It had been a few months since Kevin Flynn had disappeared. Sam had told his friends that he stopped believing that his father would come home someday, but deep down in his heart he knew that he was going to come, and he hoped it was today, because it was Sam's eighth birthday. Every year on Sam's birthday Flynn took Sam and his friends to the arcade. This year, Sam decided to have it at home, just in case his father came. Everyone in his grade came and so did his godparents, Alan and Lori. There was also a girl in Sam's grade and her name was Mallory. She was one of the prettiest girls in his grade with curly blond hair and sea-green eyes. When it was time to eat cake and open gifts, Sam's heart ached for his father and he wished he would come home. But sadly, he didn't. When almost everyone left, Sam went into his room and sat by his window. The girl Ellie came into his room.

"Sam, can I talk to you?"

Mallory? Talk to him? Sam told himself that his dad would want him to make a move, but he pushed that thought away.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, I just want you to know that I believe that your dad is out there somewhere."

Sam's heart skipped a beat. The prettiest girl in the whole school believed his dad was somewhere?

"Thanks, I guess."

"Sam, do you wanna know why I believe?"

"Kinda. Why?"

"Well, you see, I'm really a foster kid if you haven't noticed already."

But Sam had. He knew that she had lots of brothers and sisters who looked nothing alike.

"Do you think your parents are still alive?"

"I know they are. They just, well-"

"Forgot about you?"

"Yeah."

"I know how you feel."

"How so? You have a dad."

"Yeah. Well, it seemed that he cared more about work instead of me. But I guess he was always like that, especially after my mom died."

There was a honking noise coming from outside. It was Mallory's foster parents.

"Well, I guess I gotta go."

"Yeah. See you at school then, Mallory."

Before Mallory left, she gave Sam a kiss on the cheek and left. Sam left and mumbled another goodbye to her. His father's words echoed in his mind.

You did good, kiddo.