“Can I sit here?” Bette asked, pointing at Max’ chair.

“Yes sure.” Tina told her. The brunette sat down and smiled at Tina.

“How was your talk with Max?” She asked.

“Short but informative, he seems happy, that’s a relieve you know. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Mario really happy for a few hours in a row.” Tina said.

“I think it’ll get better. When he gets more comfortable he’ll be stranger against… the world because there aren’t many accepting people around I think.” Bette said.

“No.” Tina sighed. “Tabitha is teaching Mario some karate, maybe he can defend himself some more.” Tina said.

“Hopefully” Bette said and reached out for Tina’s hand. A weird feeling developed but they didn’t pull away. “It’ll be alright, okay?”

Tina smiled. “Yeah, I hope so…”

They had lunch together, talking, laughing and joking but the hands never moved until they really had to…   

——

Mario was sitting in his room with Justine’s guitar in his hands. Justine had taught him to play and sing his favorite song. She said he was good but Mario didn’t believe that. He had only sung and played the song about ten times, that wasn’t enough to learn something. He would practice a little more before he would let his mother hear it. He placed his hands on the right place, closed his eyes and began to play.

I’m a little boy with glasses
The one they call the geek
A little girl who never smiles
‘Cause I’ve got braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels
To cry myself to sleep

Tina walked in and heard a child’s voice and a guitar playing. She looked at the radio. It was off. Mario? She placed her purse on the ground, stepped out of her heels and walked to her son’s room. She gasped when she saw her little boy sitting there, tears rolling down his cheeks but still singing crystal clear. His voice was high but beautiful and his fingers moved like he was a professional musician. God, it was so sad and yet beautiful.

I’m that kid on every playground
Who’s always chosen last
A single teenage mother 
Tryin’ to overcome my past
You don’t have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask