'Have a nice day,' said the lady at the counter on the way out of the face painting store, which was covered in cheerful paintings of children's cartoons. Micheal was clinging onto his mother's right hand, a box of face paints for his fifth birthday party in the other.
'What's that shop Mum?' Micheal asked, pointing to the desolate looking store across the road, its lights flashing dimly.
'That is-er,' she said, trying to conjure words to keep him in the shade of innocence
'Your father?' she gasped, trying to comprehend what was going on.
'Is Dad buying adults from the adult store?' He had just learnt to read.
She was lost for words, and stood gaping at her husband who was standing next to the much younger woman.
'DAD!' Micheal yelled, grinning and waving happily to the man across the road, oblivious to the tear stains on his mother's face.