A/N: OK I forgot to put an A/N in the first chapter. Sorry this is my first FF :-O reviews appreciated. Sorry if there are any grammar / spelling errors, as I said, I tried.
I do not own any of the Mercers.
Chapter 2
Jack hurried to the park. It was getting dark now.
He climbed into the metal tunnel near the swings and pulled out the sandwich from his jeans.
It was slightly squashed but he couldn't care less. He tore off the neatly wrapped tin foil and took a huge bite.
This was heaven, he thought. It warmed him briefly. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had food which was made with as much care as this. He wanted to savour it, but he couldn't help wolfing it down.
He thought about that woman, Evelyn, what had possessed her to be nice to him? He wondered. Any normal person would have given him several good whips for attempting to steal.
Eventually Jack curled up into a tight ball and attempted to sleep. He was absolutely freezing.
"It's better than being there anyday though." He reminded himself. He closed his eyes, and after an eternity, fell asleep.
When Evelyn left the grocery store she headed straight for her office. She knew something had to be done.
When she arrived she looked through her files for the surname "McElrue". She found it. She studied it carefully.
The records showed Jack was 12. He had a complicated background. His father had left him and his mother when he was just born. His mother died of cancer when Jack was 2 years old and since then he has been in foster care. At least he had been until a year ago when his father came back.
His father took Jack back and they have been living in an apartment on the outskirts of Detroit for almost a year.
Jack's records also showed he had a history of being involved with domestic violence in past foster homes. Evelyn became worried.
She picked up the phone and dialled the contact number of his father.
It was ringing.
…
No answer yet.
…
"Hello?" A gruff man answered.
"Good evening Mr. McElrue," Said Evelyn. "My name is Evelyn Mercer, I am a social care worker. I think we are due for a meeting with Jack, I have his file here and I see nobody has met up with him for a while and we would just like to check how things are going at home. Is it possible for you to come by my office with Jack around 10am tomorrow?"
The man took is time in answering her.
"Uh…I'm busy tomorrow." He said shortly.
"It will only be 10 minutes and it is vital we see Jack as soon as possible." Evelyn said in that voice which you couldn't say no to.
"Uh…Ok then…" Was his answer. He could see he wasn't going to be able to get out of it.
"Great, I look forward to seeing you." And with that, she hung up.
Evelyn returned home. She was greeted by the sound of her 2 boys fighting over the last slice of pizza on the table.
When they saw her, they smiled. The eldest saw this as an opportunity to snatch up the pizza, when the youngest saw this, his eyes narrowed. He aimed a punch at his brother and they both ended up wrestling each other to the ground.
"Angel! Jeremiah!" Came Evelyn's voice. "Stop that now! Stand up, both of you!
The youngest had one last swing at his brother.
"Angel! What did I just say? Enough. Jerry come here." She inspected Jerry's eye. It was swollen and red.
"Angel, go get some ice." The younger brother stormed off. "Jerry," she began. "I thought you were more responsible. You're 17 now! With Bobby away you are the eldest, you are setting the example."
Even with Jerry's dark skin, you could see him blushing ashamedly.
"Sorry Ma…" He began.
"You will be." She stated, but she smiled.
Angel returned with the ice and handed it to Evelyn.
"Thanks." She put it on Jerry's eye. "Listen boys, I have to go to work early tomorrow and I know its Sunday tomorrow so I'll just leave the two of you in bed. Is that ok? I'll be gone by the time you wake up."
"That's fine Ma." Said Jerry.
"Jerry will you make dinner? And no more pizza, that must be the forth pizza you boys have had this week."
"Aw…" Angel mumbled something under his breath which sounded a lot like Jerry's cooking sucks.
Jerry punched him in the arm.
"Jerry, what did I just tell you?" Evelyn sighed. "Anyway it's getting late; you boys better get up to bed."
They looked reproachful but started towards the stairs nevertheless.
"Goodnight boys." She said cheerfully.
"Goodnight Ma." They chimed, and climbed up the stairs to their rooms.
Evelyn thought it was best for her to go to bed too. She had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a long day.