Max was playing with his new game station in the living room when David snuck off to his bedroom to make a call.
"What do you want David?" Gwen asked the moment she picked up the phone. "Don't you dare tell me that you are moving opening day a week ahead!"
"Hello Gwen! You know as well as I that Camp Campbell starts the day after kids get out of school, I couldn't start it earlier even if I wanted to; which I do of course. But I'm calling about something else."
"If you need money I don't have any. God know's I need every penny I have to make it till camp starts,"
"Gwen, that's not what I am calling about. I'm calling about Max."
"THAT LITTLE SHIT!? Don't tell me that monster is going to be at camp again this year!"
"He is, but that's not the point."
"Oh my god, just kill me now. One summer was more than enough to scar me for life, I can't take another summer with that little demon."
"Gwen please."
"Oh no. You need to tell his parents that we are not taking their monster again this summer. Refund their putrid money and send them packing."
"I found Max in the foster care system!" David yelled losing his cool.
"I know you are talking about me." Maxed called from the other room. "Is that Gwen? Tell her Satan says hey."
"I... I didn't know," Gwen said softly. "Was that him in the background?"
"Yes. Gwen, he came to me beat up, and I don't mean metaphorically. He's trying to put on a brave face, but he cries at night."
"Oh god, that poor kid. He's a little asshole but not even he deserves that," Gwen said, her attitude having done a one eighty.
"I don't even know what happened to him, he won't tell me."
"Didn't they give you some kind a paperwork explaining his situation?"
"What?"
"Jesus David, they can't expect you to take care of a kid you don't know anything about! They must have given you something."
"Wait, the man who dropped him off did give me a big envelope, but in the wake of everything I forgot about it."
"Well go get it and tell me what it says!"
Max was only half paying attention to his game. He knew David and Gwen were talking about him, and he didn't want to care, but he did. He wanted to know what they were saying. He paused the game and left it on the menu so there would still be sounds coming from the TV, then he snuck up to the door of David's room and listened, but he could only hear on half of the conversation.
"How could anyone treat a child this way?" Max had never heard David so furious. There was a pause while Gwen was responding.
"That doesn't excuse this."
Pause.
"When he was with us last summer I thought his parents were just not around much. This is so much worse."
Pause.
"Oh what am I supposed to do Gwen? Everyone deserves to be happy, but I don't know how to help Max to be happy after this."
Pause.
"No I don't think that would make him happy, that's what would make you happy."
Pause.
"Well it's not an option anyway."
Pause.
"Of course he is coming to Camp with me Gwen, I'm not just going to leave him here. His friends will be there, and it will be perfect for him to be with them again."
Pause.
"They won't be as bad as last year."
Pause.
"Because, well, I don't know why, but I'll make sure of it."
Pause.
"Thanks for to talking to me Gwen. I still don't know what I am going to do, I don't know how to be a father, mine was never around to show me how, but by golly I'm going to do the very best that I can."
Pause.
"That's a great idea! I'll go first thing tomorrow. You're the best Gwen!"
Max snuck back into the living room and paused his game. He never expected David's over enthusiasm could be a good thing, but maybe… Who was he kidding, this was gonna suck.
Just a short little bit of practice writing in Gwen's character, and a little bit more set up. Leave a review please please please!