More challenges for the little white tiger cub...

Chapter 20: Challenging

Months have passed by and Max has tried hard to get used to gain confidence with himself to find a family fit for him, but there are many roadblocks that got in the way of that...the bullies have been relentlessly tormenting him and made him miserable than ever...mostly the pre-teen orphans who continously give Max a hard time because most parents were considering adopting him. They beat him, kicked, shoved and punched him down to prevent him from getting every adopted parent interested in him.

It's heavy to face those burdens when he's the age of six and Max has faced every burden that laid out for him in his life and it always left him wondering where did he go wrong, but he knew he didn't deserve it. Why he received it to him so harshly, he had no idea. But he never forgot what Shangao said to him that it'll get better soon. But how soon is soon?

Max tried his best to play with kids his age, but his shyness overtakes him because he fears that those bullies would come and spoil the fun for him and ends up hiding in his room. But he spends his time with Shangao just doing some fun things so he can try to live a normal childhood as much as possible and taught him a few things too.

And of course...Shangao has to bring in extra protection for Max in case someone tries to mess with him or something and he's very protective of the young six year old cub, like his own son.

One day, Shangao comes over to the cafeteria and finds Max sitting alone, eating his food and he thought he might need some company and he sat down and said, "How are you?"

"Fine, I guess." Max replied.

Shangao figured that Max was used to being alone, but he wanted to make sure that he's right here and before he has the opportunity to say something, Max asked, "How'd you know I was here?"

"Well...I had thought that you might be hungry and I wanted to bring you over here after Ms. Faye called for dinner." Shangao replied.

"Oh, okay. I was waiting for you to come anyway." Max added.

Shangao nodded in agreement and he started eating his own food and as they were both eating, Max looked at Shangao and said, "Is there any reason why those bullies pick on me?"

"Max...as I've mentioned to you, they do it because they feel afraid or they're jealous and they know what it feels like to be picked on, so they pick on others to get that same reaction to make them look cool. But it's not. It's hurtful and it's wrong." Shangao replied.

"I've done everything you told me...like show myself around adopted parents, but every chance I get, they beat me to it or they stop me." Max replied.

"Have you kept trying?" asked Shangao.

"A hundred times. And still nothing." Max said, sadly.

Shangao looked at Max in the eye and he said, "You have to remember that life will have it's challenges. But you have to face them head-on and overcome those. There are many things about you; you're kind, wonderful, compassionate, playful, smart, funny...and those are just many of the million great things about you...something that every parent would love to have."

Those words gave Max a small smile and Shangao noticed it and he smiled at him too and the leopard told him, "Don't change anything about yourself. Stay who you are and keep believing in yourself. And stay strong. You have so much potential."

"Potential?" asked Max.

"You have something special inside of you. And it's that something that will get you a family." Shangao added.

All Max could do is just smile and nod his head in understanding and the two continued eating with each other and Max does think of Shangao as his father and he's really happy to have someone like him come his way.

Good advice for a leopard. More coming your way!