It was a cold windy night, and there was one tiny house at the end of a downtown street. It was the bad side of town.Thieves would steal anything that you kept out in the open. The one tiny house was dark and old. The windows were cracked and the door was nailed with wood hiding holes behind it. Inside a mother and her son is snuggling by a fire, in thier old wood burning stove. The mom looks about 21 holding a 3 yr. old little boy. The little boy is sleeping in her arms while she starts crying cuddiling the child. Suddenly the boy is awoken from the tears of his mother.
"Whats wrong mommy?"
She looked at her son imediatly and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Nothing..sweety go back to sleep."She said gently.
He closed his eyes and layed back down in her arms.She pulled the blanket as much as she could over him.
"It's ok my darling, everything will be ok..."She said gently as she brushed his bains to the side.
"We'll be fine Alan..mommy can take care of everything."
She stared up in a daze at the door which her husband just left her.
HE actually wasn't her husband, just her son's dad.She needed the child support after Alan was born.But they always got in fights and he'd always leave in the middle of the night...BUT this time HE left for GOOD.

~Flashback~
Alan was playing outside, and it was almost luch time.
"Alan!Honey come in for lunch!"Alans mom yelled as she walked back in the house. She always had Alan play close to the house, as in FRONT YARD CLOSE.She was always afraid that if she took one eye off of him he'd disapear.The little boy opened the creaky door and walked toward his mom.
"What do we have for lunch today?"Alan asked as he jumped up on the chair by the table.
"A tasty, deliciouse peanut butter sandwhich!"She said as she gently tickled him and placed the plate on the table.
"Again?"He asked.
"Sorry sweety, but thats all we have.."She sat down at the table.He started to eat his sandwhich but than paused.
"Mommy, where's daddy?"he asked.
"He should be home any minute..."She said upsetedly.
"I heard you yelling at him on the phone."Alan said as he shook his legs back and forth.
"How'd you know it was him?"
"Mommy Im three and a half...I know things."He said with a mischevious smile.
"Why you little..."She started tickiling him and he just started giggling..
"I love you mommy.."Alan said as soon as she stopped.His mom just smiled and shook her head.She fealt that he was the only person she could count on...and that was her son!As soon as he walked out of the room she heard the old pickup truck drive up in the driveway.
"DADDY'S HOME!!!!"Alan went yelling as he ran out the door to see his father.She followed Alan out the door and stopped to watch him excitedly walk up and jump on his dad's shoulders.She heard Alan giggling happily and than wave at her.She waved back..remembering ever since Alan was born he was so happy.She always saw him laughing or smiling he was the happiest little boy she ever met.
"Mommy!Is it ok if I go to the store with Daddy to get cigarettes?"Alan yelled as he ran to his mom.
"What?!No...honey..no."She said gently.
"But why not..?"He asked disapointed.
"That just isn't a good place for..."She glanced up at her son's father,"a little boy to go.."She said angrily.
"Hey,I'll bring him right back!"He yelled.
"I said no!"She answered.
"Fine I'll just go get icecream!"He said angrily as he jumped back in his pick up truck.
"Daddy, can I go with you...."He walked up to the truck and glanced at his father.
"Sorry buddy, but your mom won't let me take ya anywhere.."He said as he ruffled his son's hair.
"Your ma never let me take ya anywhere, and she never will."
Tears came from the three year olds eyes.
"But.."The boy started to say.
"Alan don't worry, I'll be back buddy!"He gave Alan a fake smile and started the car.The last words that Alan heard come from his fathers mouth was"What flavor ya want?"

~~End Flashback~~
She knew he left for good this time because about an hour later he called and asked to talk to Alan.She asked where he was but wouldn't answer.She heard him say "Let me talk to my Son ONE LAST TIME!!!"She wouldn't let him..that was the last thing she wanted to see was to see her little boy cry.He yelled at her and said things to her she'd never heard before.She hung up the phone and just cryed.She watched out the window at her child happily running and playing outside.Her eyes filled with tears she started crying hysterickly as she watched outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The boy was still asleep in her arms when she got up to carry him to his room.She set Alan on his tiny bed with only one toy laying there.A rubber octopus his dad gave him for his 3rd birthday.He loved that octopus, he played with it whenever he had the chance.She pulled the covers over her tiny son and set the octopus next to him.Suddenly the boy reached out and grabbed the octopus and whispered "Daddy..."In his sleep.His mom stared at her beautiful son. She loved him but, was scared, scared of a lot of things.Ever since Alan was born, no family supported her.Not even her own parents...Alan was born when she was 18 during her senior year...and it just ruined her life.She now had no money, and knew they probably would loose the only house they had....she just couldn't take it.She reached out and picked up and held onto Alan's little hand.Tears came from her eyes as she noticed how much Alan resembled herself.She remembered hearing it from a lot of people but it never met anything until now.They both had Dark brown thickesh hair,Brown eyes, and the best smile.She smiled as she remembered when Alan first smiled, but the memory washed out of her head as she stood up and walked out of the room.
