“So, how’s school been Billy?” Curt asked, setting a glass of his favourite orange juice on the table in front of him. Billy was curled up on the sofa watching a cartoon Curt was unfamiliar with. He remembered all of Billy’s favourite shows and this one with buff black haired men turning blonde wasn’t what Curt remembered.

“It’s been fine,” Billy said unenthusiastically. “Very boring.”

“School is very boring, yes,” Curt said. “But you should at least be keeping your grades up.”

“I always get straight A’s,” Billy said. “It’s too easy. The teachers have been talking about moving me up a grade.”

Curt smiled, feeling pride glimmer in his body. Like father, like son.

“You should take that opportunity,” Curt said. “Finish school as fast as possible. You see, school stifles your potential…”

“But I don’t want to finish school fast,” Billy protested. “If I do, I won’t see Sunny again.”

There was an impasse between Billy and Curt at that moment. When Curt was Billy’s age, he didn’t have much in terms of friends.

Billy yawned. “Man, this episode is so boring. I’ve seen it a thousand times already.”

“What’s say we have some lunch?” Curt said. “And after that we’ll play some board games?”

“I’ll pass on the board games,” Billy said. “Mum, Sam and I already played some board games last week, I kicked their ass at all of those games.”

“Language,” Curt said, feigning a laugh. “And who’s this Sam person?”

Billy’s eyes lightened up. “Oh, Sam’s the one who got me my shoes. Mum says he’s not her boyfriend, but I see the way she makes googly eyes at him. He’s a very nice guy, I think you’ll like him dad…” When his dad wasn’t responding to him, Billy turned to face him. “Dad?”

Curt stood there in shock. A swirling stew pot of anger, hurt and disgust swirled through the pot of his belly. Boyfriend? How dare she? How fucking dare, she? Just because she was disgusted in his arm, she decides to see another man who can…?

Curt felt an itch in his arm. Felt his whole body tighten.

“Tell me about this Sam,” Curt asked, trying his best not to show the hurt he felt, the utter betrayal he felt.

“Oh, Sam’s great. He works at a gym, sometimes he trains me…” Billy said, his voice silenced by the roar of Curt’s thoughts. And the way Billy talked about him, almost as if he was his own father. Oh, what Curt would do to wrap his arms around this Sam and strangle him. “He buys me gifts and toys…”

Billy continued on about Sam till lunch, after which he was exhausted and decided to take a nap. Curt placed a blanket over him and when he was sure Billy was asleep, he took out the formula from his bag and started work on it.

“Oh, Sam is great,” Curt said, mocking Billy’s voice. “I’ll show him how great he is.” Curt almost crushed a vial. “I’ll show him how great I AM!”