When I first saw Oscar he was playing a video game (come to think of it, the last time I saw him he was playing a video game too). He just casually said “hi” when his foster dad introduced me.
We left him at the game while we went outside to chat.
I got the rundown about his family, about his struggles in school and how he’s got a whole team of people working hard to get him on track. I was warned that he was shy at first, especially around strangers, and to not expect much from this trip.
We went out to lunch, and I was up-to-date enough on Star Wars to get Oscar into a conversation.
We talked and talked… through lunch, and later through ice cream.
It was a really nice conversation and we parted ways in the mall parking lot.
Later that evening, the foster dad called to say how surprised he was that Oscar talked like he did.
“Why did you talk so much?” he recalled asking Oscar, reminding him that he doesn’t usually open up that much.
“Because he gets me,” came Oscar’s reply.
Yes, kid. I get you.
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