From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"Jack!"

Anson was a little unsure.

Months ago, when filming "Catch Me If You Can" in New York, he helped a teenager and his mother escape domestic violence on the street, but at the time, he lost track of the teenager.

Until now—

Is that Jack?

"Jack!"

Anson quickened his pace to catch up, a hint of joy in his eyes, but he saw the teenager慌慌张张grab the straps of his backpack and quicken his pace, looking back as he ran, and the air instantly became tense.

Anson quickly braked and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Jack, it's me."

The teenager glanced at Anson, hurriedly looked back, and then glanced again.

At this moment, his footsteps finally stopped, and his beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, looking at Anson with joy, his breath cut off for a moment.

A pause.

The next second, the teenager rushed into Anson's arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

Bang!

Suddenly, the teenager hugged Anson tightly, as if using all his strength, firmly embracing him with both hands, a low sob coming from deep in his throat.

Anson was taken aback, completely unaware of this scene, and he subconsciously wanted to break free from the hug—

He still wasn't used to hugs.

But Anson immediately noticed the teenager's slightly trembling shoulders and voice, like a puppy drenched in a storm, just clinging to a life-saving straw, which softened Anson's heart, and he couldn't help but sigh softly.

In the end, Anson didn't push the teenager away.

Anson raised his right hand, trying to comfort the teenager, but his palm hovered in the air without being able to land.

He couldn't imagine what the teenager had gone through, couldn't imagine how the teenager had escaped New York and come to Portland, couldn't imagine how the teenager was anxiously worried about his whereabouts being discovered by his father again.

But he knew what he had once experienced.

When life falls into a trough, others can't help but say "Cheer up," "Everything will be alright," this kindness is a little bit of warmth; however, sometimes, there are some moments—

"Cheer up" may also become a burden.

Because cheering up also requires spirit and physical strength, but at some moments, there is not even the strength to look up at the starry sky, unwilling and unable to cheer up, and those words of encouragement may instead become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

The same is true now.

So, Anson's gently raised right hand ultimately did not fall on the teenager's shoulder.

If he needed a hug, then Anson would wait in place to give him a hug.

A hug, so short and so long.

Instead, the teenager realized the inappropriateness of his actions, awkwardly let go, and looked up at Anson with teary eyes.

"Sorry, I, uh, I shouldn't, I just... I just wanted to hug you."

Anson knew, he knew everything.

So, a smile bloomed, "I'm right here."

The teenager was stunned, looked at Anson's encouraging smile, and once again rushed into Anson's arms, tightly, opening his arms and hugging Anson tightly.

Looking down at the teenager who was only up to his shoulder, his thin shoulders were slender but stubbornly straight, and even though there were no wounds, it still seemed possible to see the traces left by life.

But—

No matter what, they had finally escaped New York, which was a good thing.

Finally, the teenager let go again, raised his hand to wipe the tears from his cheeks, and tried to show a big smile, his eyes sparkling with bright light.

Along with that, the corners of Anson's mouth also rose, "Are you going to school here now?"

The teenager nodded heavily, "We left New York. Me and Mom." The teenager scratched his head a little restrainedly, "We wandered and fled all the way, worried... worried that he would catch up, and finally came to Portland."

"Originally, I wanted to go to Los Angeles, but Los Angeles is too conspicuous, I was worried about exposing our whereabouts... Mom said, Portland is very good."

These few words are not enough to describe the undercurrents behind the matter.

Especially the teenager's mother.

Anson knew how much courage it took for her to make up her mind to leave that family.

When violence becomes a habit, over time, she will even begin to believe that this is her deserved fate, that everything is her destiny, losing the courage to escape, not daring to leave and refusing to leave, letting herself suffer in purgatory, just like the rope tied to a camel's back.

Fortunately, she finally escaped.

"Good job," Anson said.

The teenager raised his head slightly, and his eyes couldn't help but well up with shallow tears again, "Yeah." He nodded vigorously.

Anson, "How is it, is middle school as good as you imagined?"

As soon as this topic was mentioned, the teenager immediately jumped up like a jumping bean, "Of course, of course, of course, in fact, it's better than I imagined, God, I love it, I love every second here."

"Do you know that we actually did an experiment in chemistry class last time?"

"Math is difficult, really difficult, I hate math with every bone in my body, but our math teacher is really an interesting gentleman, I like the way he talks about the universe, he says that if you want to become an astronomer or astronaut, you must learn math well."

"Oh my God, why did God give me such a trial."

"Ah, ah, ah, the school will be rehearsing a Shakespeare play next month, that's Shakespeare, I want to audition and see if I can do it."

Blah blah blah.

Anson didn't interrupt the teenager, just watched that youthful face regain joy and happiness—

Yes, middle school should be the age when teenagers don't know the taste of sorrow.

After saying a lot, the teenager scratched his head embarrassedly, "Ah, sorry, I seem to be talking too much."

"Haha." Anson laughed, "So, is this the life you dreamed of?"

The teenager nodded vigorously, his face full of joy.

The daily life that is so ordinary for other children is all his wish.

Anson breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, "So, do you have a new dream now?"

"Astronaut!" The teenager's eyes widened, those clear pupils were full of expectations and hopes for the future, but he immediately became shy, "I don't know if I can do it?"

Anson clenched his fist, "Of course you can. At your age, you can want to become anyone, anything, it doesn't matter even if others say you are unrealistic, if you don't dream now, when will you dream?"

When they grow up, their edges and sharpness will be smoothed out little by little by reality, and they will become mediocre and ordinary, constantly convincing themselves that this is growth; but the reality is that this is the demise of the self and the obliteration of personality, and then they will never be able to find their once shining selves.

If you still have a dream, then you should dare to dream.

It doesn't matter if you're a little crazy.