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warmly now stare coldly at my thirteen year old self as she ordered me outside. I feel bad for her; she’s stuck in the same trap I was stuck in. She believes him and I believed him. I remember that day when I left the house, I thought I would never be better than him or amount to anything that was the day Justin came into my life. He made all the difference in me.
    Justin Watkins was my mentor and the father that I never had. He was my neighbor and lived four houses down from me. I had picked up my bike and was riding it down the street when I saw him standing over his car with the hood up. I was curious so I rode up to him to see what he was doing. I was lonely I guess. I will never forget the way he looked, with his hair balding, slight wrinkles around his smiling blue eyes, a cigarette dangled from his lips and oil stains adorned his white undershirt. He wiped his hands on his torn stained jeans and held out his hand as he introduced himself, “Justin.”
    I was taken aback, I expected him to yell at me and chase me away. I stared at his hand trying to decide what to do.
    “Well? I promise I won’t bite.” He said looking me in the eyes and smiling.
    I finally decided he was okay and shook his hand, “Gabriel.”
    “Well Gabe,” He said gripping my hand and giving it a hearty shake, “How would you like to learn how to change oil in a car?” He asked smiling brightly, his voice had a southern drawl.
    I shrugged; “Sure,” it wasn’t like I had anything better to do. I dropped my bike on his lawn and we set about changing the oil in his car. When we were done, I told him I had to go, and he asked me to come back tomorrow and we would work on the brakes. I agreed and ran home the sun was setting and I knew I had to go home before my dad started yelling at my mother for letting me run away.
    Every day I went back to his house and he would have something new for me to do. He taught me how to fix things and took me fishing, sky diving, and to the skate park. He taught me how to Ollie a skate board and fly fish. My parents didn’t care as long as I was home before dark they didn’t miss me during the day, my mother was busy working and my dad was busy drinking. Justin got me started in BMX sports. I remember the rush I felt the first time I pulled a trick in midair I felt alive and capable of doing anything. Justin showed me how important it was to have a hobby and how to be productive. I learned so much from him. It was just too bad that he was no longer around. A motorcycle wreck took him out. I was one of the few people to attend his funeral; he left his car to me, a T-top Trans Am. That car was his baby and I treat it the same way. Justin greatly impacted my life. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here today, in college, helping other kids the same way he helped me.
    I’m at Caden’s house, I knock on the door and wait for him to come out. I don’t have to wait long and soon we’re off. Today I’m taking Caden to the skate park. I listen to Caden talk to me about his day and his family. So much of his story reminds me of my own family. I just wish I could help them the way I’m helping him.
    Once I left the house to go to college my dad told me that I would fail and to never come back home. I was mostly okay with that apart from leaving my little brother at home. He was fourteen and had no real outlet. I would try to get him out of the house with me, but he had no desire to hang out with me. He was stuck just like my mother. Before I left he accused me of leaving him behind. I made sure he had a number so he could contact me, but I couldn’t stay behind because of him. I had to move on with my life. I had to prove my father wrong, make Justin proud, and get my mother and brother out away from my dad. I’ve been working on a plan; I just have to figure out how to talk some sense into my mother. I already have something worked out for my brother; I just have to wait until he’s eighteen. If only