Chapter 2: Roller Coaster
If having to deal with Children's Welfare Department was a joy, which it was not, Charlie wasn't really having any better luck with his sister-in-law. While the red-tape and bean-counters wanted to nit-pick into a poor boy's family before letting him even see them, the bureaucrats wanted someone else to look after him and have his brain picked by head shrinks. While he could understand having someone see if Keith was all right mentally, the last thing the boy needed was to be shuffled about. He was there at the scene, he had the time off, and he could look after him. It was the one thing good about living in a small town; one cop could take time off to look after someone in need. Make that two kids in need.
Charlie could understand the pressure his sister-in-law was under. She had seven kids and each one had their own level of energy. Lance had the most of the bunch, plus he had the smarts to get into more trouble than he should. Being the second youngest, Charlie couldn't help but feel Lance was trying his hardest to get some level of attention that his parents just couldn't give. Hearing how Lance had caused a ruckus at the resort was the straw that was breaking his poor sister-in-law's back. He was hoping that a few days would help. Not a whole week, just a few days. Yet he gave in to his brother's wife. She needed to focus on the youngest; little Anna was sick again with the fever. It was the third time in a two month span.
He was wondering how to entertain the two boys. Lance was always easy, hand him a bike and he'd be at it for the whole day with tricks and some plywood ramps. Keith on the other hand, was a rag doll. Crud, it just hit him. Keith was lacking cloths and stuff. Seeing how he had to get Lance's stuff, it was perhaps a good idea to see if Lance could share some things and they would go buy the rest.
"Lance, over here," he said pointing to the chair by him.
Lance hopped over from the sofa where he was enjoying the Crush Derby Rally that was on TV.
"Boy, you are going to be with me for a week. Anna is sick again. Your stunt came at a bad time."
"But it's not my fault…"Lance blurted out.
"I don't care. We are going to head over to your house and get what you need for the week. Also, see if any of your clothes fit Keith."
"What? You want me to give my clothes…"Lance started to protest.
"Just for a while, 'till he gets his own back from the Department and we can get a few new ones for him," Charlie interrupted. "And Lance… help me out here. Put yourself into his shoes. All right?"
Lance looked back at the sofa. Keith was lying down facing the pillows. Since leaving the hospital, he had not said anything. He didn't look like he was dressed for winter. Sighing, Lance walked over to Keith. Shaking him, he mumbled, "Come on, I need to go get my clothes and we're going to get you some too."
"…."
"Heeeelloooo. Is there anybody in there?" asked Lance in an almost song-like manner. "Anyone home?"
Keith took a swipe at Lance, just brushing his leg.
"Look, if you don't come willingly, I'm going to get some of my sister's dresses for ya," Lance joked.
Keith turned his head to face Lance. The smirk on Lance's face told him that the kid was willing to run him into a level of hell he was in no mood for. The thought that Lance's sister may be an uber-girly girl seemed to haunt him and being mocked just hurt. Forget being mocked, he was just hurting. The image of his mother's face kept popping up everywhere. Mustering what strength he had, he tried to pull himself up off the sofa yet fell short. He legs just didn't want to work just yet. Didn't feel like any part of his body wanted to work. His head felt like spinning and a feeling of burning was building up in his chest. "Oh God… I'm going to Puke," flashed through his mind. "Puke…"he managed to mutter before it started to come out.
Lance must have caught on to what was happening as he grabbed Keith by the arm and rushed him to the bathroom. Charlie hardly had a chance to see what was up before noticing a trail of vomit. Hearing the poor boy in the bathroom, he could only sigh. It had been about ten or so hours since his world turned upside down. With such a roller coaster of a time, who would not be surprised if the boy didn't throw up? Opening the cleaning closet, he got two buckets out, some Lysol and some rags. Handing Lance a bucket and an understanding smile, he got to work on the hallway.
The one good thing about the incident was Keith was on his feet again. Not talking, but at least moving. Lance was attempting to figure out what Keith was into with no such luck. The ride to Lance's house was very one-sided to say the least. Keith just sat there, staring out the window. Even though the grey skies were not very bright, his blue eyes seemed to glow against his dark skin and the black hair falling into his face. Lance was getting tired of his lop-side conversation with Keith. One way or another, Keith was going to talk. It was his mission now and he'd find a way.
