David

I don't know why it started or who started it. But the next thing you know, Max is gay. Or, according to campers he is.

Parents day #2 came around. The day for parents to come pick up their kid. Max was all packed up. Everyone was excited to see their parents and go home again.

Max wasn't excited.

"Hey, happy camper." I said to Max as Gwen took her turn with talking to parents. I sat down next to Max. "Where's your parents? Maybe you should introduce them to Niel and Nikki's parents so you guys can hang out."

"It doesn't matter." The ten year old told me, taking a breath, looking down. "They're not coming. I've told you, David. They don't care."

It broke my heart to hear that. That somebody could think their parents were that heartless. Or to have parents that heartless. I mean, I haven't talked to mine since I moved out when I was 17. But that was different. They we're homophobic. I'm homoflexible. I like guys, but every once in a while there's a girl Bonquisha that comes around that gets me.

But Max is ten.

"Max," I said, because I didn't know how to support him at this point in time. "I... They're your parents. They can't just leave you here. You're 10."

"Yeah, well they don't fucking care." Max informed me in his harsh manner as I noticed somebody point over at us. Niel's dad and Nikki's mom. They thought they recalled Max as their friend. "Okay? They're both supposed to be in jail anyways. They're probably in jail. The trail was supposed to conclude a few weeks ago."

What?

"A trial?" That had my attention. "What did they do?"

"I don't..."

"Do you have anywhere to go?"

He shook his head.

"I..." An idea came to my head when I saw Arid's dad's. "I'll be right back, Max. Stay right there!"

Walking towards Arid and her parents, I was stopped by Niel.

"Hey, David." One of Max's friend from the summer asked me, making me stop in my tracks. "I uh... Have a question."

"And I hopefully have an answer." I responded, trying to stay positive for everyone's sake. Mainly for Max because he needs someone if his parents aren't there anymore. For whatever reason that was illegal. "What's going on, Niel?"

They all motioned at Max, who was sitting alone with his stuff. Waiting for parents that won't show up. The story that can break anyone's heart.

"Where are Max's parents?"

"Oh, um..."

"Yeah!" Nikki cut in before I could answer that question. "They weren't here for Parents Day, either. Did they die?"

"They didn't die." I promised them, hoping I wasn't lying. Lying is bad. Don't do it unless it's the only way and it's um... Weird. It's complicated, okay? "We're thinking they just got the wrong address. Don't worry, it's being taken care of. It always happens that one's kids parents writes it down wrong or something like that. We just have to pull up their number or email and get ahold of them. Easy. Max will get home."

Not waiting for other questions to arise, I sauntered over to Arid's dad's.

"Arid, Mr. And Mr. Arid!" I said as I approached them, getting their attention. "Thank goodness you're still here."

"Why, yes we are still here." The taller of Arid's dads told me. "What can we do for you, David? You did take care of our daughter for an entire summer."

"That I did," I said and got a little more serious. "We have a situation with a camper here who's parents haven't shown up, and they weren't here for parents day. And according to our camper, there's a possibility that they would've gotten arrested recently. We don't have a way to get ahold of his parents, as they turned in the form without that part filled in. Would there be a way that you could find out who his parents are or if they're in jail?"

They thought about that, the three of them. Arid tried figuring out who it was as not all parents had shown up yet.

"I suppose we could." The other dad told me. "If he's willing to talk, of course. We need some information."

"Of course!" I assured them and less then into a separate room with Max.

The four of us sat down as I handed them Max's form. There was his name and age in it. That's it.

"So Max," they started off. "Would you know what crime your parents would've gone on trial for and where?"

He nodded his head.

"Uh, yeah." Max answered their question, hugging Mr. Honeynuts. "Tax fraud, dystruction of property, abuse, and manslaughter. Wilber County."

So they logged in to the police database for Wilber County and looked up cases for this recently. And found a pair.

It was Max's parents. They we're found guilty. To be in jail for... Well, they'll probably be dead with ten years to go.

"So he goes over to the state?" Gwen asked and I immediately didn't like that idea.

"Well unless somebody here would want to fill out all of the forms to adopt him and foster him today." They basically said yes but with a chance of no. "then yes. But I doubt—"

"I'll do it." I offered. "I've been thinking about adopting for the past few years as it is."

They asked me somewhere around 30 questions that I was happy to answer before they gave me a packet of papers to fill out.

The process took a few good hours before everything was filled out and ready to go. When it was declared that I was Max's legal guardian.

With all parents gone after Arid's family left, we tore down the place and it was emotional. Just like every other year is. This would be worth it, though. I start my job on Monday. It'll bring in enough money for us. I went to college for a reason, after all.

Once I helped Max with his stuff and I got my stuff in my car, we drove away from camp. Gwen probably wasn't coming back next year to counsel. But hey, that's life, and it happens. She has her dreams, I have mine.

Every once in a while, I glanced back at Max being he was in the back seat. It was a good drive back home. 2½ hours. So after 25 minutes, he spoke up.

"David," he wasn't pissed off, and that spoke levels to me. This was going to he weird for both of us, but harder on him.

"Mhm?" I hummed, glancing back at him through the mirror.

"Um, thanks." I could tell that Max wasn't used to this. People being nice. "For not letting me go to the state and yeah. I know I'm a pain and taking in a kid is like a huge decision, but you made it instantly and like... Thanks."

"No problem." I assured him as we pulled up to a Taco Bell because I was starving. I looked back at him. "Like I told Arid's parents, I've wanted to adopt for a while now. That's why, outside that I love the camp, I counsel there every summer. I love kids. Sometimes you guys are a pain, sure. But it's worth it. We'll make it work, alright? But for now, let's have some food."