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Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

I. Said. Its. Fine!

Saying it louder doesn’t make it true. *he was
forcing calmness so he wouldn’t appear confrontational to Max.*

*max buries his face in his hoodie* sorry! Don’t be mad!

Max – Max, look at me. I’m not mad. I promise,
I’m not mad. Not at you.

Promise? Sorry…it’s stupid…I’m stupid…

*sighs* No, Max, it’s not stupid. Not stupid
at all. I promise; I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the people that hurt you. They
made you so scared, and you shouldn’t be.

*max looks up at him* h-hey…uh…this may sound weird…b-because I just met you…but can I have a hug? Sorry…

*blinks at him, a little surprised, but smiles
and nods* Yeah – sure, Max. Absolutely. *lets go of his shoulders and holds open his arms so Max could step in*

*max hugs him* *he sniffles once* s-sorry…I won’t cry again…you’re probably tired of my stupid weakness…

*hugs back and gently pats his back* It’s okay
to cry. It’s not showing weakness – it’s showing how much you feel about it.
You can cry all you need to, Max. I won’t judge you for it at all, I promise.

But…I’ve already cried twice…I don’t wanna…it hurts…

I know, I know – it’s tough. But it happens.
And you’re not weak for it. *reaches for another tissue in his pocket and
pushes it into one of Max’ hands while still holding him with his other arm.*

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

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cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

I. Said. Its. Fine!

Saying it louder doesn’t make it true. *he was
forcing calmness so he wouldn’t appear confrontational to Max.*

*max buries his face in his hoodie* sorry! Don’t be mad!

Max – Max, look at me. I’m not mad. I promise,
I’m not mad. Not at you.

Promise? Sorry…it’s stupid…I’m stupid…

*sighs* No, Max, it’s not stupid. Not stupid
at all. I promise; I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the people that hurt you. They
made you so scared, and you shouldn’t be.

*max looks up at him* h-hey…uh…this may sound weird…b-because I just met you…but can I have a hug? Sorry…

*blinks at him, a little surprised, but smiles
and nods* Yeah – sure, Max. Absolutely. *lets go of his shoulders and holds open his arms so Max could step in*

*max hugs him* *he sniffles once* s-sorry…I won’t cry again…you’re probably tired of my stupid weakness…

*hugs back and gently pats his back* It’s okay
to cry. It’s not showing weakness – it’s showing how much you feel about it.
You can cry all you need to, Max. I won’t judge you for it at all, I promise.

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

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cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

I. Said. Its. Fine!

Saying it louder doesn’t make it true. *he was
forcing calmness so he wouldn’t appear confrontational to Max.*

*max buries his face in his hoodie* sorry! Don’t be mad!

Max – Max, look at me. I’m not mad. I promise,
I’m not mad. Not at you.

Promise? Sorry…it’s stupid…I’m stupid…

*sighs* No, Max, it’s not stupid. Not stupid
at all. I promise; I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the people that hurt you. They
made you so scared, and you shouldn’t be.

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

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the-perfect-scientist:

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cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

I. Said. Its. Fine!

Saying it louder doesn’t make it true. *he was
forcing calmness so he wouldn’t appear confrontational to Max.*

*max buries his face in his hoodie* sorry! Don’t be mad!

Max – Max, look at me. I’m not mad. I promise,
I’m not mad. Not at you.

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

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cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

I. Said. Its. Fine!

Saying it louder doesn’t make it true. *he was
forcing calmness so he wouldn’t appear confrontational to Max.*

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

cliche-ask-max

cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

I…didn’t want this to be a big deal…it’s not a big deal…see? I’m fine!

You were crying, Max. Crying to a
near-complete stranger. And you said your parents could kill you. That’s not
fine, Max, and you know that.

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

cliche-ask-max

cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

No.

It means that he might be required by law to
tell the authorities if he learns that one of his campers is being abused at
home. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to him. He’s your counselor, and he’s here to help you. That might be why they call them ‘camp counselors’.

cliche-ask-max

cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

I’ve hidden it for five years, I think I can hide it for more.

You were going to talk to David, and I’m
pretty sure since he works with children he might be a mandated reporter. Do
you know what that means?

cliche-ask-max:

the-perfect-scientist:

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cliche-ask-max-deactivated20171:

Oh. Who are you and why are you talking to me?

//lol chill max//

My…my mom…

She was wrong! *he says it almost sharply. He
sighs and tries again.* She was wrong. She shouldn’t have said something like
that to you, Max.

But…she’s my mom…kids are supposed to listen to their parents…right? They’re supposed to love their parents…

But sometimes parents aren’t perfect. And they
can be very wrong. My brother… my mom thought he was useless. He can’t walk,
but he’s a brilliant software engineer. She was wrong about him. And your mom…
she was wrong to say something like that to an impressionable child like you.
Yeah, you can love your mom, but that doesn’t mean she can’t do anything wrong
ever.

I just…I don’t know what to do…

That’s okay, Max. You’re just a kid. You’re
already doing the most important thing, which is talking to an adult who wants
to help you.

Help? How?

*sighs* I’m not sure yet. But knowing that you’re
actually getting physically hurt, I can’t really keep this to myself. Or, I
shouldn’t. Authorities should be told about this.

Nonono please! You can’t tell anyone! I shouldn’t have even told you! Please don’t fell the cops!

Max – max, please listen to me. They are hurting you. You said that they hit you.
And that absolutely has to stop.

Don’t! Please!

*takes his shoulders and squeezes them* Max –
it’s okay. It’s okay, I promise. I’m not going to tell anyone right away – I need
to think about what the best way to go about helping you would be. But
eventually… someone else will know. Please, Max… trust me.

You don’t understand what they’ll do to me if they find out I told someone!

You’ve already told me what they do to you.
And the last thing I want is for them to hurt you again. Max, you have to trust
me – I will do everything to keep them from hurting you again.

No…they’ll kill me…

*Carlos isn’t sure if Max is exaggerating, or
if this is actually something that would happen. It worries him.* All the more
reason to get you out of that situation, Max. You’re clearly very scared of them. I want to help protect you.

I…I thought this was normal…I thought all parents treated kids this way…but no…if this gets out, they will actually kill me…as in murder…

It is not normal, Max. Not at all.

*takes a deep breath.*

Max… right now, no one else knows. You’re not
at your house – you’re here, safe at Camp. I’m the only person you’ve ever
told. Your secret is still a secret.

I’d like to keep it that way.

*frowns* It would have come out eventually,
Max. That’s just something that can’t be hidden for long.