(THIRD PERSON POV)

  Alex, age 12, sixth grade

  When Alex’s grandpa died

  Her family seemed more concerned about arguing and being right than the fact he was gone

  Maybe it’s because they all were expecting this some time soon

  But to Alex it was a complete shock to hear “Grandpa is in the hospital”

  And a bigger shock to understand that he’s dying

  But in that time, Alex’s family was just busy being snarky and rude to each other.

  Even Alex’s dad kinda nope-d out since he was busy hearing his wife vent.

  Alex left the house without telling anyone, doubting her parents would notice.

  > > > >

  Alex tries to go to Oliver first since he’s more sensitive and she’s used to venting to him.

  However, when she knocks on the neighbor’s door, his mom says he’s at a doctor’s appointment with his dad.

  Not wanting to wait, Alex heads over to Lucas’ house.

  In truth, Alex normally wouldn’t vent to Lucas.

  She loves him like a brother and she knows he has a good heart,

  but she also knows he’s a more logical analytical “trying to be stoic in the face of hardship” type of guy.

  This exterior of his is why Alex tends to vent to Oliver more.

  But right now, Lucas is who she needs.

  He answers the door and Alex immediately breaks down in tears, feeling some sense of emotional release.

  “Whoah- what happened? Are you okay?”

  Lucas puts his hands on Alex’s arms, looking at her to see her face.

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  Alex looks up at him and manages, “My grandpa died.”

  Lucas starts, “Oh, I’m so sor-“

  12-year old Alex cries, “And the worst part is- nobody seems to actually care!”

  “What?”

  Alex has Lucas walk back into his house and she closes the door behind her.

  “Apparently my family decided this was the time to start arguing and being snarky to each other. Even my parents are saying stuff about my grandma and my aunts and uncles and cousins.”

  “That… seems really messed up…”

  “It is. I know the full group of my mom’s side of the family doesn’t always get along but seriously?!”

  Alex sobs again, and Lucas leads Alex to a chair so she can sit down.

  “Why are they arguing?”

  “I don’t know… the story keeps changing… I don’t really get it but my mom was saying my grandma was being selfish and wasn’t thinking right and cousins were saying things…”

  “Well, maybe there’s more to it than you know.”

  Alex glanced at Lucas in shock, not expecting that response.

  Oliver would have just said “That seems wrong of them” or “that must feel horrible for you”… but this?

  Lucas notices Alex’s expression and he stammers a little, his lisp becoming more obvious than it already is. “What I’m saying is- you said you’re not sure why they’re arguing. Maybe they have a good reason.”

  Alex’s initial instinct is to get upset. Is he trying to imply she’s getting upset over nothing?

  But then something clicks in Alex’s brain.

  “Maybe…” Alex pulls her knees to her chest. “But my grandma isn’t selfish. And my parents don’t seem like they care that grandpa died. They seem more like they care about arguing.”

  “Well… isn’t that kind of what you’re doing right now?”

  Alex stares at him in shock.

  The difference between Oliver and Lucas has never been more clear.

  But then Alex notices she’s stopped crying…

  Instead of getting angry, Alex asks, “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you came here to tell me about how much the arguing is upsetting you…”

  “No, I came because I’m upset my grandpa died.”

  “I’m sure you are, but you’re also upset about this… and it just seems like that’s what you’re focusing on more.”

  Alex’s whole brain gets turned inside out.

  What is this feeling?

  It’s the furthest apart from how she feels venting to Oliver…

  And yet somehow, Alex feels a weight taken off of her.

  But not a weight off her chest like Oliver helps with…

  But like a mental block has been unblocked.

  Alex looks down. “You’re right… maybe I am distracting myself with this… I guess… I don’t know- it’s almost like I’m so shocked I’m numb.”

  “Numb?”

  “Like… uh… it’s like I understand that he’s dead but my feelings about that are just… delayed…”

  “I can understand that. It’s a lot to take in. Especially since you saw your grandparents so often. Wasn’t it like once a month?”

  Alex puts her legs down. “Yeah… once a month and every holiday… even the small holidays like Dominion Day and Labour Day.”

  “That must have been nice.”

  Alex sits up with a small smile. “Yeah. My grandparents have a tree in their backyard and they’d invite people over and we’d all sit around it and eat and laugh… I always was dead-tired after those nights but I loved it.”

  “I remember those. You had Oliver and I come to a few. Your grandpa was really nice to us. I think your grandma thought one of us had a crush on you though.”

  Alex laughs, and it makes Lucas smile.

  The Cambodian girl smiles and says, “You know what? I’m glad I came and talked to you. I don’t think talking with Olly would have done the same thing for me.”

  “You mean that?”

  “Yeah… you helped me realize I was focusing on the wrong things… like my family is… but talking with you just now? I realized I want to be different from them. And I’m not going to make this about my relatives- my parents- or me… I just wanna think about grandpa. And the good memories.”

  “I’m glad I helped… somehow…”

  Alex pulls the skinny brunette into a hug.

  Unlike Oliver, Lucas isn’t a hugger and gets awkward being hugged…

  But the long-haired boy puts an arm around Alex anyway.