It's been a few months since Diego returned from his important work. What's more is that he looks much different than he did before he left. He looks more weaker, and tired or so Lucas thinks when he sees him.
"I got sick a while back when I was on the outside for too long. Don't worry I'll recover soon, but I need to focus on teaching you everything I know." Diego says as he sits next to Lucas.
"Well I don't know, I was expecting you to know stuff, like what is in your priority. Well I know how to cook a little, when you were out she taught me how to make basic meals. She also taught me how to clean, and wash my clothes." Lucas says
Diego makes a sad expression, as he basically made a different person raise the boy he said he was going to raise. He is going to thank Erica the next time he sees her, and try to be more responsible.
Diego then clears his throat which Lucas looks up at him. "Well I'll make sure you remember this one thing no matter what." He says and Lucas is intrigued by what it might be.
"Well I'll tell you this, you should always be kind to everyone you meet, and show them appreciation. One of the best things a man can do is give purpose, and comfort to others." Diego says as he pats Lucas again, he hopes he can follow these words to the end.
"Alright I will remember those words, but can you give me an example." Lucas says as he looks directly at him with expectation.
"Lucas I can't give you an example as kindness isn't meant to be shown off. Kindness comes from within one's heart." Diego says.
Diego then pulls out a book and hands it to Lucas, and Lucas grabs it. "I assume your parents taught you about manners, and being nice." Lucas nods and Diego is glad as he won't have to teach him basic things.
"Well Lucas you do know what a dream is right?" Lucas nods, "Well would you mind telling me what your life goal might be? In the future of course." He asks.
Lucas thinks for a little bit, he looks around, and then back to Diego. "Well my goal is to find my parents, I want to be with them or at least seem them one more time. I also want them to get the farm back as this all started because of it." Lucas says as he blushes a bit.
"Well that's certainly a big and wonderful dream, and I'm not going to discourage you. If you want to accomplish that dream you have to work really hard for it." Diego says and Lucas nods as he understands.
"I'll try to help you out with it then, I'll do my best, and I hope this makes you better." Diego says and Lucas hugs him. "Listen I'll hate to see you cry so I'll do anything to not see that sad face of yours again." He hugs Lucas back.
"Is this what being kind is Diego? If it is then I'll be the kindest person ever." Lucas says.
"Well this kindness shouldn't matter at the moment, It shouldn't be mentioned at all." Diego says.
"Well I guess I sort of understand what you're saying. I believe that you are going to be a great teacher, and that you will bring me to the right path." Lucas says with a smile.
"Of course I would, I'll just talk to Norman for a bit, and then we can go back to this." Diego says.
After a few minutes Lucas is sitting inside Norman's house. While he is observing the room, Diego and Norman are talking to each other in a different room.
Norman is a bit worried. "I think you should tell Lucas the truth, and to everyone else. By lying you're only hurting others more than helping them in the process." Norman says.
"Well I don't know Norman, if I tell Lucas the truth it will hurt him. That's the last thing I want to see, I'll try to see if I can do something else." Diego says as he turns to see Lucas just looking around.
"Well by not being clear you're only hurting him more, and more until that day comes. Are you going to break that promise you made with him? You said you weren't going to lie to him." Norman then grabs Diego's shoulder, and looks at him with a hint of anxiety.
"Well it's true I said that, but then it is different, I believe Lucas will be fine. Telling him the truth will only bring fear to him, and I doubt it's that serious anyways" Diego says but his voice sounds a bit hesitant.
"Do you honestly believe that you will be fine? Are you sure that nothing bad is going to happen? I want you to tell me now that you're certain that nothing is going to happen." Norman then waits for Diego's response.
"Well I'm certain it's nothing too serious, and that's why I'm lying. I'll tell you right now that if it turns out to be much worse I'll hate myself for hiding it from him." Diego then takes a deep breath.
"Well alright then, I won't bother you about this as you can be quite stubborn at times. I believe in you, and I know you mean no harm, just be careful Diego." Norman says as he lets go of Diego.
"Thank you Norman, I won't do anything stupid as I have a child to raise." Diego says as he knows he can't afford to know Lucas might grow up without a parent to guide him through life.
Norman then pats Diego's back. "Do your best for that kid as I trust you completely now." Norman says and Diego smiles, and he walks away.
Diego then walks up to Lucas, and grabs his hands. "There are some changes of plans Lucas." Lucas looks confused. "Listen I'll tell you this now, and it's that the world can be unpredictable. Unexpected things happen all the time, and sometimes people have no control of it."
Lucas nods, "I'll teach you something that you may not like, but you'll have to learn it eventually." Diego says.
"I won't back down easily." Lucas says and then they leave Norman's house, Diego hopes that he isn't lying.
They begin to walk back to where Diego is staying at. "I know you like horses so I'll get you one if you behave and learn." Diego says, and Lucas smiles brightly.
They enter the house and Diego walks to a bag, and pulls out a dead rabbit. Lucas gasps as he sees it. "Are you going to make me skin that rabbit?" Lucas asks.
Diego is a bit surprised tha he knew about this already. "Oh right Miss Erica told me about it, but I never saw an actual animal being cut, I only saw the cut up meat." He says as he looks away. "I can definitely cut up meat, but not if they still look like an animal."
"Well Lucas, some people just buy carcasses of animals instead of the cut up chunks. You might not like it, but it's more convenient to know this. It's especially important if you are out hunting, and you only have your game with you." Diego says as he pulls out a knife.
"Many hunters learn to skin animals, and learn to be able to handle doing so as well. You should learn this as sometimes I bring in the carcass of animals." Diego says as he lines up the rabbit.
