Roy and Joanne were outside waiting when the bus carrying Chris and Jennifer pulled up. The children's world had changed dramatically in the few hours that they were at school. Both kids had looks of surprise when they saw their father waiting for them. They knew that their dad had shift today, so he wasn't supposed to be at home.

"Daddy!" six-year-old Jennifer launched herself into her father's arms. She didn't care at the moment that he was home, just that he was home. "Are you okay Dad?" nine-year-old Chris asked. He knew that the only time that his father was home in the middle of a shift was when he was hurt.

"I'm fine Chris. But there is something that your mother and I would like to discuss with you. Why don't you guys wait in the living room while your mother gets your snack ready?"

When the four of them were seated in the living room, Roy began telling Chris and Jen about the fire, "I rescued an eight-year-old boy, his name is John. His parents were killed in the fire, so he needs a place to stay. Your mother and I agreed that our home would be a good home for John. But you guys are going to have to be gentle with him. Not only did he lose his parents, but his parents hurt him. So no roughhousing or yelling at him. I know you guys will do your best to make him feel comfortable at our house."

Jennifer was practically bouncing up and down in her seat. She liked the thought of another big brother. Chris just smiled, thinking maybe he liked baseball. They could practice when his dad had shift. Both thoughts of the kids were interrupted by their father's voice, "Now why don't you guys go see if John is up. Take him outside and play with him in the backyard." Chris and Jen took off, wanting to meet their new brother.

Jen was first to reach John's room. She stepped into the room quietly so she wouldn't disturb John if he was still sleeping. But John was awake. He had changed into a new pair of jeans and a red t-shirt. Now he was examining the toys and books that Joanne had bought him.

"Hi John! I'm Jennifer, your new sister. Do you want to go outside and play with me and Chris?" Chris had joined Jennifer in the doorway and was hoping with all his heart that John would come out and play. John was unsure of what to do though. His father taught him that playing was a waste of time. Making sure that the house was clean was a much better use of his time. If the house wasn't clean when he got home John would be punished. Finally, John nodded, got up, and followed Chris and Jennifer outside.

Roy sat on the deck watching the kids play. Or rather, Chris and Jennifer play. John was just standing there watching them play on the swing set. "John, go ahead and have some fun. Go and play," Roy called out. But John surprised him and went inside instead of playing with Chris and Jen.

Joanne was cooking supper when John came inside. She was puzzled because she knew the kids were outside playing. She watched John soundlessly pass her and go up the stairs.

John furiously scrubbed the shower in the bathroom. He trusted Roy enough to not hurt him, but he didn't know about his wife. For all he knew, she would beat him if things weren't just right. Standing and looking at what he cleaned, he thought it was pretty good. But nothing was good enough for his dad, so probably nothing was good enough for this lady. Where was his father anyways? He hadn't seen him since he beat him that last time. He sure hoped that he wasn't coming back. He liked Roy.

Joanne went upstairs to look for John when she found him cleaning the bathroom. Was this his father's idea of "fun?" To clean everything until it was spotless. This boy needed more help than what she first thought. But she figured that she could fix it with some good old fashioned tender loving care.

"John, why don't you downstairs and help me with supper? Or you could bring down a book or a puzzle and do that while you are waiting." She watched him get a puzzle so she headed downstairs to finish the supper.

Supper at the Desoto house that night was a quiet event, at least for John. Joanne had made spaghetti, and even though John liked it a lot, he didn't eat much of it. His father punished him when he ate too much. Said that he didn't want to waste money feeding him. He didn't say anything either. If anyone asked him a question, he would shake or nod his head in answer. One of his father's rules was children should be seen and not heard. That rule was up there with the house should be sparkling clean when he got home from work or the bar.

John was too quiet for Roy. He wondered just how many "rules" that his father had for John. Joanne had told him that she found him cleaning the bathroom. This was the first kid he met that willingly cleaned something. Little did Roy know that that night was going to bring the quietness out of John.