August 29, 2009

"Tag you're it!"

Small footsteps thumped the ground as two little boys ran around the yard. The sunny day was the perfect excuse for them to play outside.

"Boys, Snack time!"

The two little boys run inside the house. The cooling air of the air conditioner cooling their small bodies in an instant.

"Aiden, take Cayden to the bathroom so he washes his hands and wash yours too little man"

"Okay mom"

Aiden, age twelve, took his friend to the bathroom. Aiden had a head full godlen hair and bright blue eyes.

"We apply the soap, rub our hands and rinse off"

"I know how to wash my hands Aiden" says Cayden. Cayden is the same age as his friend, he's also autistic, something his mother struggled to understand.

"Okay Okay, do you want to do that thing again?" Aiden asks. Cayden frowned and shook his head.

"I cannot look people in the eyes, we should stop forcing it. Also, my mommy said it's best I don't look at people because they won't tell I'm broken"

Aiden frowned.

"She said that?"

"Mhm, I'm all done. Lets go eat some doritos"

Aiden didn't say anything as he followed his friend downstairs. The boys have been friends for two years now.

Aiden's mother, Jade is a nurse at the local hospital. She had met Cayden's mother, Winona, who was a cleaner, at the hospital cafeteria. The two ladies hit it off and formed a solid friendship, with Jade occasionally watching the kids since she worked on the weekends.

"Why the long face honey?" Jade asks her son. The preteen had a long face.

"Something Cayden told me doesn't seem right" the boy says.

"Oh? What is it?"

"He said his mother called him broken....well not in that way but she did"

Jade sighed. She knew about this, Winona always vented to her that having an autistic son was a challenge for her. Jade had once offered to adopt Cayden but the woman took it as if she was being told she couldn't take care of her son.

"I'll have a talk with her. Maybe we can help Aiden find a better environment"

Aiden nodded. His eyes glance to Cayden, the boy was busy eating to notice them. He chuckles.

"Messy eater haha!"

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"Cayden look" he says pointing to the ground with a stick.

Cayden turned to look, he saw a doodle on the wet soil. Two stick figures in front of a house.

"Who are they?" He asks.

Aiden smiled.

"Thats you and me, this will be our house"

Cayden didn't understand but it was funny to hear so he laughed.

"I see...."

Aiden huffed.

"I'm serious Cayden, one day I'll build a big house and I'll take you there. We'll live together and eat cake everyday!"

"Sounds nice"

Aiden drew something again.

"This will be our dog but if you like cats then it will be a cat. Even if its a snake, I'll buy it for you"

Cayden smiled, he uses his finger and adds on the doodle.

"And this will be your car"

"Yes! And this will be yours too!"

Jade watched them from the kitchen window. Her husband, Tucker, wraps his arms around her waist.

"What are you thinking about?"

"They act like they're in a relationship or something"

Tucker laughs softly and looks at the two boys.

"You're thinking too much"

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A month later....

"What do you mean you're moving? What about the boys?"

"I don't care. We're leaving and I think it's for the best for the kids to separate especially away from that pervy son of yours"

Jade took in a sharp breath. And to think she had considered Winona as her friend.

"You're a selfish mother and I pray Cayden gets the best he deserves, away from you"

"You dont get to say that to me. Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can look down on us"

"I'm not looking down on you Winona. How will Cayden feel? Did you even tell him?"

"I'll just carry him while he sleeps"

"God, what is wrong with you! You can't do that"

"Why not? He is after all my kid"

She didn't know what to say anymore.

"You have to tell him, today"

Winona sighed.

"Where are they?"

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"This is my favourite toy"

"A doll?"

Aiden huffed and stuffs the bratz doll into Cayden's hands.

"I'm giving this to you, when we move in our home I'll buy you more"

Cayden's green eyes sparkled, his amber hair blowing gently with the wind.

"Thank you"

Just then someone grabbed Cayden from behind. Aiden gasped.

"Why? It's not time for him to go home yet"

Winona scoffed.

"We're leaving, forever. You won't take advantage of him again"

Cayden started to struggle in his mother's hands.

"Let go" he says.

Aiden pulled his friend by his side.

"You're not taking him!"

She was stunned for a moment but was quick to recover.

"He is my son! Cayden come here or else"

Aiden turned to Cayden. The boy was holding tightly to the doll.

"Aiden...you don't have to go with her. You can stay with me at our house."

Cayden didn't know what to do, this was all too much for him. His grip on the doll tightened.

"Why am I even arguing with you? Cayden come here, NOW!"

Aiden's hand held on to Cayden's as the boy was about to go to his mother.

"Cayden....don't"

Before Cayden could say anything, he was grabbed by the other hand. His mother yanking him to her side.

"COME HERE YOU LITTLE BRAT!"

"YOU'RE HURTING HIM!" Aiden yells.

Cayden cried out, his eyes tightly shut. Aiden let go thinking he was hurting his friend and Winona took advantage. She ran away with him.

Jade, who was in the house frowned as she heard a commotion outside.

"Let him go!"

It was Aiden. She rushes outside. What she saw shocked her.

"Winona what in the hell are you doing?"

"I'm taking my child and we're leaving"

Jade's heart ached seeing Cayden reach out for Aiden, the two boys' tear stained faces making her sad.

Winona didn't waste time as she stuffed Cayden in the back seat of the cab and it drove off.

Jade watched her son stand there, expressionless. She walks up to him.

"Aiden? Honey, are you okay?"

"You let her take him away. I WAS GOING TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE AND EAT CAKE EVERYDAY!" The boy cried.

"oh honey, come here"

His head was burried in the crook of her neck, the trickling tears of longing didn't help to dissolve the lump of resentment he had on his throat.

"Why did he have to leave?.....It hurts" he whispered.

She blinked her own tears away, her hand softly stroking his golden hair. She shushes him.

"You'll both meet in the future"