"Look"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwwvzEvSts
I said with authority yet the little guy didn't budge.
"We're gonna be going somewhere far away from here."754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCphddJ9wFc
He held that grumpy look on his face. As much as he tried, he probably hasn't grown that much facial lines to show how much he hates being with me. Those plump cheeks did nothing to express his rebellion.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsbsW49DU
"You might as well eat. And not waste that 5 dollars I spent on your cheeseburger."754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY0aqKHDUM
His eyes tried to take a peek at mine but when they met, he quickly went back to his try at being upset. Tightening his attempt at a cross arm, he looked like he was struggling to keep this fit.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GPS5qGCco
"Caleb, it's a cheeseburger" I repeated, thinking he didn't hear me right.
"I don't like cheese" he muttered to the side of his lips not wanting to make eye contact.
"What? How can you not like cheese?" Really who doesn't like cheese. It's like the best part of the burger. It's so good, adding that thin slice in between a regular burger, already makes it even more special. Hell, it even changes it's name. Have you ever thought of that? So seriously, who doesn't like cheese?
"I'm lactose intolerant" the little guy was not giving up.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLQsots82y
I almost spit out my coffee when I heard him say that.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuE7rXRFiX
"Aren't you a little too young to be lactose intolerant? You're a kid, you're supposed to like dairy!"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJfQfICemz
Little Caleb shot a look at me and tried to glare. Instead, he looked like a pug.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5wvMjiJWZ
"Where did you even learn that word? You're like 5 or 6"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd837aIrIe
"Five." He quickly retorted.
Caleb is a bright young boy, I would know. He's usually bubbly and friendly but certainly not this day.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfEmcoW3cv
"Four, five, six... You eat your burger"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN44nTt7v5r
"No!" That high pitched 'no' caught me off guard. I just got myself into a staring contest with this little kid. It was pretty intense. No matter how hard he tries to look like a T-Rex, he ends up looking like a puppy. He was wearing those quality knitted beanies with earmuffs like a hush puppy. He wore a tiny white shirt underneath a denim jumper. His eyes were like those little dogs that are incredibly energetic. I know I won't win in this staring contest but I pressed on. I can't lose to a five year old kid.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfV5By1iSe
Keeping his eyes set on mine, he slowly reached for the plate in front of him and nudged it a bit across. It only moved by half an inch. He tried, I guess.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSySsPkXAaT
I'm not gonna be intimidated by this. So I pushed back his plate over his side.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxf8N7f5Hi
"Stop!" He shrieked.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3LFwr3Bdi
At this point, some customers in the diner are already eyeing us out.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2bhlvTmWc
I stooped a little lower, my face almost touching the table.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczPVySPUPK
"If you don't eat that burger, you're not gonna have anymore until dinner. So eat up or you'll be hungry on the tri..."754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6FzWkkTAU
"No! No! No!" It was like a chihuahua yapping.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe5WAoDHnl
I was about to flip when the big old black lady wearing a stained apron got in between us.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pCyJOYrPc
"Any problem here, boys?"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgusKhn149
"None." I smiled. "Yeah" Caleb replied in an instant.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QYmoi1BER
My eyes widened and my teeth gritted together.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokdMGywVDZ
"What's the problem little boy?" Her voice turned into those baby talk I always hated hearing. Of course she'll side with the little shit.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPqNKmsUik
"I don't like cheese!"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYIKxxCCB4
"Oh little baby don't like no cheese! Why order him a cheeseburger then?"
Here we go.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI5GECRvGH
One look at me and she realized. I didn't look as white as the kid. I'm part Asian. From my mother's side. He had those thick platinum blond hair, creeping out of his beanie while I had natural dark hair. Although I had a fair complexion, it was apparent that I wasn't like Caleb. And why is that a problem? Here goes.
"Is this guy your brother?" The old lady was curious as she pointed at me.
"Yes" I said. But Caleb replied, "no!"
She was confused with us as her two eyebrows met in the middle. She whispered to the boy, "listen, tell me something you know about this fella over here"
My heart began to pound its way out of my chest. I couldn't breathe for a second.
"He doesn't like onions"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxSkqoio0M
I slammed my hand on the table and pointed at Caleb like I had some sort of relief. In my actions spoke, I told you. I told you. Until I realized that's not how I should have reacted.
"Damn, why don't you like onions?"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslHS8TLqiu
"Because!" I had nothing to say for myself. Did she actually just let me slip?
The old lady stared at me with more than curiosity in her eyes. She asked The little guy one more time, "are you really related?"
Shit. It's time to go.
I stood up while saying, "yes, he just doesn't like me very much. Let's go Caleb. We're running late." In one swipe, I folded the wrap of his burger and slid it in my bag. I quickly grabbed his arm and almost dragged him on our way out. Little caleb had little time to fix his bitsy backpack as he slid out of his chair. I left some money on the table, not sure if that was the right price. All I knew was that we have to get away fast.
It was a cold day. 9:30am yet the breeze defeated the light of the sun. Both of us neither said a word. Little Caleb was still trying to keep that grumpy face on the cab ride. We arrived at the train station, got our passes, and slowly inched our way to the train at full stop. There weren't a lot of people today. Maybe I just got lucky.
Before we could get on the train, little Caleb suddenly froze. He looked up at me with teary eyes.
"I'm hungry" if I heard it right, he said he was hun-gwee.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyXsnZtg0a
"I told you"754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjH6qqAkc1
Looking down at him, I saw his lips trembling with a frown. He's going to cry if I didn't do something about it. With two hands, I picked him up and carried him into the train. We found our cabin after passing a few doors. I immediately handed him the wrap of cheeseburger he barely touched. I gave him a stern look saying, that's all we got.
He's still upset as he held onto the burger. His eyes spelled mercy.754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75SM72mYzq
"Don't try to be smart with me, Caleb. It won't work" he's not gonna trick me into buying him those fancy sandwiches he's always had at home.
Finally, he glanced across me and took a bite. A huge one. I can finally rest knowing the kid has already had a meal and won't be bothering me anytime soon.
The train started moving and the view by the window quickly changed as well. The scenes were changing so fast that the motion lulled me to sleep. It was difficult sleeping while sitting but my mind was too tired to care.
I thought about that old lady back at the diner. She had that obvious doubt in her face. Or maybe I'm just too guilty. I haven't done anything like this. I don't even like kids. They're messy. Loud, too lively, reckless. But most of all messy. How do people even decide to be a parent? What makes them think it's fun to just have babies. I don't know but i think I'll understand soon enough.
"Jeremy..."754Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GYFlFT9UC
I thought I was dreaming. I opened my eyes and heard Caleb actually calling my name.
He was no longer upset. But he still had that distinct look in him. I couldn't tell at first but then I knew what it was. Guilt.
"No. No. No!" I had no other words. I just knew from there that I'm going to have to face the thing I dreaded most about kids. Not today please? At least not on this train. It was my fault. He wasn't lying. Of course. That's another thing I hated about these children. They can't lie for shit. And that too. Especially.
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