Strangers Under the Same Roof

However, his body merely stiffened for a second. Then, he walked right past the little boy indifferently as if he were a stranger.

Noah’s eyes suddenly turned red.

I hurried over to him. He was still staring at Daniel’s back when he softly asked me, "Mom, is that who Uncle Daniel likes? And their child?"

Hearing the sorrow in Noah’s young voice, I couldn’t find the strength to respond. Tears finally fell from my eyes.

Noah didn’t ask again. Although he obediently held my hand and walked home, the redness in his eyes said everything about his silent hurt.

I looked at Noah holding back his emotions, my heart aching with every step.

'Daniel Thompson, you have only two chances left.'

***

After finishing his homework, Noah hesitantly asked, "Mom, can Uncle Daniel come with me to the parent-child Sports Day on Sunday?"

I looked into his hopeful eyes and stayed silent.

Ever since Noah started school, Daniel had never once attended any school event, let alone anything involving parent-child participation.

I couldn’t bear to disappoint my son, so I softly said, "I will ask him for you."

I waited on the couch until midnight before Daniel finally came home. He casually dropped a toy robot on the table.

I said, "There’s a parent-child sports day at school on Sunday. Noah hopes you can come."

"I’ll go." I hadn’t held out any hope, but to my surprise, he actually agreed.

The next morning, when Noah woke up and saw me, he said in a low voice, "Uncle Daniel doesn’t want to come, does he?"

Then, he quickly comforted himself like a little adult. "It’s okay. Having you there is the same."

Seeing his thoughtful little face, my heart ached. I quickly said, "He promised to come."

"Uncle Daniel’s busy. I should be understanding…" He was still murmuring to himself, but when he heard what I said, his voice caught.

He looked up in disbelief and asked, "Mom, really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" I stroked his head with heartache.

Noah broke into a bright smile. It was the first time Daniel had ever agreed to accompany his son.

When Noah saw the toy robot on the table, his eyes lit up even more. Grinning from ear to ear, he said, "This must be the gift Uncle Daniel got for me, right?"

Looking at the robot, I also assumed it was meant for Noah. Smiling, I nodded.

Noah was so happy, it was like he was walking on clouds.

In the days that followed, he was filled with excitement. Even so, every day, he would still nervously ask, "Uncle Daniel will definitely come, right?"

Seeing his unease, my heart hurt. I repeatedly reassured him that Daniel would be there.

On Sunday, I took Noah to school first. Other kids’ fathers began to arrive one by one. Noah nervously kept glancing at the school gate.

I held his little hand, now slick with cold sweat.

Soon after, I saw Claire arrive on the playground with Max. The robot in Max’s hands stood out brightly, attracting a group of kids around him.

Noah looked over, and his eyes locked onto the robot. In an instant, they filled with tears.

I also saw it clearly. My fingertips trembled.

Daniel had brought that toy robot home just a few days ago. Since Noah was born, Daniel had never once bought him a single toy. I thought maybe he remembered Noah’s birthday was coming soon, and had picked something special for him.

It turned out that he had bought it for someone else’s child.

"This is from my dad! It’s the only one in the whole city!" The boy’s smug voice drifted into both mine and Noah’s ears.

I said in a trembling voice, "I will buy it for you. I will buy you lots of robots."

Noah wiped his tears and obediently nodded, but he never again cried out about why Uncle hadn’t come.

Looking at Noah’s reddened eyes, I silently said in my heart, 'Daniel Thompson, you have one last chance.'

Just before the Sports Day was about to begin, Daniel came running over, panting.

Noah spotted him immediately. The dullness in his eyes vanished in an instant, and like a little cannonball, he rushed out.

"Dad, you finally came!"

Daniel heard the voice and looked at Noah. His expression turned unpleasant.

"What are you doing here?"

Hearing his question, a wave of unease washed over me.

Noah skipped over to his side, lifted his little face, and said, "Dad…"

Daniel looked at him sternly and questioned coldly, "What did you just call me?"

The joy on Noah’s face froze. He obediently said, "Uncle Daniel, thank you for coming with me to the Sports Day.

"It’s about to start, let’s go!"

Noah was beyond happy. In class, other kids often called him a fatherless brat with no father. Now that Dad had come, he could finally hold his head up high.

Holding Dad’s hand, he wanted to tell them he wasn’t a fatherless brat!

"That’s my dad! You fatherless brat, get lost!"

The next second, a small figure rushed over like a whirlwind and knocked Noah to the ground.

My heart aching, I helped Noah up and looked at the wound on his palm while feeling furious.

"Where’s your mother? Is this how she raises you?"

Hearing my scolding voice, Daniel instinctively shielded the boy behind him. "Max didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you being so harsh?"

Max Matthews spoke up angrily, "Who told you to try to steal my dad?! Dad came to attend the Sports Day with me!"

Noah was stunned. Tears fell, and his expression broke into sadness.

Daniel looked at Noah’s tears and felt a bit uneasy. He instinctively called out, "Noah…"

Noah wiped away his tears stoically and said, "Sorry, I forgot my dad is dead. I mistook him for the wrong person."

"What did you say?" Daniel looked at Noah in shock.

However, Noah had already grabbed my hand and walked away. I could feel how much strength he was using.

Daniel wanted to catch up, but Max and Claire clung to him. "Dad, the Sports Day is starting. Let’s go join quickly!"

Noah held my hand tighter and almost ran off with me.

The lively Sports Day had begun. Noah turned down all events and quietly stood in the stands, watching his father carry another child in the parent-child games. As he watched, his tears fell without a single sob.

I could feel the sadness enveloping Noah’s small body. My chest was filled with anger, but I was helpless.

At last, Noah’s tears dried up. He softly said, "Mom, let’s go. It’s time to leave."

I immediately said with heartache, "Let’s go. We’ll leave tonight."

As the event came to an end, Noah and I ran into that family of three again.

Daniel looked at Noah and me, and suddenly reacted as though the child in his arms was burning hot.

Before he could put him down, Noah said from the bottom of his heart, "Goodbye, Uncle Daniel."