Disclaimer: I don't own Bridge to Terabithia or any of the characters, they are owned by Katherine Paterson.
Dazed by sorrow
Chapter 11
The new day couldn't have come any quicker, far too quick. Jess was aching, and was far to tired to get up, but the screeching racket wouldn't let him drift back to sleep.
He lay in his messy bed looking at the ceiling, he lay flat on his back, it was too much for him to get out of bed.
"Jess, what happened yesterday? Daddy had blood on his hands." May Belle had came and stood at the top of his bed. His parents hadn't told the girls what had happened, they just said their was an accident to the older two but didn't tell May Belle.
"Nothing… dad must have cut his hand."
"Don't lie Jess. I saw the ambulance; daddy wouldn't have gone to the doctors for a cut hand. And anyway daddy's hands are not in bandages. So what happened?" She said, almost hitting him on the chest.
"Hey careful where you swing those things, Ok me and Leslie fell in to the creek. She has a broken arm and I…" He lifted his shirt, causing a reaction of May Belle to look away but looked back. "…Got this."
May Belle could see the padding he had on his right side, she gasped and told him, no ordered him to tell her how it happened. Jess was carful on the details and stuck to Mr Burke's story. They slipped in.
He quickly went over it, but had enough of the interrogation. So he finally got up, and tiredly walked down the stairs. He went on auto pilot, which was automatically to do his chores. He got started doing the usual, easy jobs first then work his way up to the hard ones then back to the ones he forgot to do.
He just got to cut some timber when his dad came out.
"JESS WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" his father snatched the axe of him in the middle of a swing.
"D-dad I- though- thought you wan-wanted me to- do my chores." He stammered he was doing what his dad always told him to do.
"DIDN'T YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID!? You can't do these types of chores anymore. Do you want me to waste more fuel taking you back to hospital again? Is that it? Want us to waste more money on you? INSTEAD OF COSTING US MONEY WHY DON'T YOU MAKE SOME?"
This was by far the worst Jess had ever seen his dad, he could see May Belle looking out of the window but he didn't look back at her. He didn't know what to say, he was a waste of money in his dads eyes… one thing came to mind, one thing he could say, he didn't think if it was right or wrong he just said it.
"Well…maybe you should have let me die yesterday." He whispered, no signs on emotion on his face, no feeling in his words, they where empty. Jack hadn't expected the boy to say anything, and was stunned by his comment.
"Then again, have I ever been alive to you? Am I just something you waste your money on…?" His dad stood glaring at him.
"I already no the answerer, and its yes, that's all I am, a money costing object that you hate and use." With this Jess silently walked away from his father.
"So what happened with you and your Girlfriend yesterday? She found out your cheating on you and you had a fight?" followed by a fit of laughter was the first thing he heard as he entered the house.
"If Leslie was my Girlfriend, I wouldn't cheat on her like you whore's do on you boyfriends" He silently said, causing shock. Normally he would get mad and storm off but instead, the tone he said it made them regret it. He carried on walking, they where about to apologise when Jack came in.
"If the boy wants to waste his time, then let him don't let him waste yours too."
Jess sat in his room, doing nothing, saying nothing and thinking nothing. Him Mom entered an hour later and asked if he wanted to go with them to the Burkes to properly meet them.
"No, I will waste my time another way. I will go round later." He muttered in the same tone as before, his mother was now worried. She didn't think he would skip a chance to see Leslie. She entered the silent kitchen, with three sets of highly confused eyes.
"Oh, what's going on?" She asked the three girls.
"You're asking us? Dad was shouting at Jess before, that's all we know, what's wrong with Jess?" Brenda asked, showing concern for her younger brother.
"Ye tell us what happened yesterday? Why did you go to the hospital?" Ellie Asked, being serious and no tormenting comments from the two shocked Mary.
"Yesterday an accident happened, Jess has cut his chest open, and Leslie has broken her arm and that is all we know. We don't know how. Bill, Leslie's dad says Jess pulled Leslie out after she slipped in. We will find more out later."
"Oh…ok but what's wrong with him today? Is it what dad…?" Jack walked in looking for them, as they where all going.
