"No,"

"Max, please tell the truth" max didn't give an answer but he nuzzled his head further into Gwen's shoulder

When David walked out of the bathroom Gwen and Max were in the kitchen of the cabin Max asleep on Gwen's shoulder and Gwen was rubbing his back

"Hey Mom," david said walking over giving Gwen a kiss on the forehead "is someone tired?"

"Heh maybe a little, he fell asleep almost as soon as the shower started,"

"Want me to take him to bed,"

"Yea but he needs a bath too we just have to get him awake"

"Should I try to shake him awake?"

"Do we have another option?"

"Hey Max" the Man shook his shoulder "you need a bath bubby"

"Mmmm"

"I know hon but you need one" his mother calmly replied

"Ok" Max yawned

As David helped Max in the bath because if he didn't Max would've fallen asleep Gwen got him some pajamas out

When he came out he was wearing an outfit almost identical to his outfit earlier but this time his shirt said camp campbell on the front and Max printed on the back. It was a simple shirt David had bought him for coming to the camp in the first place all the campers had one. Max was carried out of thw bathroom by David half asleep on his shoulder they walked out into the kitchen

"Night Mom," max had almost whispers but this was normal for the boy

"Goodnight Max," Gwen Kissed his forehead

David continued carrying the boy to the room they shared and put him on bed kissing his forehead as well but instead of walking across the room to sleep in that bed he walked into the kitchen to drag Gwen to bed in the room they shared because at this point they trusted the broken boy