"Some are born to feast and the others spend the rest of their lives begging for scraps."
"How can I make this the best night of your life?"
"Take me back to Africa."
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Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Cain's POV
It was after the therapy appointment and now I sat in the car with my dad as he drove me to school. I had missed the first period but it was ten minutes til the second period so I wasn't too worried. Dad had been a bit quiet, but he was also that quiet in the office.
It wasn't long before the high school building was in sight, I clutched the strap of my backpack and opened the door, seatbelt clicked off. Before I could step out, Dad caught my arm and I looked at him taken aback by the tears in his eyes.
"I won't lose my son, I won't do it." He spoke firmly, I twisted my arm a bit to hold onto his hand.
"Dad, do you know why I fought?" He shook his head slightly.
"I fought for you, Dad. I fought because I loved you so much I'd rather that they hurt me before they could ever touch a hair on your head. I'd do it again too." In shock, he loosened his hold on me and I let go of him as well.
Giving him one last smile, I got out of the car fully and shut the door, walking up to the steps of the school thinking about the first time I did this.
I was seven years old and had been painfully shy to talk to the neighboring kids who lived in the same village as us. They would play in a slightly elevated courtyard my parents helped build the year before.
I looked up to my dad who held my hand, Cady was being carried by him as she fell asleep on the way here. He was already looking down at me, a warm smile on his face.
"Go on, son. It's okay." He tried to gesture to the kids playing with a slightly deflated ball, kicking it around. We were currently at the bottom of the stairs that led inside.
"They won't like me, Dad," I spoke, shying into his left leg, hiding from the curious look of one of the kids.
"How do you know if you don't try." He gestured up the stairs once more, lightly patting Cady's back.
"Please don't make me." He rubbed the back of my head, sighing.
"Look at me, Cain. I believe you can do this and it'll be fine. I promise." He wiped under my eyes as they got watery and my nose turned slightly pink.