"Goodnight Alan, I love you..."She closed the door quietly and walked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9yrs. later...
Years have gone by and Alan's mom just stopped caring about him.As soon as she picked up acohol that was it....
His dad never did come back.They now live in a special home for single mothers who need financial help.Including thier children get schooling.Alan's now in 7th grade..well whenever he decides to go to school...
"Come on are ya in Nick?Or are ya chikenin out?"Alan asked his friend.
"Fine, Im in But do ya remember how much trouble we got in last time?My ma might not let me hang out with you anymore."His friend explained.
"Don't worry we won't get caught..trust me,"Alan asured him.
"Ok,"They gave eachother a hand shake and walked off.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The clock struck midnight as Alan walked past his drunken mother sleeping on the floor.Whispering curses too herself, Alan walked over her to the door.He opened the door and left.
"Well do ya got it?"Asked a shadow in the distance.
"Oh, yeah!"Alan answered as he threw a bag at the shadow.
"Cool, lets get this over with,"Said the shadow which turned out to be Alan's friend Nick.
They sneeked behind a giant building and disapeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning kids were all crowded around the wall on the side of the school.
"Wow look at that!"Yelled one kid.
"Whoever did this is gonna get in a lotta trouble,"said another kid.
"Whats going on?!"Yelled the principal as the kids scattered away from the wall.
"Who did this?"Asked the principal as he stared at the wall.The wall was covered in Grafitti.With pictures saying things like "School sucks" and "Our Principal is a loser,"Also had pictures with rude markings and other obscene figures.The principals face was a bright red after that alive with anger.He walked up to a teacher with his teeth clentched..."Find out who did this and, send them to my office right away!"He stormed off to his office.
Somehow teachers always find out who does something bad.Kids are still trying to figure that out!But as soon as they found out They sent Alan and Nick to the principals office.
"I didn't do anything!"Yelled Nick as the principal closed the door as they sat down.
"I think you two are equally guilty..."The principal said angrily.
"Even though I've heard many students complain about you Alan..."The pricipal glared at Alan."How many times have you been in here this year Alan?"
"Ummm...I Lost count after ten..."Alan said as he looked up at the principal.
"Ok...Nick you can leave..BUT Alan stay here."The principal stayed seated as Nick left the room.
"Alan your in 7th grade?"Asked the principal.
"Ya.."Answered Alan."So.."
"Your only in 7th grade and you've already got quite a criminal record.."The principal answered as he got up and walked over to the boy.
"Do ya wanna ruin your life?Huh?Do ya!"The principal yelled angrily as he stared at the boy.Alan glared at him like he just wanted to knock him out.
"Your files say ya like to sneek into people's houses..is this true?"Asked the principal about two inches away from his face.
"Ya.."He answered as he clutched his hand into a fist.."And I also like to do THIS!"Alan punched the principal in the stomach than the principal fell to the floor and Alan kicked him in the head.He ran out of the office and ran out of the school.And before he knew it the police had him at the station with the principal all bruised up.
"Ya know your in a lota trouble, buddy!"Yelled one of the police officers.
"Don't call me buddy..."He whispered angrily at the officer.
"Don't back talk me Boy!"Yelled the officer as he grabbed the boys arm.
A officer walked in with a clipboard and stared angrily at Alan.
"We've gotta lot a charges on you.."Said the 2nd officer as he silently read the clipboard.The principal with a blackened, bruised eye, and bloody lip, stared at Alan.
"Nothing a little comunity service can't take care of."Answered the officer with the clip board.
"And therapy..."The principal whispered to himself.
Than soon after that they took Alan to his very own grafitti work and made him clean it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was such a happy little boy but that changes all to quickly.
His mom still loved him But she just couldn't show it.She was drunk, he was bad, and his dad was gone.
And he didn't know that with everything he was doing was going to force him to go to the worst camp ever...in just 5 yrs...
"I love you mom..but do you still love me?"Alan said to himself in his room a day before he turned 17.He turned away and walked out of the room his little boy smile was gone..exchanged for a badboy who only wanted attention.
"Bye...mom,"He said as he left the house.He stared one last glance at his mother and left.