"So the boy isn't coming? Or is he taking forever to get ready?" he asked as he filled a glass up with the cool water.
"No…he's not coming. Can I have a word… outside?" She told her husband and they left to go outside.
"What did you say to Jess today? The girls say he is acting strange today."
Jack quickly ran over what had happened, but stooped before saying the last few words Jess had said. When she heard them she shook her head, in shock and disappointment.
"You need to talk to him. You need to tell him that isn't true."
"When the boy learns to help around here and does what he's told, and he isn't just wasting our money is when I will tell him." Mary gazed at her husband's hard face, not showing sympathy, rage, nothing. He had no readable expression on his face.
The discussion was quickly put under the carpet, and the family left to go meet the Burkes properly.
Jess sat in his room for most of the morning; he watched his family wander down the road towards the Burkes; he started to think he should have gone with them. At least he could have seen Leslie, the one person that would lighten up his day.
He started to think about all that his father had said, that he was a waste of money. He thought, thought and thought some more, all the time doing so, he had something clutched to his chest, something he took from his fathers room. He got an idea stuck in his head…but wasn't sure if he should do, but he needed to do something. So he set him self to work.
The Burks hadn't prepared for visitors, and where surprised when they saw the Aarons walking up their drive. Bill quickly told Judy and Leslie who both rushed to throw on some appropriate cloths instead of greeting them in their night gowns.
Bill welcomed them in, greeting the Aarons he hadn't met yet. Judy soon joined him, but Leslie already had seen them all, and was too disappointed to greet them anyway. She couldn't see Jess, and asked May Belle where he was, but Jack said where he was first. "He's wasting his time at our house."
Mary quickly gave Judy a cake that she made the day before, a birthday cake for Leslie. Leslie had to entertain May Belle and Joycie. The parents went in too the kitchen to talk leaving the two eldest Aarons to find something to do, which ended up with them watching the younger ones play.
"Sorry we hadn't come round and greeted you sooner, been slightly chaotic." Mary stated with.
"Oh its no problem, we knew you would come round sooner or later, especially when your son is attached to our daughter by the hip." Judy said with a heartfelt chuckle
"It's nice to finally meet both of you" Bill said shaking their hands.
"So how are you settling in?" Jack asked, leading to a conversation about the area. They both liked the open space; it was different from the city. It had given Judy a lot of ideas for her books. Plus they both said it had helped Leslie far more than it had helped them.
They explained that she hadn't had luck making friends at her old school because of her imagination, Jack almost said something but Mary shown him a glance that made him keep his loud mouth shut.
The morning went quickly for all of them, the parents chatting, the younger ones playing, the only two that it seemed to drag on for was Ellie and Brenda, who where extremely bored all morning with out their TV, they had asked if they could go home but where told no. It was nearing 2pm and Leslie hadn't seen Jess all day, so she politely asked if she could go to the Aarons to find him. They all thought it was ok, so she set right off, putting on her green jacket with help from Judy, then her trainers. She started with a little jog till she was out of sight then slowed down to a walk.
During the walk down the dusty road, she started to wonder why he didn't come round with the rest of his family; she guessed something had happened that morning, mainly from the way his father had said he was wasting his time, which gave a huge clue. She neared the Aarons place and knocked softly on the door. No answer. She knocked harder, again no answer. She knocked a few more times but started to get frustrated, so instead she pushed the door open lightly and started calling him.
She entered the lonely house, and looked around, still calling Jess. She looked downstairs before heading up stairs; she wandered in to the elder Aarons room first, which was typically a mess, they have loads of chores and their rooms a mess? Weird she thought as she exited the room. She entered Jess's room but didn't think it was his, till she saw the picture on the far wall, but Jess wasn't their.
She searched the house, desperately looking for him, but he wasn't in the house, she had been darting room to room, she checked the greenhouse last. She stood looking over the fields seeing nothing. Where is he? He can't be their, the rope broke.
The path to their kingdom was a smooth jog for her, but the light peaceful jog was for nothing, as nothing was their. She slowly downheartedly walked back home, confused, she couldn't find him anywhere and it was making her worried.
