It started when he found an odd pair of shoes. They were gray sneakers with blue shoelaces. The day after, his dad announced to the family he was off to join the army. Jason's mother wouldn't talk to him for days, as though it were his fault that his dad left. She had to get another job as a cashier at the supermarket, and Jason grew more and more distant from her, seeing her only about once every three months. When he did see her, it was only for a minute or two, before she was off to work.