Author's Notes: For the Gifts challenge, and a gift to Kuwa-chan.

Tight Grip

"He'll be okay," I tell the kid.
"Thank Ellimist," the kid mutters.
"What?"
"Forget it."

He'd come in carrying the other boy. That one had a big gash on the head and cuts everywhere else. If you ask me, it looked like he got in a knife fight. But this kid's line, over and over, was "skateboarding accident".

"I need a name."
"You promise you won't tell his parents?"
"Not unless they ask."
"His name's Jake."
"And yours?"
"Erek."

Then the kid hugs me.

"Thank you," he whispers.
"And people say I have a tight grip."