In the 'Lon' run, It'll Get Better

Didn't I tell you he was a doll? He certainly needed the advice I gave him.

After chores, I carried out my plan. I started searching the place for Thomas. Sometimes, when having strong feelings about a problem, he'll go off and hide somewhere where he can have his feelings. I kept thinking, If I were Thomas, where would I go? I decided to check his tent first, it was now the only space he had to himself. I didn't need to come in a foot of it before I knew for sure that he was in there. I could hear his muffled sobs from inside. I drew back the opening and had a look inside. His sobs were still perfectly audible and there was something lumpy under his blanket.

I came over to the bed and lifted the edge of the blanket. Thomas' face was buried in his pillow and he was crying like his life depended on it. My heart seemed to throb, it sounded like a baby. If you've never seen Thomas cry, you should. One look at him and you would be just as sorry for him as he did for himself. Since it was so childlike, it was usually surprising when you didn't find him with a broken toy in his hands. I knew what Ratcliffe would've said if he saw this, he would've just dismissed it as Thomas feeling sorry for himself and acting childish. But I knew that wasn't what was really happening.

I sat down near the edge of the bed and stroked the top of his head as you would a small child. He noticed as soon as I did that there was someone there. He stopped crying for a moment and peeped up at me. I kept my hand on his head, "What's wrong? I could hear you a clear foot away from here." Thomas scrubbed his eyes with a fist and sighed, "Nothing." I sat him up next to me, "Come on, now. If it was nothing, you wouldn't be crying. I'm only asking because I'm worried." I put my other arm around him and brought him close, "You wanna tell old Lon all about it? Hmm?" Thomas snuggled closer to me and nodded, "Mmmhmm."

He told me the whole story and, by the time he finished, he was a mess. He buried his face in my shoulder and started sobbing all over again. I rocked him a little and gently shushed him, "It's alright, laddie. I gotcha."

Once he got himself together, I wiped his eyes, "Now, then. You and I both know this wasn't expected and shouldn't be accepted." Thomas nodded, "Yes."

"The way I see it, they did it because they see you as vulnerable. You need to show them you aren't." Thomas gave me a pair of expectant eyes, so I continued, "You need to show them you won't tolerate it and stand up for yourself. It's gonna be hard but, in the long run, it'll get better." Thomas picked his head up like he was starting to understand. I patted his back, "Whatta ya say, laddie?" Thomas nodded, "I'll do it!"