Chapter 20:

Jason is walking along the park, It's the month of December and there is a light coat of snow all around. Children having snowball fights with each other while the parents are sitting on the benches sipping their coffee and cocoa talking about what they will do for the holidays. Jason simply smiles and takes a deep breath the cold air cooling his lungs.

As he continues to walk he comes across a bridge where he can hear soft and very faint sobs coming from inside.

"Huh, I wonder who that could be?" Jason asks confused but slowly makes his way underneath the bridge. Once inside he can see a teenage brown bear just sitting on a block up against the wall of the bridge. As Jason gets closer he can see the bear's hand trembling, once close enough Jason can see that the bear has a silver pistol pointing to the side of his head, his heart jumps to his throat once he saw the bear begin to press on the trigger.

"Hey hey hey?!" Jason says softly as not to frighten the bear and have him accidently pull the trigger but to let the bear know that he's there.

"Hi, I didn't mean to startle you, my name is Jason, do you mind if I come sit with you?" Jason asks slowly taking off his jacket. The bear simply nods his head and tries to soften his sobs. Jason places his jacket around the bear's shoulders before sitting down next to him.

"Listen, before we talk, I would really feel much better if you hand me the gun," Jason says placing a hand on the bear's shoulder while holding out the other waiting for the gun. The bear hesitant but agrees as he carefully hands Jason the gun. Jason having gone to a gun range with his dads uncocked the gun and took out the magazine as well as the one bullet in the chamber. To Jason's shock the magazine was empty, the gun only had 1 bullet, he ends up putting the bullet in his pocket and places the gun and magazine behind his back.

"So mind telling me your name and whats going on?" Jason asks.

"M...my name is casper,a...and I...I'm just so fed up living like this." Casper says placing his hand on Jason's, as his breathing becomes normal again.

"Do, you want to share why you are feeling like this? you don't need to if you dont want too," Jason says as he tries to remove his hand from the bear's shoulder. The bear gently squeezes Jason's hand as a sign saying (please don't let go)

Casper takes a deep breath as he begins to talk,"Well you see, I just always felt alone, and everytime I see couples or families I can't help but break down and cry." Casper says as he begins to softly sob again.

"Hey casper, listen I may not completely understand how you feel but I know one of my dad's can understand," Jason says chuckling.

"You mean dad right?" Casper asks.

Jason just looks over at Casper before lifting his head and laying it against the wall of the tunnel,"Nah I meant dads as in two, I got two wonderful and amazing dads, I...I was adopted by them, but before them me and my younger brother spent pretty much our whole life in foster homes, and every two weeks or so Parents would come and adopt a kid, most parents didn't adopt us older ones, so one day, my two dads came and adopted my younger brother. I was so happy for him, and I would have been out of the foster system within another year or 2, so It didn't matter to me, I was gonna find him once I got out, but before i put anymore thought into it my dads told me to hurry up and grab my stuff and that they wanted to beat the traffic going home." Jason says

"Man thats crazy, how do they determine who's gonna do what?" Casper asks turning around and facing Jason getting interested in this fox's life.

"Well they don't really have any set responsibilites, If one is going to the grocery store the other one cooks, if one is getting our school supplies the other gets the cloths." Jason says,"But enough about me tell me whats going on with you,"

"Well, I was always shunned and mistreated being called slow and stupid because I wasn't doing all that well in school and because I had a speech problem and a lisp I think, but anyway yeah growing up I didn't have 1 real friend, alot of these friends just used me and forgot about me, I remember when I was in middle school these neighborhood bullies tried to drown me at the pool, and not one single person did anything to stop it. And from all the mental and psychological pain, I would end up cutting and burning myself to try and cope with it." Casper says rubbing his shoulder and lowering his head in shame. Before Jason could ask what he meant by burning himself, Casper told him that he would spray his arm with body spray and then use a lighter to light it. Jason notices that Casper is shivering and stands up holding out his hand to the bear.

