As soon as Jonathan got home he began studying for finals. The end of the year was approaching rapidly and Jonathan couldnt wait. He could finally escape all his peers making fun of him, the much too familiar walls of his home, and most of all, he could finally escape his step-father, Jackson. He hated the thought of leaving his mother with the man; but Jonathan felt pretty sure that after he got a steady job and bought a nice apartment that he could convince his mother to get a divorce and live with him instead. Away from the Narrows. Away from Jackson

At around 6:00 pm he heard the front door open then slam, and the rather shallow greeting from his mother.

"Hello, Jackson...how was work?"

"Well, pretty aweful,"

Jackson said in his typical heavy grunt. This voice more than suited him. In his average height and husky build, he resembled the stereotypical middle aged man, a 'pig'.

"we got this new guy moved in last night and he's the roughest son of a bitch that I've ever met."

Jonathan cringed at his step fathers lack of manners. He not only resembled a pig but he acted the part out perfectly.

"So where's dinner at? Shouldn't it be about done?"

Jackson asked very suddenly. Jonathan could picture him looking around the kitchen as though it would appear in the cabinets, or in the sink. Then glaring at his mother very condescendingly. Jonathan hated his step fathers very apparent feeling of self worth. He knew Jackson wasnt worthy of anything he had. Then he heard his mother stumbling out her answer.

"Ohh..um..I'm so sorry honey! I..I've completely lost track of time! I'll st-start it right now."

Jonathan suddenly felt very numb. He knew what was coming next. Why had he gotten so preoccupied with his studying? Why hadn't he gone in to help his mother take care of her evening chores?

"WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING ALL THIS TIME!"

"YOU KNOW I WORK ALL FUCKING DAY FOR YOU AND THAT BASTARD SON OF YOURS AND YET YOU CAN'T PULL IT TOGETHER ENOUGH TO GET SOME DINNER ON THE TABLE FOR ME WHEN I GET HOME!"

Jonathan heard the slap and then his mother falling backwards into the counter, knocking over some plates. She screamed and then started crying in pain. This no longer made Jonathan scared, at first it did very much but by now it just angered him. He began stabbing his pen into his paper wishing it was Jacksons neck.

"QUIT CRYING AND START DINNER!"

Jonathan sat perfectly still, seething with anger and hatred. He didn't even notice the footsteps coming into his bedroom.

"Jon, get your ass in the kitchen and help your good for nothing mother cook."

Jonathan slowly turned around and gave Jackson the coldest glare he could make.

"DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT ME THAT WAY , BOY!"

"You still have that pen Johnny! Jam it into his neck! End you and your mothers suffering!"

Jonathan had a very strong urge to obey Scarecrow this time, but he resisted. As he walked past Jackson rigidly, he pushed down on his head. Jonathan ignored this and walked into the kitchen to find his mother shakily removing various pots and pans and canned foods. Her face was grief stricken and red from tears. She looked completely miserable, like a small child who lost her parents in a huge mall. For a moment Jonathan felt as though he himself would break down and cry himself, for the both of them;but he just walked over and made feeble attempts at working with his mom.

He layed awake that night being chasticed by Scarecrow for his inability to stand up for himself and his mother.

"You've got to take care of that man soon or you'll regret it, I guarantee you."

"I'll be graduating in a few weeks, I can rescue her from this hell in the next 3 months. Losing her will teach Jackson more than anything else would. Maybe then he'll be able to change."

"Johnny, he'll never change and he definitly does not deserve any second chances. Surely someone like you couldn't be going soft, especially on someone who's hurt you so much."

"I'm not going soft, I'm being rational!"

"Surely, someone laying awake talking to himself isn't trying to sell himself as being a person all about rationality?"

At this, Jonathan ubruptly ended the conversation. Was he totally irrational? Maybe even crazy? He didn't want to listen to Scarecrow, but everything that he said seemed so appealing. Destroying all the people he hated. Offering him a life without those who made it terrible. Basically, a happy life. Jonathan was sure that the only thing keeping him from giving in to Scarecrows incessant urges was his mother. He knew that if he ever killed and she found out that she'd never be able to forgive him. He could never be able to handle that, he needed her; but he also needed Scarecrow. Jonathan fell asleep that night to the pleasing thoughts of how he could torture, more specifically terrify Chance Carner, his slutty girlfriend Julie, those ridiculous laughing morons who shadowed Chance, his fake teachers, and most of all, Jackson.