no thoughts, just a six-year-old Andrew Minyard at the doctor’s office with strep throat. A little girl is sitting with him in the waiting room eating a Happy Meal on her mom’s lap. Andrew traces circles into his own hands, thinking that the comforting taste of chicken nuggets and french fries would help him feel better. He knows he’s not supposed to ask for things, but a pang of desperation makes him forget to be cautious. He sits up straight, gathering his courage, and turns to his foster dad to ask if they can get a Happy Meal on the way home.
“No,” his foster dad snaps. “It was already enough of an inconvenience bringing you here.”
no thoughts, just a six-year-old Andrew Minyard shrinking back into himself as tears sting in his eyes. A six-year-old Andrew Minyard learning not to want things.
no thoughts, just a twenty-year-old Nicky Hemmick leaving the doctor’s office with Andrew who probably has strep throat, but wouldn’t let the doctor get close enough to check. Drained from the day, Nicky stops at the McDonald’s drive thru and asks Andrew what he wants. Andrew snaps that he isn’t hungry. Nicky decides to buy him a Happy Meal as a way of avoiding food waste if Andrew truly isn’t hungry, but also so Andrew has something to eat if he actually is hungry.
no thoughts, just a twenty-year-old Nicky Hemmick feeling guilty for not having the energy to make something at home for Andrew to eat, and not knowing he’s given Andrew exactly what he needed.