Jason DavenportThe only time I'd ever left Wayne's county was during the holidays, on trips with Dad and mom. Now I was all alone in a strange town. I'd been spending nights cooped up in dark alleys and abandoned cars, still unsuccessful at finding a job. Close to death, I'd scavenged through a trash can behind a small restaurants to pick out leftovers for myself. Today I couldn't find any abandoned cars to sleep in so I was squeezed in an alley, hands deep in the pockets of my hoodie. I shivered, the cold chilling my bones. Trying to think happy thoughts I finally managed to doze off. I woke up to someone shaking me roughly. Instinctively, I backed pushed the figure away, getting prepared to run for my life. These leftovers were my last. I didn't need anyone trying to steal it from me."Hey, hey, calm down boy. I'm not here to hurt you," The figure spoke reassuringly, raising both hands as if in surrender. "I was just passing through."I squi

Jason DavenportI let out a victorious yelp as I fixed that last nail in the shed. It'd taken nearly a week to round everything up. I couldn't count how I'd dismantled everything and started all over. And finally I was through. I stood to the side not believing I'd done it all on my own. Bill stood by my side, congratulating me, patting my back and cheering me on."Good job, Jason," He smiled. "She's beautiful."I beamed, looking down at my callused palms. I'd done this all alone. For the first time in my life I'd achieved something without help from anyone. I quickly swiped the tears that were beginning to form away and dug my hand into my back pocket. I'd managed to scrap up a hundred dollars in total. It still wasn't enough to get a cot but I was proud of myself. I would keep working. I'd work until I could afford to get the baby a good present. I carefully cleaned up the chicken coop and reintroduced the animals into the new shed. Quickly, so I could run up to t

Jason DavenportI'd heard from dad that Amelia was due in two weeks. I was a little worried because I still hadn't saved up enough to get that cot. But I believed that I would have before two weeks. Bill had hired a second farmhand and assigned me to train him. So I was at the store more now. Meaning more tips. And more tips meant more money. I smiled, knowing that I could finally afford the cot soon. As my shift drew to am end, my phone began to ring. It was a cheap one I had paid Bill a few bucks for. At least it works. My brows puckered as I saw that it was dad that was calling. He usually only called in the evenings when he knew I'd be off work. Quickly I picked up."Hello?" I put the phone to my ear. "Jason." Dad's voice was frantic.My heart skipped a beat. "Is something wrong?" "No, no," He reassured me. "Amelia just went into labour."I nearly fell of my seat. "What, when?""I just drove her to the hospital."When I didn't respond, h

Jason DavenportAs soon as I heard that Amelia would be discharged that afternoon, I rushed to the closest convenience store I could find. I needed to buy the cot today so I could gift it to Amelia. I smiled as I remembered the feeling of holding the baby in my arms. She was the most precious thing I'd ever seen. And this time I was determined to do things right.Grateful for the money Bill had given me, I hopped into a convenience store and bought an even more beautiful cot, some diapers, and a few toys. In total, everything cost about four hundred dollars.Satisfied, I began to make my way back to Amelia's house, knowing she'd be home by now. Taking a deep breath, I hailed a taxi and said a silent prayer.Amelia ForbesI hated the stench of hospitals. It made me feel sicker than I already did. Which explains why I was grateful to leave when the doctor discharged me today.I couldn't wait to get home, sleep on my own bed, eat real food. A strange kind of s

Amelia Forbes"Ammie!" I heard Dani yell from outside my door. My first thought was that something bad had happened to the baby.I raced to the door and from the look on her face I realized she'd been calling me for a while. "Were your headphones in?" She asked.I shook my head. It was raining heavily. I couldn't hear her over the pattering sound on my roof. "What happened?" I asked. My initial fear coming to memory.She only grabbed my arm gently and led me to the window. I peered down, trying to see through the swishing rain, and gasped when I saw Jason, still standing at the door step.My eyes roamed to the wall clock. It was 9pm. And it had been raining since 6. What was wrong with him? I wondered, infuriated.Dani nodded as if she could hear my thoughts. "I don't know. He's been standing there since morning."It was silent for some time and then she said. "I don't think we should let him in. It's his choice to stay there so let him."I no