“A-A dad!?” 

T-this can't be right? Me a father? I’m barely just scrapping by myself how on earth could I possibly support a child? Not only that, but there was a glaring contradiction to his theory. “No offence but I think you missed the mark on this one,” I hold up my pinky and point at it to remind him just what had caused our encounter in the first place. “I haven't got a Red String so how could I have a child when I'm not even destined to get with a woman?” 

“Ehhh you bring up a solid argument,” the gent didn't fluster as he looked at my pinky unimpressed. “If you only consider such Strings to be formed by blood alone,” with raise of his hand, he points to both his pinky and index finger all while hosting a cocky grin. “Not sure these ones follow that rule.”

“I-I...” there was nothing for me to counter with; all it took was a single raise of his hand to blow both my argument to smithereens; felt like an absolute dummy for trying to argue the point with such faulty reasoning.  

“E-even so! This doesn't automatically mean that I'm going to be a father right? There has to be another reason for this extra String?” I look to the String that shouldn't be there, the fears and anxiety at the mere possibility of being a father growing the longer I stared at it.  “If it is true...Then what if I screw everything up and end up destroying that kid's life?” 

“Heh heh heh, you doubt yourself way to much Sonny,” my attention shifted back to the gent, chuckling all the while shaking his head.  “Take it from me, your going to be the best darn tooting father when the time comes.” 

Couldn't help but become bewildered by the man's unfounded assumption? “What could possibly make you think that?” 

The older gent sits back, resting his arms at the back of the seat and shrugs. “I dunno? My hunch is telling me so and hasn't done me wrong before. Besides-” the man gazes up at the moon, a proud smile befalling him. “Had those same doubts before my own little sprouts came into my life.”

“R-Really!?” not sure why I had been taken back by this news, it's not rare for people to have kids, especially one of his age; despite that rationalisation it still took me a bit too long to let it sink in that he was a father.  

A light chuckle left the man as he set his sights back towards me. “Yep! Wasn't just one either, it was two little rascals that entered my life that day and changed it forever,” the man seemed to beam as bright as the moon itself as he spoke of his kids. 

“Good lord...You even had twins to consider...” here I am freaking out over just one when he had a whole another life to watch over. “I...I can't even imagine how scary that must have been...How'd you do it?” 

An amused huff left the man as his eyes drifted to the pond ahead. “Just did my best Sonny, don't get me wrong it terrified me to my core once I had received the news; it also wasn't always easy and had made my fair share of mistakes learning how to be a father,” despite such worrying statements, seeing the proud smile of this man who looked to hold little to no regrets somehow helped keep me at ease. “But in the end those little tykes birth was the best thing to happen in my life and think I was a pretty darn tooting good father to them,” the man looked to his hand with such content I didn't even believe was possible before looking back to me bearing his sweetest smile. “Once that child enters your life I have no doubt you'll feel the same and as long as you do your best and keep loving them unconditionally then I know you'll be an excellent father.”      

It was such simple advice, yet it was enough to have me re-consider that I could end up being a pretty good dad; still held a lot of anxiety about taking on such a Herculean task, but when I look to the mysterious Green String now I feel a great calm washing over me like everything will work out just fine.    

Not going to be easy when that time comes and that was a scary understatement, but at least felt more prepared and in a way… Pretty excited for the day to arrive... All thanks to this kind old gent taking time out of his day to cheer me up.  

“...Thank you Alvin.” 

“Eh he he, now what in Sam hill you got to thank me for Sonny?” that strange yet endearing prospector laugh left the man once more as he scratched at his nose. “I didn't really do much other then yabber on till night fell.” 

A bewildered chuckle left me as I wondered how he could downplay everything he had done for me. “You kidding mate?” I hold up my once empty hand now sprawling with more Strings then could have ever imagined. “If it wasn't for you I may have never discovered that other Strings even existed in the first place! Along with showing me that I did indeed deserve love and had a whole lot of it my life...” I then turn my palm to myself, almost in tears watching all the different coloured Strings shoot out in all sorts of directions. “I mean this from the bottom of my heart when I say that you have have changed my life forever and will do anything to repay this debt.”  

No matter what I did it would never be enough to match even a small fraction of what he had done for me, but was sure as heck going to do all in my power to try! 

It was then that the older gent crossed his arms, lowered his head, closed his eyes and began to mummer to himself in what I assumed was deep thought. “...So you'd do anything I'd ask eh?” I nod with eager anticipation. “Well then in that case, think I have the perfect request.” 

“Just say the word and I'll make it happen!” 

A soft chuckle left the kindly man as he sat back and gazed at the moon once more, presenting a smile that seemed more subdued then usual. “...Promise me to keep those people wrapped around those Strings of yours close and never take them for granted.” 

Had been taken back by what was an extremely simple request that didn't even benefit him in anyway.   

Don't get me wrong it's lovely of him to consider me like that, but still didn't feel right that he's yet again just helping me with his request and wanted to do something just for him.                            

While I looked down trying to think of anything that I could do for him, my eyes soon lock to his hand that rested flat on the bench; quickly realising that in all the excitement I'd never even attempted to look at Alvin's Strings. 

Out of curiosity I set my focus on his fingers, expecting quite the burst of Strings to plop about in all sorts of directions!

...Only...That's not what I had saw. 

1 Red String that I already knew where it went...

3 Green with one that also travelled into the earth...

2 Yellow...That both travelled downward...

1 Singular Blue that followed that same downward trajectory... 

It was an absolute shock to see the kindly gent have such a bare amount of Strings, most of them tragically no longer with us. 

Could only stare at the man still gazing at the moon, now understanding that his subdued smile was one of mourning, yet also seemed at peace. 

It was then that it had hit me why he'd made such a request, a grateful grin befell my lips before joining him to gaze at the beautiful full moon that shined above us with only one last thing to say to this kindly old gent before we part ways- 

 -I Promise-