Weeks went by and the two were basically conjoined twins. Tael was outside of the big Q-SHACX gas station everyday after he got out of school. He would come with food, video games, time passers, but there was one thing that he consistently brought every time.......a dollar.
"What game you want to play today" Tael questioned.
" I would like to play the packman one" Luke responded.
They played games for hours until once again his only friend had to go home. They said their goodbyes as Tael handed him a dollar and walked away.
Luke still didn't understand why this boy who probably had friends and a life was helping someone like him......a dirty old man. He wanted this boy to go out and to live his life, not come here everyday when he could be outside playing with friends his age. He thought everyday about just leaving and hoping the boy would stop coming, however that wouldn't be good for children his age. He didn't want the boy to grow up broken because of him but he also didn't want the boy to grow up stuck on a homeless man.
Months passed and it was now Christmas the season of cheer. It was colder than ever and people were out shopping everyday of the week. Some people would come out with clothes, some with toys, most with furniture.
"Are you ready!" Luke heard from a distance away.
Tael had ran up with bags full of stuff and an ear to ear smile on his face.
"Ready for what? Luke questioned.
"CHRISTMAS DUH!" Tael exclaimed.
"Oh" a long sigh was let out from Luke.
Tael had a sudden moment of realization along with a face of regret.
"Oh I'm sorry" he apologized.
"That's okay" Luke said.
Tael sat down with these big bags stuffed with thick items in them.
"Well, I got you some stuff" he said as he pulled out blankets, coats, food, and a wrapped box.
Luke went through the bag and tried on everything to make sure that it fit and put the jacket on immediately because it freezing. Then he looked dead at the box and asked could he open it. Tael responded and told him that he could only open it on Christmas Day. All Luke could do was go with it because this little boy was the only one keeping this man alive.
" This going to be me and my moms Christmas gift to you, so you can only open this one on Christmas" Tael explained to Luke.
"Ok."
Tael packed all of his things, left Luke some food, and was on his way home. Luke was all caught up in his new things that he then recalled that he did not receive a dollar from Tael. Luke started think of all the bad possibilities about why he didn't get one.
Luke's inner thoughts: Maybe he just forgot, right?
Luke's inner thoughts: Or maybe he's going to stop coming from now on and this gift is the last thing he's giving me.*He thought with tears rushing down.
Luke's inner thoughts: Why am I crying because a 7 year old is going to stop coming by to see a homeless man.
Luke's inner thoughts: He probably realized that I'm just a stinky old homeless man.
This went on for weeks. Tael never brought him a dollar again even though he came every day. This caused Luke to try to save everyday with this little boy he could. He didn't want to ask Tael about it because he isn't want to sound greedy to the little boy. And because he was sure Tael was going to abandon him he thought of a plan to move one where else so he would remember the boy and how he left him.
To be continued...