He stood the all morning outside, waiting to see her. But then he remembered: school. She went to school and she wasn't coming back as soon as he wanted. Jared was really tired because he was still sleeping and it was almost lunch time. So, he was alone.
He was feeding Tiny, while he was remembering his mother's speech. She was not going to leave home, they weren't going home.
-She says dad calmed down. She says she loves him, and she says she loves us too, but she chooses dad, for now. She says dad has a chance to be saved. – He was talking to the bunny. – Why? I defended her so many times from dad, I lied so much for her, and I gave her the chance to run away without need to concern about us. Why can't we be together, just the three of us? – He started crying. - Why? She made me promise that I would take care of Jared, to keep him a good boy.
-Seeley? What's going on? – Jared asked seeing his brother lying on the yard, crying.
-Mom chose dad. She will help him treating himself and then, maybe we can live with them.
-Why are you crying, then? That's good news, isn't it?
-No, I HATE DAD! I don't to live with him, NEVER EVER! He's mean, he's a drunken, he doesn't like us!
- Jackass! – Jared said kicking Seeley on the shin and leaving, again to the inside.
Seeley got so mad that he grabbed Jared's arm and threw him to the ground. He trapped him putting himself on his knees on top of Jared's chest and scream:
-Have you forgotten he beat you yesterday? - And he pressed his hematomas on the chest and probably was already hurting him on the back, also with hematomas. – That hasn't hurt!
-Get off me, - He begged. - You're hurting me!
-I won't get off you. You were just beaten once, I have been beaten and insulted more times than our ages together, and it hurts much more. If you had suffered what I suffered, you wouldn't be saying that you want to live with dad.
-Gramps! – Jared screams, breathless and crying. – Grandpa, help me!
Hank thought Jared climbed up the tree again and fell. When he saw what Seeley was doing to Jared, he immediately separated him from his brother, which was difficult. In the heat of the moment of seeing his grandson crying, Hank raised his hand and slap Seeley on the face, not too strongly, but strong enough to leave him with the red mark and a sudden heat, spreading on his face. Seeley looked at his grandfather.
-No, I'm sorry, Seeley, I'm so sorry.
-Even you, gramps, even you? – He got up and started running, not knowing where we were going.
-SEELEY? SEELEY, COME BACK! Come; let's go after your brother. – He said putting Jared on his foot.
-NO! – He held Hank. - HE HURT ME, HE'S BAD! WHY IS EVERYONE ONLY CARE ABOUT HIM?
Jared ran home, and Hank stood looking, not knowing who to help first. He decided to go home. Seeley needed some time alone, and he was older and responsible enough, he would come home. Jared was younger and if he could be ok with the smaller, he could have help to find Seeley in case he doesn't appeared. Besides, he couldn't leave a six-year-old boy alone at home.
Seeley ran so much that he felt his legs so hot, and he was feeling them wobbly and like he had a tingling running up and down them, making him scratching. He thought he have been running in circles, because the place seemed the same: a residential neighborhood. In front of him, he saw playground, deserted.
He sat at one of the swings, and just stood there for hours. Suddenly, someone pushed him on swing and he got up quickly, ready to argue once more one that day. He looked at the person who pushed him and smiled. Her blue skirt was made her blue eyes become more enhanced. He bowed and invited her to sit on the swing.
-I didn't expect you here. – He said finally.
-I notice in your panic reaction!
-It was not panic, I wasn't expecting. – He started to push her slowly on the swing and she hang on the thongs. – So, what you're doing here?
-I was coming back from school when I saw you here. What happened?
-What you mean? Nothing happened.
-You look sad, you're not saying nothing funny, and even your voice is a little shaky.
-Ok, you got me. I'll tell, but promise you'll keep it. - He raises his pinkie, waiting for she to interlace hers fingers with his, as a sign of promise.
- I promise. – And she interlaces her finger with his.
He sat on the next swing and started telling her:
-My father fought on the Vietnam War and when he came back, he was different. He started drinking. He become violent, he was always beating and insulting me and my mom, until yesterday. I was at the church helping Father John, and he beat on Jared, my brother. I said my mom we would live with our grandfather and she agreed. Last night she called; she said my father has a chance to be saved and she will be with him. I told this to my brother and he was happy because he may live again with our parents. – He felt a tear running down his cheek. – I was so mad about what he said, and I hurt him. My grandfather separated me, and slapped me on the face… I ran out there. I'm here for hours.
They stood quiet for a while and then she got up and hugged him.
-Everything's going to be ok. – She said smiling, looking at him, who started cleaning the tears.
-Can I tell you something? – He waited until she nodded. – I never played on a playground in my life.
-Well, today's your lucky day! Come. – She pulled him by hand to the slide.
He went down first. He felt the fresh air hitting him on the face and obliging him to close his eyes.
-That was cool! That's was…amazing!
-I'm going! – She said.
She descended and he was still sitting at the end of the slide. He turned around and they both fell on the ground, laughing. He got up and stretched his hand to help her getting up.
-You're ok?
-Fine! – She laughed.
-What's that?
-That's a seesaw. I sit this side. – She pointed to the part that was on the ground.
As soon as he sat, she went up, he was heavier.
-Let me go up now.
He opened his arm and closed his eyes. The lighter wind swayed his hair dark brown and short, and he also swayed his legs on the empty and laughed.
-How does it feel? – She asked.
-Like I'm touching on the sky, the best ever.
He laughed for feeling good, she laughed for making him feel good, and also because he was always making her laugh no matter what he said or done.
-Can we go to the swings again? I want to push you.
-Better, why don't we see who goes higher?
-Ok, but let me push you first.
He was pushing her; he loved to hear her laugh. They were so amused that they haven't notice that the sun was setting. Far, Temperance saw her parents, her brother and an old man with a boy approaching.
-My parents and Russell are coming. Aren't those your grandfather and brother?
-Yeah, I'm sorry for putting you in trouble.
-Oh my God Temperance, you're here. We thought something happened. – Max was worried that someone had kidnapped his daughter because of his law problems.
-I'm sorry dad. – She said hugging him. Her mother hugged her too, so a Russell.
Seeley was afraid to look at his grandfather. He thought he would be mad, but otherwise, he hugged him.
-I'm sorry, shrimp, I'm sorry for slap you. I'll never do that again.
-I deserve it, gramps. And, Jared, I'm forgiven? – He stretched his hand.
-Forgiven! – He said giving him a handshake.
-Piggyback? – He asked lowering.
Jared jumped to his back and when he noticed, Temperance, Russell and her parents had already gone home. He would see her tomorrow, and tomorrow would be him that would show her something that made her happy.
-Hey, gramps, can you sign us in on school tomorrow?
-Of course, I was thinking of doing it, but if you ask. But let me say, your girlfriend is really pretty!
-She's not my girlfriend!