Troy waited patiently outside his car, watching as the birds soared overhead. They squealed and squawked like the birds of Ohio, the Blue Jays, the Redbirds, the Crows, Geese, Herons, and many, many more beautiful birds that he had grown up with. It was weird, because for over a year, he was used to seeing Seagulls and Pelicans and Mockingbirds, and now, it was like seeing long lost friends. He had missed the disgusting ponds and creeks that ran through the middle of his druggy town, the acid rain that poured down and melted away the sides of the plastic house siding, the old, rusty trains that would break away from each other and begin to roll down the tracks, occasionally hitting a car or two, and he even missed the one thing that made his life complete.

His high school.

He missed the annoying bells that signaled the next boring class, he missed the pungent smell of the rotten lunch being fakely sautéed over a greasy fire, and he even missed the smell of the green football field which he grew up on and his life revolved around.

Oh god, how he missed the football field.

The crowds rooted for him as he ran onto the field, holding his helmet up in his right hand and the other hand held up in a fist as he screamed his team's name. Everyone said it after him, all smiles and with such spirit that the other team envied the other team.

That was what he loved.

That made him pumped to go to the high school.

But at the same time, he really didn't want to go back.

He didn't want to see the new seniors whom he used to pick on, and the little juniors and sophomores and freshmen…

He hated the thought.

A car pulled up beside his truck, and a short, skinny middle aged woman stepped out. She had on her khakis and a red shirt, obviously signifying she had just gotten off work.

"Troy?" She said, shutting her car door.

"Mom?" He smiled a little. "You look as young as ever."

"And you look like hell." She held her arms out. "I need a big, big hug from you."

"Gladly." He sighed. "I need a hug from someone, anyone… "

"She held her arms out as Troy filled them, giving her a large, but passionate hug that he had missed dearly from his mom.

He felt a little safer once again.

"I'm so, so sorry about everything sweetheart… Really, I am."

"Why are you so sorry? You didn't cause it. It was me. I should have never offered myself to her. This would have never happened if it weren't for me. She would still be at home, she would still have her life, and she would be a normal sophomore girl- "

"You gave her the best thing anyone could ever give someone else. You gave her her first kiss, you offered her love, and you even gave her a child. I know for a fact that she cared very much for you, and I'm so sorry her life was cut short."

Tears started forming in Troy's eyes.

"Mom, don't be sorry- "

"I am! I feel horrible for her! The stress in her life should have never been there! She shouldn't have to decide major decisions at her age! That poor girl didn't deserve anything that came her way."

"Can we please not have this discussion here?" He wiped his eyes as he pulled away from Kay. "I'm going to start bawling if you don't stop."

"Alright, I'll stop." She smiled a little at him. "So, can I meet my grandson?"

"Yeah… " He said, grabbing her hand. He led her towards his truck. "I'm giving you a fair warning. He may be cranky. I just woke him up not even five minutes ago."

Troy opened the back seat of his truck and pulled Talon out before he had time to complain.

Talon sat on Troy's hip, idle, staring off into space. Suddenly, be bursted out crying, not even giving Troy a chance to say anything.

"Awh, Talon… " Troy grasped Talon's body into a hug and kissed the top of his head. "Come on now, you're a big boy, aren't you?"

Talon's cries morphed into screams.

"Here baby, let grandma take care of those cries… " She held her hands out.

"You sure?" Troy raised an eyebrow."

"I had a little boy once. I know what to do."

"Then go right ahead." Troy handed Talon to his mom.

"Awh, look at him, he looks just like you, Troy! What was his name again?"

"Talon. Talon Beau Bolton."

"He's so beautiful!" A couple tears welled in Kay's eyes. "I can't believe I have a grandson… And I'm only 45… "

"Well, nature took its sour course… And Gabriella got pregnant. Ruined my reputation at school forever. Nobody really liked me after that. The football team hated me, girls hated me, and even the teachers resented me. But I'm glad I got my little man. He was worth losing my reputation over. I would lose my reputation a million more times for him."

"How old is he?"

"14 months."

"And he's so chubby!" Kay smiled. "He's going to be a chubby little boy, isn't he?"

"MY kid won't be chubby. He's going to be a football junkie like his daddy, right Tal?"

Talon giggled a little, as if he had never cried,

"Brat." Troy ruffled Talon's hair.

"Do you want to get home?" Kay said, looking up. "It looks like it's about to rain… "

Troy looked up at the light blue sky. To the east, there were dark, malign clouds rolling towards them.

And then, something hit Troy like a fast bowling ball. He got wide eyed.

"Is that ice cream shop still open downtown?" How about the park? Mall? Biking course? Something?" He started towards his truck.

"It's going to rain, Troy!" She followed him.

"Meet me back here at three, okay?"

"I thought we were going home- "

"I have to do something really, really important. I'll get his bag and his car seat."

"Troy quickly pulled Talon's car seat out and his bag, throwing them in his mom's car. He took Talon from her, gave him a quick kiss, and strapped him into the car seat.

"I'll be back, I promise!" He handed her a 50 dollar bill. "Take him somewhere fun! I'll call you on my way back!"

And then, he sped off towards the dark clouds.