Blaine Anderson did not consider himself to be like the other boys. Sure, he enjoyed playing Power Rangers action figures with the rest of the boys in his class during recess, but he always asked to have the pink one first – he always liked the color. The other boys did not seem to mind either; happy someone was willing to play with the, “girly” ranger. Blaine liked to play kickball and baseball just like the rest of his classmates but he really disliked it when the other kids made fun of him for getting hurt. It wasn’t his fault for being such a klutz. Well maybe it was but there was still no need to call him names for it.

It was coming close to Blaine’s fifth birthday and his mother had come to him asking for his list. But Blaine wasn’t simple like that – he insisted on showing his mother everything he wanted so it would be easier for her to find later. They walked around an old toyshop in their town, picking out the action figures, new bouncy ball and even that board game with the ladders and slides. His mother smiled and shook her head at his enthusiasm and energy, rapidly describing his day as well. They were walking to the more “girl friendly” side of the store and his mother began to wonder why he wasn’t turning away.

“Blaine,” she called as he ran forward, eyes set on something in the doll aisle. “Blaine shouldn’t we be going? Your father will be home soon.”
“Mom mom mom, if there is one thing I want for my birthday – it’s this!” and with that he shoved a classic Barbie doll with a simple pink dress and slippers on her feet, hair tied in ribbon as she posed inside the box.
“Now why on earth would you want a girls toy?”
“She’s pretty mom. Maybe I could get a Ken doll too? I could plan their entire life together!” shouted the young boy, eyes sparkling with ideas as he began to mumble things about the dolls future in his mind.
“Blaine, this toy is for girls though.”
“Does it say so? Mommy, sometimes the girls let me borrow their dolls during recess but I really want my own to join their tea parties.”

She blinked a few times, took the doll from Blaine’s hands and bent down so she could look Blaine eye to eye. “Maybe another time sweetie,” and with a kiss on the forehead, she deterred them from the rest of the girl aisles and walked out of the shop.

~*~

It was a little past midnight when Blaine woke up after a nasty gust of wind flew through his open window. Climbing out of bed and shutting the window he quietly heard the whispers of his parents from downstairs. He walked silently towards the door and could see the warm light emulating from beneath the crack. Curiosity driven, he slunk down the carpeted stairs lurking behind the banister, turning his ear hoping to grasp a few words.

“- Not natural”
“Don’t know where we went wrong,” his father said gravely.
“I asked the other moms of the boys – nothing like this, only him,”
“If we sign him up for a team?”
“Our son is going to turn into a queer Michael. Face it. Ever since your brother ran off to be with that waiter, Ricardo or whatever – I knew it, we were doomed,” her voice crisp like ice. Slicing through the air leaving nothing but silence.
“This is not a thing of genes Regina,” his father whispered helplessly.
“Well I will not have it in my house. Not now or ever.”

Blaine sat frozen behind the banister, his fingers gripping to dear life around the wood. He was not going to cry because mom was simply being silly. And what was a ‘queer’ anyway? Just because Blaine liked dolls and spending time with girls? The girls were his friends and never made fun of him for anything unlike the boys. Mommy was just tired – she wasn’t really angry with Blaine. No, she would kiss him tomorrow morning just like she always did before dropping him at school.

Except she didn’t.

~*~

Blaine didn’t go to school that day. His mother woke him an hour earlier than normal with the usual routine that consulted of her shaking him while murmuring, “The sun wants to see your face Blaine.” She fed him two waffles like always, packed his book bag and sent him downstairs to wash up.

Regina quickly filled his sack with a pair of pajamas, some of his favorite books and the pink Power Ranger he was so fond of. Meeting him in the kitchen, she stopped to stare at her young boy – so little and unaware, and suddenly she was calling him to the car ready for another days adventure.

“Mommy, where are we going?” questioned young Blaine acknowledging that the sun was just starting to rise.
“New baby sitter – have to take on more hours at work if I want to get all your birthday gifts. It will just be for a little while I promise,” his mother cooed from the front seat, eyes never leaving the road.

Blaine simply nodded his head, eyes drooping and then falling into a light slumber for the rest of the trip. He could not have known how long he had been in his mothers car, or how far his mother had traveled except that when he next woke the sun was at it’s peak.

Climbing out of the car he struggled to get his backpack over his shoulder and followed his mother up to a clean, silver door. Four knocks sharp on the door and a young man opened up slightly. He seemed to be in his mid twenties and was of Asian descent. His black hair sticking up at random angles, brown eyes slightly slanted and fine physique with a matching smile made him look approachable.

“Good day, how can I help you?” spoke the man politely. He took the moment to look down and saw Blaine standing there, hunched over from the weight of his backpack and a look of general confusion. His mouth twitched and fell into a slight frown but remained professional as he glanced back at Blaine’s mother.

“Mr. Chang, we spoke on the phone? You’ll be looking after Blaine for a little while, won’t you?” her voice crisp, reminding Blaine of last night where she sounded angrier than before.
“Why yes, of course,” he muttered, shooting a look that Blaine was unable to describe – what was it? Fear? Shame? “Blaine, why don’t you come inside with me – I think you’ll like it here,” and the smile was back, beaming as Blaine stepped forward.

Blaine turned back around first though, and smiled at his mother. He ran up to her, giving her a quick hug full of love and then whispered, “See you in a little bit, right mom?”
Retracting Blaine from around her neck, she looked down at the boy and murmured, “Yes I’ll see you soon dear.” And with that Blaine ran inside the house, looking forward to whatever may have been inside to fill his adventure.

She never came back for Blaine.

Days turned to weeks, which turned to months and later to years and on Blaine’s seventh birthday it became quite clear. He was abandoned. Just like all the other children living with Mr. Chang.

She was never coming back.