[ToxSocks]

Money was tight. My dad was struggling to find side work. I hadn’t eaten in nearly two days. I was starving. I was so hungry I lost my appetite. Instead, I was just frail and weak. James told my dad that he knew how to get me fed and that he’d handle it himself. Big Blue pulled into the shopping center in front of a Chineese Buffet. James’ plan was to take me to the Chineese Buffet and beg for food.

I looked over at my dad and he was a broken man. He did not want to do this but he saw it as the only way to take care of me. He looked as broken as I had ever seen him. He looked ashamed. Disheartened. Saddened that it had come to this. I’ll never forget it. It was the face of a man who looked like he gave up. It’s as if he had come to terms with the fact that he failed his son. He never admitted it, but I know his eyes were watering.

I followed James out of the Truck and we made our way to the Buffet. We walked straight through the door and James found a young couple, likely on a date, sitting at the table and eating. He approached them and asked if they could spare me a meal. They were clearly bothered by it. They wanted nothing to do with us. The look on the gentleman’s face was one of disgust and annoyance. The woman he was with, naturally, felt sympathetic. The gentleman got up, paid for my meal ticket and I sat down with them and ate while James left to go wait outside.

I couldn’t eat much though. If you’ve ever gone without eating for a few days then you probably know what im talking about…but my stomach couldn’t hold down the food. I thanked the couple, walked outside in a hurry and hurled Chineese buffet all over the sidewalk. James went back inside and brought out a plate of leftovers. That’s the kinda guy James was.