It was nearing 3pm when she got back to the Burkes house.
"Jess isn't at his house. I couldn't find him anywhere." She said when her parents asked where he was. The younger Aarons shared a look, as their eyes burned their parents.
"Well we best go find him, don't want him hurting himself again" Jack said picking up his coat.
"Jack…can I ask you something before you go?" Bill piped up, getting his attention. "Is everything ok…at home with Jess?"
The sound of May Belle and Joycie playing was the only happy sound that could be heard, the tension in the kitchen built up as Jack stared at Bill. All eyes focused on both of them.
"What does it matter to you?" Jack uttered back after the abrupt silence.
"Well, it doesn't really concern me, but I was just wondering, as when ever I see him, he avoids conversation about life at home." Bill shot back
"Well, everything is fine at home…as Mary said when we got here it's a bit hectic at the moment. But yes everything is fine at home, and if he doesn't want to talk about home then let him." He replied.
"O…k then, well do you want us to help look for Jess?" Jack just shook his head before he opened their door and left. The other Aarons followed but not before saying bye and thank you.
"I'm sure Jess is ok." Judy said to Leslie after the Aarons had disappeared down the road. Leslie went up stairs to find something to do; she ended up looking out her window, watching the clouds float effortlessly by.
"Bill, why did you ask if everything was fine at home?" Judy asked as she put the cups in the sink.
"Because yesterday at the hospital, Jess shouted at both of them…" Judy looked at her husband with a questioning expression written on her face. "Because Jack wanted Jess to spend less time with Leslie and more time at home. Jack doesn't like the fact that his only son is spending most of his time with a girl." Judy burst in too laughter when she heard this. A smile grew on Bill face as he knew why she was laughing.
"Yes I know she acts a lot like a boy, more out going should I say, but still, Leslie has told me that both of them are outcasts, and that they don't have any other friends really. So I was thinking does Jack know that? Or doesn't Jess talk to him about it."
The conversation changed to other things quickly, but both still wondered what exactly happens at the Aarons place and how tightly knit their family was.
The Aarons returned to their empty house, to leave the elder and younger Aarons at home, so Jack and Mary could go look for their son, Jack was annoyed that they had to go looking for him but knew they would have to in case he did hurt himself again. They drove in too town, checked parks, the school but couldn't find him. They returned home at 5pm. Both where tired, so Jack sat in the living room and fell asleep, but Mary wasn't as lucky, she had to prepare dinner.
It was nearing 7:30 when Leslie saw Jess, solemnly walking up the tarmac road and turning on too the dirt track, it lifted her spirits to see him. She quickly threw on her jacket and dashed out the house before either one of her parents could ask where she was going.
"Hey, where have you been all day?" She asked as she pulled up beside him, playfully poking him on the arm.
"Oh, Hi, no where I just went for a walk."
"No you didn't." she teased him "I came to get you earlier but you weren't there. By the way nice drawings, I didn't know May Belle owned your room. She's got you packed in the small corner." She laughed as his face turned a darker shade of red.
"You actually went in the house?"
"Ye, so where were you?" she asked again
"Just in to town, I had an idea; it might make my dad pleased with me for once." He said, sharing a slight smile with her.
God, that's the best sight I have seen all day.
"Ahh ok, what was your idea? Or is it a secret?"
"Well you will see soon enough." He said before he playfully poked her, starting a slight poking war.
They got to the Aarons door; Leslie went in with Jess as he wanted to give her her present. As soon as he got in his dad got up from his chair, and headed straight to him. They both could see the fury on his face. Leslie looked slightly frightened, but Jess was as cool as a cucumber.
"Where the hell have you been boy? I had to waste my time looking for you, didn't what I said earlier get though to you."
Jess grabbed his father's hand, and pulled it up in front of him, he slid his other hand in to his pocket, and pulled something out. He slapped it in to his fathers hand, and whispered
"You need that more than I do."
ok hope you enjoy, i will be posting one more Chapter before i stop for a month, i got my GCSE's this month and next. I will try to update where i can. Thank you for Reviews and viewing.
Good Days all
