The ride to the mall was pretty quiet. Uncle Dre had the radio on and would hum quietly to the music. We were about a mile away when Joey was ready to drill him with his round of questions.

"Uncle Andre how much can we spend today?" Joey asked as he turned his head to look over the front seat.

"How much do you wanna spend buddy?" Andre asked him looking back at us in the rear view mirror.

"A million dollars!" He squeaked.

Andre laughed out loud as he shook his head.

"Well that's a lot of money little guy! What are you planning on spending it on?"

"Toys! And food. But mostly toys!"

"Are you for real?"

"I love toys!"

Andre laughed again as he drove. He was smitten by Joey's innocents. The day Joey and Andre met they've been buddies ever since.

"Uncle Andre what do you want for Christmas?" Joey asked.

"Awe I don't need nothin' little man. I'm happy just having you guys."

"Well can I get you something anyways?"

"What did you want to get me?"

"I can't tell you because I have to give it to Santa and then Santa had to bring it to you on Christmas Eve."

Joey would probably believe in Santa Claus until his kids have kids. After what he's been through you would think that the holidays would be terrible for him. Nothing could break this kids spirit. Not even a bad day at school. I wish I was a strong as him sometimes. He can let his past stay there. Mine only keeps coming back to bite me in the ass harder than the last time. We finally pulled up to the mall and Andre parked the car in a nearby spot right across from the entrance.

"Alright my little monsters! Everyone out!" He said pulling the key from the ignition and swinging the driver side door open swiftly.

Me and Joey got out of the car and stood on the curb and waited while Andre took off his coat and tossed it back in the car.

"Alright y'all ready?" He asked.

"Just as long as you won't act a fool this time then sure. We're ready." I replied as he walked up to me with a big grin as if he just found a twenty dollar bill in the middle of the street.

I took Joey by the had and we walked across to the door and went inside the mall and the smell of food hit us almost immediately making us very hungry even though we had already eaten. Andre had already made himself comfortable and found his way to the arcade room. We quickly ran behind him to keep up. It was almost like we were chasing our imaginary run away dog or something.

"Uncle Dre you know dad left you in charge right?" I asked him slightly out of breath.

"I know that but i wanted y'all to see this." Andre pointed across the arcade to a big purple game.

"It looks like dad!" Joey shouted.

"It looks like your dad because it is kid!" Andre replied happily.

Only in Chanhassen would you find a Dance Dance Revolution arcade game in the middle of the mall with our father's picture plastered all over it and his music blaring from the speakers.

"Now that is cool." I said as I watched two little girls go over to play it.

Before I got into them playing Andre tapped me on my shoulder.

"Hey mama i'm taking your brother over to the toy store. I did promise him more dinosaurs so that what we'll be doing. Just meet us at the food court in about 10 minutes."

"You got it!" I said.

I didn't get too far from the arcade when I walked into a clothing store. I already had enough clothes to tie around the earth twice but it never hurt to look around. Scanning the racks I got that feeling of being watched again. I was actually happy that I did this time because I finally wanted to meet the stalker that i've been so angry with all this time. As I walked further back into the store something said to stop and turn around while I had the opportunity. So I listened to my gut feeling and turned to find a woman standing right behind me.

¨Hello! Did you need help finding anything?¨ The woman asked.

I studied her carefully and remembered the picture I had drawn the night before. The woman was a browned skinned color with brown eyes and her black hair was cut into a bob. She had a smile on her face and a distinct mole on the left side of her face just at the curve of her chin. She had a small stud in her nose and a tattoo on her right wrist with what appeared to be two small initials. I couldn't make out what the initials were at first but I never had the chance get a good look at them before she asked me again if i needed help with anything.

"Oh no I'm fine but thanks though." I said and turned back around to browse the store some more.

I could still feel the sales clerk watching me and it was making me feel very uncomfortable. I couldnt seem to figure out why but I was determined to find out why this lady was eyeing me like a double whopper meal at Burger King. I turned back to the lady and found the courage to ask.

"Can I ask why you're watching me? I'm not trying to steal from the store or anything."

The woman smiled as she shook her head.

"No its not that. Its just i saw you yesterday and I couldn't get over how pretty you are. I'm sorry I don't mean to stare. You look like someone I know."

I didn't want to show my confusion but I was extremely confused.

¨You know alot of teenagers?¨ I asked giving off more of a sarcastic than sincere tone.

The woman giggled and shook her head.

¨No but I have a little girl thats about your age.¨

I dont know why but I was starting to feel weird about this conversation but I didn't want to be rude. The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. She opened it up and showed me a picture of a baby. The uneasy feeling quickly went away and I let out a sigh of relief.

"That's my little girl. She's 16 now though. I dont have many pictures of her because......"

The woman stopped talking as she tried to compose herself.

"It's ok. I don't mean to upset you." I said to her sympathetically.

"Oh you're fine. Whenever I think about her I get a little emotional. I miss her so much you know?"

The woman pulled out a picture from behind a business card and showed it to me.

"This was the last time I saw my baby girl. She was soon taken from me after that."

The picture she handed me was a day that was all too familiar to me and a wave of emotions began clouding my memory. My heart was racing to the point where I almost couldn't breathe.

¨Where did you get this picture?¨ I asked her angrily.

"I've always had this."

"Do you even know who this is?"

The woman let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes before she gave her answer.

"I do. Its you. Carlyn."

My eyes quickly shot up from the picture and at the woman who has now identified herself.

"Sweetheart. Im your mama."

There was nothing left for me to say. With shaky hands I dropped the picture on the counter and left out of the store.