Keep Quiet

10

By: Wolfa Moon

KQ 10

Tony assisted and watched as Jackson hung up the lights with care above the shop's overhang. They were very pretty. Watching tentivly as they were laid out and strung up. Jackson kept talking to him but paid it no mind. He had become very good at listening without showing interest. To bad sometimes he wanted to contribute. But at night his father would come and get him.

It had happen every time he began to get the courage to talk to them. Tell them that he loved it here. Appreciate that they let him stay. Ask what these feeling are. Wanting to know when they would send him back. They always did in the end.

He had gone to schools and places before. He would do something stupid, childish, wrong. Call his dad. He would send somebody to pick him. Then be stuck in his room till his dad came home. Then it would start. Shivering at what always happens next.

KQ 10

Jackson talked to Tony even though he couldn't hear him. It had become a kind of comfort. Wishing he knew the boy when there were no nightmares. Wonder if there was ever a time for their Tony. Looking down from his ladder as he hung the lights on the front of his store.

Tony had the lights in his hand like he asked. To feed them up to him as he went. But then it had stopped. Looking down Tony held the lights tight in his grip. Caught in one of his daymares again.

Coming off the ladder he approached his adopted son. Kneeling down to make himself level with his charge.

"Tony?" resting a hand on him. Tony jerked like electric shocked. Dropping the lights and turning into a ball. Rocking back and forth.

Damn.

Moving forward he approached the cowering boy. Resting a hand on Tony's shoulder.

KQ 10

Tony remembers the last time he held lights. It was Christmas time, he supposed. It never meant much to him. Well it meant something. More guest for him to appease. To keep quiet. His fathers guest Loving to do those deeds by Christmas lights. To quote one, 'feel like a boy opening his presents on Christmas'.

Gripping the strand so tight to feel the lights dig into his palm. Then a hand came on him. Guess the lights were up time to go. But the grip tightened. Stopping him from moving.

With little courage he had he looks up. Looks up to see concerned eyes of Jackson on him. He removed his hands and began to sign.

'What's wrong?' that signed was learned quickly. They always asked it. Tony hesitantly let go of the lights.

'Nightmare,' he signed back. It was the best way to describe the memories. Scary events that still plagued him. Jackson nodded in understanding. It became the normal response from Tony. Just wishing there was something he could do.

Yet he is doing something. Trying to erase all those terrible memories with happy ones.

Hell they took Tony shopping you would think he never been in a store before. Sad realization it was probably true.

KQ 10

It was no big deal of a store. It was the place to go that had everything. The main reason for going was to get Tony some cloths of his own. Ruth and some others had donated clothes to them. But when they went to get him some. Tony shied away from them.

Jet being the main translator for Tony and of Tony. Jackson had to wait for Jet to translate the recent decent of happiness.

"He thinks we are getting another boy?"

"Why?"

"Cause we are getting so many cloths." Jackson made Tony look at him.

"They are for you." Expanding his hands over the pile then pointing to him. Tony look almost leaking eyes to Jet. Jet picked him up.

"We'll be right back." Jackson shakes his head as Jet takes Tony away. Amazed at how he handles Tony. Wondering where that part of his son was before little Tony came along.

He continued to pick cloths and other items. Then spotted something that made him smile. The softest biggest puppy stuffed animal. Thinking one lost pup deserved another. Thinking the best thing is toys.

Moving to the toy section. Boy have toys changed since he was a kid and Jet was young. Spotting something that all kids needed he placed it in the cart.

KQ 10

After his safari through toys he went on the hunt for his sons. Now were would they be? After going everywhere he found them. In the most unlikely places. Jet had Tony sitting on a glass case looking at knives. Guess he wanted to protect his brother from whatever. Hands began to fly. Jet smiled.

'When your older.'

'But what if he comes back?'

'Then I'll protect you.'

'Why?' he watched as Jet's face dropped. Observing how the words hurt. After so long with them. Didn't Tony understand? Didn't he know he is safe? That they want him.

'Because I love you. You are my brother. And if anyone every tries to hurt you. I will...' he puts his hands on the side of Tony's face. Looking him right in the eyes. He lets his hands talk again. 'You are mine. And no one is ever going to hurt you again.' He pulls Tony to him. Squeezing him tight.

"Never Tony. Your mine." Jackson heart breaks as Jet moved back to stare in Tony's eyes. Tears streaming down his face. Slowly Tony raises a hand to touch the tears.

Tony had seen tears a couple of times. His dad told him never to cry. Real men don't cry. It's weakness and unnecessary. He had forgotten the last time he let tears fall. Sure he sobbed but no tears.

Small hands touched his face. Tony rarely initiated touch. Jet keeps his eyes on Tony. Seeing curiosity there. The hands move back.

'Why you cry?'

'Tony, I love you. I can't lose you.' Tony tilts his head.

''I'm yours?'

'Yes.' Saying it as well. So much conviction. Tony moves his hands around Jet's neck. Jet wraps his arms around him lifting him toward him.

Making thy way toward Jackson.

"Everything good?"

"It will be." Jet looks inside the cart. "Train set.

"Every kid needs a train."

KQ 10

Jackson takes the lights out of Tony's hands. Smiling at him. Tony looks at him.

'Train?' Jackson signs. Knowing that Jackson can't sign a lot, but learning. But what little he knows speaks volumes. Tony nods.

Trains fix everything.

KQ 10

AN: I was thinking of having a Christmas type side but this came to me. Hope you enjoyed. Pease tell me what you think? Reviews welcomed.

IDEA: Was thinking of maybe introduce Abby into this world. But not sure as child Abby or save for adult?

My Family is a train family so, trains rule.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Yule!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanza!

And to what you believe…

Happy Holidays.