Lance at first thought to stare at him but gave up when he saw Keith was not paying any attention. "Time for the tried but true," he thought. Keith wasn't sure what Lance was up to. He wasn't in a mood to talk to Lance. He was actually happy that Lance went quiet and seemed to be leaving him alone. But now… Lance was poking him kind of hard in his shoulder.
"Ow! Quit it!" Keith yelled. Charlie looked into the rear view mirror.
"Quit what?" Lance replied, grinning evilly as he poked Keith again.
"Quit touching me!" Keith shot back, smacking Lance's hand away from him.
"Lance… knock it off. We're almost at your place," Charlie said in a warning tone.
"AAAUGH! But I can't stand how quiet he is!" Lance moaned.
"Screw you," muttered Keith.
Lance looked at Keith with a smirk. "I'll have you know, I prefer girls, thank you."
"Who cares," Keith mumbled as the car pulled up the dirt driveway.
"I do," Lance shot back.
Keith shot a look at him as if he couldn't believe the conversation they were having.
"I mean, we are going to be with each other for about a week. You want me to call you an Emo? I know jack-squat about you and it's going to get really boring fast if we don't have something in common to do," Lance said with a look of near panic on his face.
They came to a sharp stop by the small farm house. Hopping out of the backseat, they were greeted by an older-looking girl dressed in ripped jeans and a grungy sweat shirt. "My sister, Jackie," Lance whispered to Keith.
"Lance… you are so much in trouble," Jackie said with a bland tone. "So is this your partner in crime?"
"No," Lance snarled back. "You still can't find any guy to look at your ugly face?"
"You jerk! MOM!" she yelled to the house.
"Jackie, not now. Lance, stop being mean to your sister and go upstairs and get your stuff," said a woman opening the door. "Hello, Charlie. Thank you for getting him out of my hair for a while. Is this the boy you mentioned about?"
Feeling uncomfortable being talked about in his face, Keith quickly followed Lance. Lance was a pain but to Keith it was better than being talked about as if he wasn't there.
"Yes he is, Amy," Charlie replied. "I'm to look after him for about two weeks. By then, his Aunt should be able to take him to his new home with her."
"Is he from the tribal lands?" Amy asked noticing Keith's outfit as he made the turn at the top of the stairs.
"No, he's half Ganelvian. It's the style they wear there. From what we gathered, he was visiting his mother's side of the family. The father was trying to save some bucks and drive home from the South Dakota Space Hub. It's a pure miracle he survived, just wished he didn't see what he did." Charlie stated with a sigh.
Upstairs in Lance's room, Lance was digging into piles of clothes, sniffing to see which smelled the least. Tossing a pair of blue jeans at Keith, "Here, try these on."
"Geez… Clean much?" Keith half jokingly said.
"You always wear a loincloth?" Lance joked back.
Keith half laughed as he noticed that in fact, he was wearing the traditional garb of Ganelv as he took the baggy leather pants he had on. Lance's jeans were a bit tight in the seat. Keith wasn't sure if it was because of his loincloth or it was just the size. "What size are these? They are freaking tight," he complained.
"Um… small? Let's see if I can find my baggy pair," said Lance. "Oh, try this shirt," he added as he continued to burrow through the clothes.
Keith switched out his leather tunic for the sport jersey. It was oversized, but not so much. Keith took another look at the blue jeans. The inside of the tag was faded but still readable. Lance was smaller than him by one inch. Plus, the style of the jeans didn't offer much space in the rear. "You still wear this pair?" Keith asked.
"Yeah… "Lance replied with a raised eyebrow.
"You got no ass," Keith jokingly stated to him.
Lance growled at him. Keith may have lost his parents, but that was no excuse to insult his back side. Grabbing one of his dirty pairs of underwear, "Oh I have an ass," he said lunging at Keith. "Why don't you smell it for yourself," trying to shove the pair into Keith's face.
At first, Charlie thought Lance was in a full fight with Keith, as he could hear the two wrestling in the room. As he reached the door, he could hear the sound of the two laughing in what was actually a game of "Smell It". Neither one was winning as Keith had his foot over Lance's nose while Lance had a grungy pair of underwear on Keith.
"Enough, you two," Charlie bellowed to the boys. "Let's wrap it up before the stores close. Or Keith is going to go Commando in your pants and I know you don't want that."
"Yes sir!" they chimed.
Watching as the two started to get stuff together; Charlie could not help but think Keith would be all right in the end.
