Chapter 81: Charlie and Jean

Billy Thornton didn't realize there was anything wrong with his family until he started attending school. Other kids talked about Mommy and Daddy, brothers and sisters, Grandma and Grandpa, and pets. He only had Charlie and Jean.

He didn't think anything of it for a while. It was all he knew. How was a kindergartener supposed to know the difference?

He wondered what all of his classmates were talking about until the day everyone was supposed to draw a picture of their families. The teachers went around the room helping anyone who needed it. Billy definitely needed help; he was completely lost.

His neighbors' papers consisted of stick figure men, women, and children. Some attempted to draw dogs or cats as well. Most kids drew the stick figures standing in front of hulking shapes meant to represent houses.

Miss Marley, one of the teaching assistants, came by and saw his blank paper. "Why haven't you gotten started, Billy?"