In the beginning I thought it was maybe a past you-know-what experience that made mattress’ so unappealing. But then I realized that it was just sleep itself that he couldn’t stand. The first night I got him he was clearly sleep deprived but as soon as he let himself fall asleep it was shaking and crying for the rest of the night. I didn’t sleep a wink.”

...

“Yeah, I know, just need to let him adjust and all, but I really want to know what goes on inside that little head of his. What does he see when he closes his eyes?”

The man twisted the phone cord between his fingers, studying the plastic loops as his friend on the other end of the call voiced his opinion.

He looked up when he heard the boy’s light footsteps trailing into the kitchen. Flashing his newest foster kid a quick smile, he held up a finger signaling that the call was almost over, but the boy just ignored him. Suddenly, the man could no longer hear his friend as he watched the boy stare at the ground with intense horror and whisper over and over,

Tony: Oh my God, Peter! What happened!?

Peter: I forgot to eat.

Peter: All day.

Tony: I leave for one day, and you pass out from hunger because you FORGOT TO EAT???

Peter:...

Peter: Yeah.