"It's getting cold, wanna go grab some cocoa or cofee with me, my treat of course," Jason says smiling, Casper smiles bag and grabs his hand as Jason pulls him up to his feet. As they walk out from under the bridge and begin to make their way to Anai's cocoa and coffee shop, Jason can hear people whispering to each other and point at Casper, while they wait for the walk sign to appear Jason overhears a female panda talking to her friend.

"Eww gross, why is that fox hanging out with that homeless bear, I bet he hasnt showered in weeks and smells foul," the girls giggle to each other. Ignoring the crosswalk sign Jason turns around and pulls out 5 dollars from his wallet and walks over to the girls and hands the money to the female panda he heard, she smiles and takes the money.

"Why thank you but what is this for?" she asks.

"Oh you know...maybe get some food, a drink, or maybe it can help you get a two for one deal on manners and class you stupid..." but before Jason can finish Casper grabs him by his collar and begins to pull him in the direction to Anai's shop.

"Sorry Jason but that smells so wonderful and I am kinda hungry I havent eaten since yesterday." Casper says as him and Jason make their way, Once inside Jason hears a voice.

"Oh hey Jason what you doing out? are your dads busy tonight?" A female red panda says as she puts pastry's on the racks.

"Just out and about Emily, and no I don't think we have any plans tonight, why?" Jason asks.

" Oh would you guys want to come over for dinner? Anai is cooking tonight," Emily says as she puts on some gloves,"Side note what can i get started for ya Jason?" she asks.

"Just my usual Emily, and I will pay for my new friend here as well," Jason says grabbing his wallet.

Emily just sighs, "Jason you know when you pay i just give the money to Jojo or Haida and they put it back in your wallet," as she grabs a custard danish and puts it in the microwave for 12 seconds and makes Jason's peppermint and white chocolate cocoa.

"Wait, is that how I keep getting money in my wallet?" Jason asks, Emily simply nods and places Jason's food and drink on his tray, "1 Danish and 1 Jason special." Jason just grabs his food and moves to the side.

"So what can I get started for you darlin?" Emily asks Casper.

"Oh...um I...I don't have any money," Casper whispers.

"Oh honey, don't worry this ONE's on the HOUSE," She emphasizes and gives the bear a smile and wink.

"Oh thank you very much ma'am, umm ok lets see can I have 1 Jason special as well and, may I please get that breakfast sammich?" Casper asks. Emily nods and gets his food as she tells him that they meant to spell sandwhich that way.

Casper and Jason sit down and begin to have their little snack. a little while later Anai, comes out from the back as he wipes the sweat off of his forehead.

"Hey Jason, what you doin here?"

"Just getting a snack with my new friend uncle Anai," Jason says standing up and hugging Anai.

"Thats good, will you guys be able to come over tonight for dinner?"

"Sure thing I just texted my dads they said they will bring chips and dip."

Anai begins to huff and puff, "Ok cool see you guys tonight, sorry gotta get back to the back, we are more busy today than normal." Anai says as he grabs a cup of water and heading into the back again.

"Hey Casper I will see ya later, I'm gonna go help my uncle ok?" Jason says standing up and tapping the bear on the shoulder. Casper then finishes his food as he tosses their trash away and places the tray ontop of each other. Emily gives a customer their change when she looks up and sees that Casper is grabbing the trays off the tables before wiping them down with a rag. Casper then places the trays on a counter that says return.

Emily sticks her head in the back and calls Anai quietly, Anai walks over to his wife and asks her whats up, she simply nudges her head in Casper's direction and Anai, sees that Casper is cleaning up the dining area.

"Hey kid, you don't need to clean you know that right?" Anai says not in a aggressive way but more of a confused tone.

"Oh I know Mr. Anai sir, but I wanted to repay you for the cocoa and food, and I used to clean up at a restaurant" Before I got umm, abadoned," Casper whispers the last word to Anai.

Anai looks at the bear confused and Casper tells him that he used to work in his dad's restaurant. Until the dad filed for bankruptcy and that, his dad was using his restaurant as a cover to be a meet point for dealers.