"I don't want to learn that, why should I if it's only useful for hunters?" Lucas says as he refuses to look at the rabbit.
"Well Lucas, it's because I'm going to make you a hunter, and don't argue with me alright. The reason I'm turning you into one is because it's the only job that's not too terrible around these parts." Diego says as he looks at Lucas, and walks up to him.
"Norman isn't in a bad spot financially with his job, but if you want to get your parents farm back, you will need money. Listen by taking this job I can travel anywhere, and it's also because I was taught to hunt by the age of nine." Diego says as he tries to turn Lucas around, but he doesn't budge.
"I've been hunting for so long that I made enough money to live a decent life. I've done many things to cut spending which was bad, but don't worry I won't make you do the same." He pats Lucas head which still doesn't do anything.
"Listen Lucas, if you become a hunter we can spend a bunch of time together. With both of us working together we can save up money, and it will be possible to buy that farm back." He say and finally Lucas turns around.
"Well I kind of understand, and if it means I'll find my parents faster then I'll do it." Lucas says, but not even a minute after he said that, Lucas is shaking as Diego is making him watch him skin the rabbit.
"You can't look away Lucas, this is the fasterst, and easiest way to become less sensitive to killing animals." He says as he continues to slowly, and carefully cuts the skin from the feet. "You must be careful as you can accidentally cut yourself."
"Don't cut too deep or else it's own content will spill, and taint the meat. The skin of the rabbit is rather thin, also by cutting shallow you avoid damaging the organs. Listen Lucas, the next rabbit will be skinned by you." He says as he continues to slowly cut the skin up to the belly.
"What I'm not doing that, you're the worst if you try to force me to do it." Lucas says as he is in the corner of the kitchen.
Diego is a bit annoyed. "I'll force you to do it in your dreams then. Listen Lucas, you must avoid the organs, and intestines." Lucas closes his eyes as Diego finishes peeling off the skin to the rabbit.
"Alright Lucas, the next step is to cut the stomach of the rabbit, and take its intestines out." He says as Lucas who still has his eyes closed can hear the cutting.
"Open your eyes, and watch how I do it Lucas, you don't want to mess this part up." Diego says as he begins to remove the organs.
Lucas opens his eyes. "Lucas, you need to watch this if you want to help me out." Diego doesn't know why he said that at all.
"I just can't help, but squirm as I watch that, I don't want to see or cut a dead animal. It feels more like I killed it than anything." Lucas says.
After a while Diego finishes the process, and puts the rabbit away for now. Diego then pulls out another rabbit. "You have to do this no matter what Lucas because if you dont, you won't eat anything tonight." Diego says as he looks at Lucas. "I'm making rabbit stew, and this is going to be your share."
"You sure are determined to teach me Diego." Lucas says, and Diego nods as he puts the knife down.
"Get over here Lucas, and stand next to the counter at this instance." Diego says and Lucas follows silently. Diego then grabs the knife. "I want you to hold it with me. I understand why you don't want to do it, but just hold onto it while I cut it for you. That will be enough for today, and we can try again another time."
Lucas sighs in relief. "Thank you for going easy on me, I'm just not comfortable enough." He says as he holds onto the knife, and watches as Diego guides it to the rabbit.
As the knife touches the rabbit, Lucas gets cold feet, and gets off the counter letting go of the knife. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do it" Lucas backs away more.
Diego sighs. "This is the only way for you to learn easily, you will cook alone someday. I want you to hunt with me, and I assume Erica taught you how to make stew." Lucas nods.
"Listen Lucas, you have to do this one way or another. Sometimes in life you have to do things that you won't like in order to survive in this world." Lucas stands there still and Diego puts the knife down, and he walks up to Lucas.
"Lucas, you have to do things, and you need to understand the world won't wait for you. It won't wait for you to make a choice so you have to be quick, and reasonable with your choices." Diego watches as Lucas closes his eyes. "Listen I'll wait for you, but understand that this won't be the norm once you turn into an adult."
"What if you skin the rabbit, and I'll take its organs out, how does that sound? I'll guide you so you won't make a mess alright." Diego then kneels down to Lucas who is stiff.
He pats his head ."Don't worry we can try another day, you're still a kid so I'm not expecting this to be easy. I'll be patient for your sake, and I'm sorry for trying to force you to do this when you're uncomfortable. You should be having fun, and acting like a kid and yet I'm doing this." He says.
Diego then stands up. "I'll skin the rabbit in a bit, I'll be back soon." Diego says as he leaves the kitchen.
Lucas looks at the rabbit, he feels a bit bad as Diego is sad that he didn't do it, and he almost forced him to do it. He knows that he has to do it as he is growing up, but he is scared. The world won't hold his hand, and and he can't hide away.
Lucas takes deep breaths, and he approaches the counter. He grabs the rabbit and the knife, and pokes the rabbit with the knife. He shakes a bit, and almost gags as he sticks the knife into the skin.
He continues to cut the rabbit, and he keeps his eyes open. He instinctively tries to close his eyes, but he forces them open, he cuts the skin off. As he continues to cut Diego returns, and watches as Lucas cuts deep into the rabbit. "I'll try my best for you Diego, I'll try my best."
Diego smiles. "Lucas, I think you did enough, let me do the rest for you." He approaches Lucas, "if you want I'll tell you what to do alright." Lucas nods.
"Well then afterwards once you're comfortable with this I'll teach you how to use a gun. I'll teach you how to hunt animals, and I will keep you safe." Diego says and Lucas looks back at him, and Lucas smiles. Maybe with Diego on his side he will do anything.