Jessicka smiled at Dave and Dave could not help himself but smile, smiling before laughing, honestly laughing, a deep rumbling chuckle. Jessick 2 years Dave's senior grinned back at her little brother though little seemed a word that no longer suited the boy before her, she laughed, her a light hearted giggle compared to his while her daughter Ana slurped up long piece of spaghetti, splashing both herself and Dave. Jessicka had to leave shortly to attend her college classes that evening and she went in full confidence because Dave was her rock and she almost trusted Dave more than herself to look after Ana for her while she was out, he did it twice a week refusing Jessicka's suggestions of getting a sitter so he could have one night off a week. Between getting Ana up and out the door every morning, minding her twice a week, helping around the house, school work, hockey and practice then working a few shifts whenever he can Dave pushed himself to hard, out of love and loyalty to her and Ana, feeling like he had to be the man of the house and provide for them, not the older sibling looking after her brother. Jessicka sighed to herself, when there Mom re married 5 years back, Dave had turned up on her doorstep with a backpack full of clothing and tears running down his eyes. Mom and her new husband who had met at a church based rehab and turned her sweet little brother out after finding him looking up porn on the computer. Jessicka thought that was normal for boys that age and it took close to an hour of reassurances to get Dave calm enough to explain that it was photos of 2 men kissing that had warranted him getting told to leave his childhood home and never come back. Her Dave, caring, steady Dave had thought at a young age of 12 he might be gay and hated himself for it.
She slowly gathered her things for class and kissing both good night she left, she paused at her car and smiled as she heard her little brother ask sweetly what Ana, his Сладкий Ребенка (sweet child) wanted to watch tonight while he washed the dishes and before they read their bedtime stories. Jessicka sighed one day they would get out of this town, Dave would get the hockey scholarship he was been training for since he was 13 and she and Ana would follow Dave, anywhere he went. She made the promise to herself that she would do anything it took to get Dave out of Ohio and away from homophobic people like her mother and husband, first thing she needed to do was make sure Dave's grade's remain at the A- average they now where, that Dave stayed as top hockey player at McKinley and most importantly she wanted to make sure Dave felt safe and secure enough to finally come out and find a nice boy who could love her сильный нежный брат (strong gentle brother). Jessicka's class was slow and once she opened the front door and chucked her backpack onto the armchair in the sitting room next to Dave's she slowly went though the old house turning off the lights as she went. The sitting room had a computer on the far wall sitting on a second hand but only slightly scratched polished pine desk with a comfortable lounge in the middle with one arm chair creating a walkway down the floor boards in the eat in kitchen. The dining table in one corner covered in crayon drawing Ana did when she was younger. Behind the kitchen was Dave's room and next to that the bathroom, across the lounge room that was separated from the other rooms by large French doors was Ana's little room, painted pink then Jessicka's own. The house was small with an outside laundry that was nothing short of horrible in winter but it was their home. She walked to Dave's room to turn out his light to discover he was not there and smiling at the regular accordance she looking into Ana's room to find both fast asleep, Ana curled up onto her Uncle's chest, he himself leaning on the bed head of the single bed, feet over hanging and a half finished book on his lap. Knowing Dave needed a better nights rest than that of her daughter's bed she scooped up the 4 year old and nudging Dave with her foot awoke the boy and quietly watches as he stumbled across the lounge room into his own room. Dave's room was simple in decor with pine wood furniture stained a few shades darker, the desk was overflowing with papers and folders, hockey equipment slipping out from underneath the double bed with a deep green and tan duvet, the dresser draws not quite shut properly but for a photo of the 3 of them last Christmas it was bare of any posters. An old pale grey armchair was under the window with tan throw over the back. The bedside table (only one as the bed was against the wall) was full with an alarm clock, ipod dock, a few books and sport magazines. Dave's letterman jacket hung on the back of the door, with several other jackets while the partly open sliding door of the wardrobe showed several different but all well used and mismatched ice skates, a pair of old combat black boots and varied other sport shoes. Dave collapsed onto the bed with a grunt and wiggled out of his jeans, removed his cream Henley long sleeve t-shirt he had put on after school and crawled under the covered then falling asleep the moment his head hit his pillow.