"I, didn't want to be like him so I ended up leaving and been on my own since i was 15," Casper says.

"Hmmm, well what do ya say Casper, do you want to have dinner with us? Anai says.

"I would really love that sir, but, I don't have any nice cloths to wear, actually I found these in a dumpster, I would wash them in a lake near here to clean them as well as myself." Casper says.

Anai calls Jason over and gives him 200$,"Here Jason, payment for you two for working even though you didn't need to, go grab some new cloths for Casper and we will see you guys tonight at 6:45," Anai says giving Jason one last hug and a handshake to Casper before the two teens set off. Casper follows behind Jason but begins to slow down, Jason not paying attention continues to walk ahead as he tells Casper that Anai is one of the best cooks he knows.

Jason turns around and notices that Casper is standing ontop of the bridge looking at the frozen pond below. Jason walks carefully but as fast as he could so he doesnt slip on the ice.

"Casper. The fuck you doing?!"

"Jason, Thank you, for hanging out with me and just talking with me, but I can't stand the thought of being left again, I been left my whole life, and everytime i seem to get my hopes up, it comes crashing down again,so I really just don't want to."

"Casper...listen, just stay right there, don't move, I'm coming to you just please stay there." Jason says as he inches closer and closer. Once Jason gets close enough to Casper he reaches out a hand to the bear.

"Casper, please just take my hand, you are not alone, I am here and I will listen," Jason says in a soft sympathetic voice.

Casper gently grasps Jason's hand so that he doesnt accidently slip off the bridge. Casper steps onto the icy ground but loses his footing and slips. Jason grabs the ledge of the bridge and braces himself and stops Casper from falling.

"Ok, sooo like I said before I use to work with my dad but once he filed for bankruptcy him and my mom left me and I been on my own since then...I just want somewhere to belong, I want a family that will love me, I don't want to be alone anymore,"

Jason knowing this feeling all to well, simply and without hesitation pulls Casper into a hug, his tears stinging his cold cheeks.

"Casper, listen, you are not alone anymore nor will I ever let you feel alone, you got a friend now, and soon I hope you come to see me as a brother." Jason says.

Once night fell Jason and Casper along with the rest of the family meet up at Anai's place. Casper just stares in awe of how many people that Jason knows or that he considers family, he also feels a sense of warmth because everyone treats Casper like hes been coming to gatherings forever. Everyone is sitting around the table and Anai stands up and makes a toast thanking everyone for being there and to the new friend that Jason made, after Anai sits down he looks at Casper and asks him.

"Hey, just so you know I am in need of a new person to bus the tables since It's been just me and Emily for a few months now, what do you say you want a job? When can you move in?" Anai asks.

"You mean when can I start?" Casper asks confused.

"No when can you move in, I can't have a friend of Jason's sleeping on the streets plus we need all the help we can get, with you living here, you can help Emily with Harmony while I'm at work, you can play with her while Emily cooks dinner and we would really appreciate the help." Anai says smiling, Casper at a lost for words is just sitting at the table when he feels a pull on his pant leg, he looks down to see Harmony standing there holding up her arms as if asking Casper to pick her up.

Casper smiles softly and picks up Harmony before accepting Anai's offer. Jason and his friends along with Casper now are all sitting around a fire pit in the back. Casper feeling shy at first opens up when Desoto them introduce themselves and say a few of their interests and how they met Jason. Casper begins to cry when it's his turn, and everyone looks at him with worry until he says.

"I'm not crying because I'm sad, I'm crying because of how grateful I am, If Jason didn't find and stop me when he did, I wouldn't have had a warm meal or meet wonderful new people, I am glad I hesitated and was given a second chance." Casper says, softly sobbing into his shoulder. Jason and all the other friends just came around Casper and embraced him.

"You're a part of us now, so don't be stubborn and try to fight your battles all on your own, if you feel like you need help reach out to us," They all say in unison as soft snow begins to trickle from the night sky, and the cold winter breeze comes brushing through their fur.