Part One
(Author's Note- Just want to make clear that when Tam refers to his parents, he is usually mentioning Ellen and Chris. Just wanted to clear that up for you. Constructive criticism is welcome- flames aren't.)
Tam stared at himself in the mirror. He searched his face for features that resembled his parents. For years, he had believed his was adopted. The fact that his parents were Caucasian and he looked Asian was a huge clue. Tam knew that his father's family came from Ireland and his mother's came from Germany. It didn't add up. Why did he posses such Asian features while they looked stereotypically American?
There was one bit of resemblance Tam could always find. His nose was the same shape as his father's (or maybe his adoptive father). Other than that, there were no similarities. Tam had asked his father if he was adopted, but the answer was always no. Then, Tam asked why he looked different. The answer was always "I'll tell you when you're older."
Tam was older now. He wanted answers.
Tam could remember some of his early childhood. He knew the first year or two of his life was spent with a woman other than his mother. The woman had black hair and held Tam tightly. Tam also remembered a loud noise and blood. The memory of this strange woman was blurry, but Tam thought it important. He had a feeling that might be his real mother. There was also a man. He wasn't as loving, but always nice. Tam remembered this man always wore clothes of a bright neon color. That must have been his real father!
Why did his parents keep this information from him? Were they trying to hide something? Tam thought it was ridiculous. He was nearly fifteen and mature enough to know the truth. Tam decided he would just ask a couple questions at dinner tonight.
Tam wasn't sure if he wanted to know about his real mother. Ellen, the woman who raised him, had always been Tam's hero. She held such a great amount of love for him. She always did more than enough for him. When he was young, she would spoil him rotten. She'd play hide and seek with him, and would always lose on purpose. As Tam grew, she helped him with schoolwork and continued to spoil him. Tam didn't care whether she was his biological mother or not. She had treated him like he was her own.
Tam's (possibly adoptive) father wasn't as loving. He was always a little bit distant. He never really seemed concerned with Tam's happiness. It was almost as if his son was just an unwanted burden. What Tam really wanted to know was who his real father was. Surely the man in the neon clothing was his biological dad. Hopefully, at dinner Tam would have his questions answered.