That evening Bill and Kerry sat together in the living room, cuddling. No words were said. Connor was already in bed, and both were at loss what to do.

It was clear that Connor couldn't go to that school anymore. But what to do? Changing school  is never that easy. And homeschooling was not an option for the both of them.

It was Bill who decided it. "Tomorrow he stays at home. And then we look for another school." Kerry nodded. They both were concerned about their son who changed dramatically over the last weeks.

Bill took a day off the next day and together they looked for a school which would take him without judgement. Almost every suburb also had a primary school. Some public and some private. They never thought there were so many.

But one after another they left with a bad feeling in their stomach. The second the principals heard their names, they could see how they shut them out. Nobody wanted to deal with the "freaky kid". It was devastating.

Finally they reached a small primary school almost thirty minutes away from their home. Taking a deep breath they entered the school office.

The office looked - homey, Kerry had no other words for it. A cuddly sofa in the corner of the office, the wall painted in warm colors and covered in kids paintings. the principal was a young man in his early thirties.

Carefully Kerry allowed her hopes to get up.

After the first greetings, Bill explained why they came. About their son. The principal, Mr. Jameson, cut them short. "I was warned by other principals that you might try to get your son in my school" he added and Bills shoulder slumped, he steeled himself for the rejection.

Anger furrowed Mr. Jamesons brows. "I am sorry how you and your son got treated. My fellow principals were in the wrong. Of course Connor is welcome here. We are teaching our children to accept being different and we actively encourage peaceful behavior. We also have strong values and we are not tolerating bully behavior."

Bill looked at him, hope in his eyes. "You will take him?" Mr. Jameson nodded. "I will. And I will personally take care of him and guarantee his safety." Kerry chimed in. "And if parents are objecting? That was what most principals feared." Mr. Jameson shrugged his shoulders. "Any parent who is treating a kid like dirt because of the way he is born can take his kid and leave. We have enough schools in this town where he might fit."

He smiled at the couple in front of him. "I'm happy you found the way to my office. Connor will be safe here. And he will get the education he deserves."

Bill looked at Kerry, his smile full blooming. "What do you think, honey?" and Kerry nodded eagerly. He looked back at Mr. Jameson. "When can he start?" Mr. Jameson smiled. "How about tomorrow?" Bill stood up and extended his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Jameson. I almost lost all hopes." The face of the other man darkened visibly. "Again, I can only apologize. Connor is a child for gods sake and no abomination."

Both parents left the office, feeling a whole lot better than before.

When Connor came home from school this day, he went directly to his room. The boy laid down on his bed, closed his eyes and wished himself far away, into his own little paradise.

Today nobody acknowledged even that he was there. The teacher didn't even call his name. They just left him out. He felt invisible. He shoved a glass on the floor, but nobody even looked at him - they just ignored him fully.

During the break he sat at the tiny wall, looking at his feet, feeling awful. His bodyguard sat beside him and hugged the devastated boy. But there was only so much he could do. He was an adult and his responsibility was his safety.

He heard the front door open and shut and his bodyguard talking quietly to his parents, obviously telling what happened today. "It doesn't matter anymore" the boy thought and came to peace with himself. He would just stop eating. After a while he would diminished and all could be happier without him.

He would sleep until then and perhaps then he would find a place where he could be happy once again.

His mother rushed into his room. "I'm so sorry, sweetie." Kerry cried and hugged her little boy tightly. Connor didn't even open his eyes. "It's alright Mommy. Perhaps this wasn't meant to be and I am a failure. If I'm gone then all will be right and you can have real children." he said to convince her, but when his mother cried louder, calling for her husbad, he was a little startled. Shouldn't it be all better when he was gone?

He tried to get away from his mother because he felt uncomfortable. But Kerry refused to let him go. His father entered the room and Kerry told him what he just told his mother. Bill closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.

He hugged his family tightly.

"Connor, listen to me and listen well." he started and Connor nodded - what else could he do, when both parents held him so tight?

"You are our son. You are born this way. Perhaps with a reason or without. I don't care. I love you and your mother loves you beyond words and regardless. I don't care about anything but the one fact that you are my son. And there is nothing which will ever change that." Connor listened to those words in wonder.

Perhaps he was wrong?

He looked in his Daddys eyes, a little terrified, because he never saw him cry. "But if I'm gone then everything is good, isn't it? You can have friends again and you can laugh again." He looked down to his feet, which was admittedly a little difficult, seeing that he was still held tightly by both parents. "But as long as I am here, this is not gonna happen, right?"

Kerry rocked her son slowly. "Oh baby. We don't care. You know, friends are people who are sticking to you when you need them. And they are not leaving you because they don't agree with you. We are so happy that you are in our lives. If you are gone we would be devastated."Kerry looked in his eyes. "I wouldn't survive without you. You are my baby, my little amazing baby boy. And I love you so much, it hurts. I won't let you go, Sweetie."

Finally their words reached that little peaceful wall and broke it down. Connor understood that he couldn't leave - not if this would affect his parents more. And he melted down. The easy way out wasn't for him. He was needed. And so he had to stay.Connor sighed. "Life is not easy, Dad, isn't it?" he whispered. His Dad rocket his family gently, comforting them. "No it isn't. But you don't have to go back to that school. I'm so sorry it took us so long." Connor looked up to his Dad, a hint of hope in his eyes. "I don't have to?" Kerry shook her head."We went to a school today and found a good one. You won't get harassed there, the principal promised." Connors ears perked up. "Really?" he asked, feeling like a heavy weight was just lifted from his shoulders.Kerry smiled at him. "Really. The school is a bit away, but nobody will treat you badly there. But, Connor?" he looked at his mom. "The principal promised to protect you. But I wanted you to promise me one thing." Connor looked at her expectantly. "What is it, mom?""The second somebody is harrassing you, you WILL come to me or Dad and tell. It is not snitching, it is only to stop this before you are getting hurt again. Promised?"Connor didn't need to think twice about that. He trusted his parents with all his little heart can show. They never let him down, they never betrayed him.

"Promised"

Kerry and Bill felt an utter relief when they saw how the colors of the skin changed: To a light, content blue, a happy yellow - a color they didn't see for a long time - and a loving red.