video

[neededlassie]

[The screen flickers on to show a boy who looks like he’s a little bit in a fog. Behind him, a Buizel bounces around happily through the snowdrifts, nearly disappearing only to poke her head up every now and then, her whiskers and fur caked with snow.]

Hello? Is anyone out there? My name is Shaun Mars. There was this lady who called herself my mom, and she gave me a backpack full of food and clothes and stuff, and I sorta...just wanted to know if that had happened to anyone else. And also, if the food was...safe to eat. It’s like rice, and I think there’s fish and vegetables and stuff too, or something.

I think I might've gotten someone else's Pokegear thing. It says it's my birthday today, but my birthday was two days ago.

Comments

Re: Video

[red_roses]

Yes! My mom and dad like to take me to art museums too. I like the paintings, but, some of the "modern" art is very strange.

Video

[neededlassie]

[Hhhhhhh she said the D word. His voice wavers a little.]

I want to be an architect when I grow up. Like my dad.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

That's nice! I bet he was really happy when you told him, right?

..I don't know what I'd like to be yet. Though, Garry said it took him a long time to figure out he wanted to be an artist.

Video

[neededlassie]

[And then it catches completely, making him almost stammer out.]

Y-yeah. I think he was...


That's okay too. I've changed my mind a couple times.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

...Are you okay?

Video

[neededlassie]

[The simple answer is no.

The long answer is noooooooooooo.

But instead, Shaun tries to reassure her.]

I'll be okay.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

Are you sure?

...Cause....

Video

[neededlassie]

...Cause...?

Re: Video

[red_roses]

...Cause I say that when I'm not okay too. I don't want to make people worry.

Video

[neededlassie]

Oh...

[He glances away.]

I just...miss my dad. A lot.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

Does he go away a lot? Or...is it cause you're here now?

Video

[neededlassie]

[He squeezes his eyes shut and swallows. He shakes his head. His voice cracks at first.]

No...

He's...He died.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

!!!

I...I'm so sorry!

Video

[neededlassie]

I-it's...

[It's not okay.

It was Shaun's fault. If he'd been smarter, if he'd been braver, his dad wouldn't have had to come after him.

He shakes his head again.]

It's been three months.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

I'm really sorry....it must have been very hard...

Video

[neededlassie]

[Shaun scrubs at his eyes with his coat sleeve and sniffles to stop crying in front of the girl.]

It...it is.

But I'm here now. So I gotta focus on my journey and stuff.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

I... I'm sorry I brought it up.

Video

[neededlassie]

It's okay. You didn't know.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

[She looks away.] Are you sure...?

Video

[neededlassie]

Y-yeah, I'm sure.

Let's um. Talk about something else, okay?

Re: Video

[red_roses]

O...Okay.

Video

[neededlassie]

I didn't...hear your name.

Re: Video

[red_roses]

O-Oh! How rude of me. I'm Ib. It's nice to meet you.

Video

[neededlassie]

Ib?

[That's a weird name. Not that that's not okay or anything.]

It's nice to meet you too. How old are you?

Re: Video

[red_roses]

I'm nine years old, and I'm in the third grade!

How old are you?