Buy on lulu.com Warning: not intended for children Alex Martinson just had his golden birthday — he turned 8 on October 8. Everyone who cared about him came to celebrate him— Everyone, including his dad. Not that anyone saw him; he was turned away at the door when their neighbor, Mrs. Linda Burch, intercepted the man, scolded him for showing up drunk, and Alex’s step-parent Skyler seconded the decision for “Jim” to leave. Alex didn’t even get to see him; he’d been hiding under his play set, out of view from everyone, and overheard the adults talking. Overheard Linda and Skyler saying such mean things about Jim. It was the worst thing in Alex’s short life— Until ... The following Thursday, Alex's lunch is interrupted by his teacher and principle... His parents had been in an accident; a really bad one. Both had been taken to the nearest hospital; both were in surgery; both were in danger of not pulling through. Without any other family, his dad was called. And he showed up-- eventually. Just as Alex started settling into a 'new normal' with his dad, his old neighbors, the Burches, begin insisting that his dad is an unfit parent; Mrs. Linda, especially, drags up all of the same complaints about the man’s fitness to be Alex's guardian; the drinking, drugs, bursts of rage-- all the things she and Skyler would talk about. Alex doesn’t want to be uprooted again; Alex doesn’t want to lose the last parent he’s been desperately clinging to; but, it seems the Burches aren’t interested in what Alex wants… Maybe they’re just looking out for him— after all, they’re adults, and adults know better… right? Content warning for: depictions of grievously harmed children, mentions of animal cruelty