Reports, Family & Friends

She watched him sitting on the edge of their pool, watching the horizon. When she had met him first she never had though what kind of soul was hidden under the shell of a rude and rough boy. But the last few months had taught her it was a good one – quiet, but good. They all had developed a kind of routine and it felt harmonic. She had missed this feeling for a while. Well, this boy had forced them to step back from their jobs a little and spending more time as family. Maybe the boy was not only a burden. The bad memories were gone, too. No, they weren't, but they weren't as bad any more. She could make it right again – she was making it right again. She wondered how this boy with such temper had been able to stay out of serious trouble. He did, that was most important. He had to use the chance he had gotten. She went to him and sat down next to him.

"You like this place, do you?" She asked. He shrugged his shoulders - his way to say yes or no. It was curious, but she always understood what he wanted to tell her through this gesture. He still wasn't able to look at her and he still thought he disturbed their family peace. If he knew that he was the reason for this peace to exist? No, probably not.

"We got Seth's report today. He's still pretty good. Sometimes I ask myself how we were able to raise such a smart kid."

"He's ambitious." He answered.

"Are you pleased with yours?" She asked carefully. Fact was neither she nor her husband knew how school went for the boy. She only wanted to know whether they needed to have an eye on him.

"Think so." The boy said and got up. She hated this gap between them and yes it was her fault.

"Ryan, wait." She said. He stopped. "Would you mind to sit down a moment?" He shrugged his shoulders and did as she asked. This time she knew he didn't care whether he sat next to her or went somewhere else. But she cared.

"I know, we both haven't had the best start and I know it were pretty much my prejudices causing this. But I want you to know that I'm not bothered by you being around. I don't feel disturbed or burdened. I…just…I don't know. Maybe I can tell you one day about my motives. I only can assure that it had nothing to do with you personally." She put an arm around his shoulders. She was glad to realize he stopped flinching at the slightest touch. Sometimes she wondered what must have happened to a boy, if he reacted like that. She often felt bad when she took her son into her arms while Ryan was in the same room.

"Is okay." The boy said. He was so quiet and cautious. She wished he could act around them a little more naturally. He helped her to get up. A gentleman under a rough shell. A kid under a rough shell.

"Uhm…Ryan, would you mind to show me your report? Not that I wanna judge it. I'm beyond that, I promise. It's just…now where you live with us due the week, I …we…Sandy and I really want to know if everything's alright. At least we have a little responsibility for you." She tried an attempt. She didn't want him feeling monitored. It only felt bad. He now lived with them for a few months and he never had asked them once for help. He looked at her – confused.

"Well, Seth never can wait to show us his report. I…we just thought you …"

"No, is okay, if you want to." He said, went into the pool house and browsed through the books and papers on the bed. Oh no. He still had no desk.

"Here." He handed her the envelope.

"Thanks." She said and took the report. She only needed one look…and yes she was…stunned…better amazed. Who had thought this? She didn't know why, but her heart jumped a little.

"That's great, Ryan. Seems as if not only Seth is the ambitious one in this household. C'mon, we need to show Sandy. He'll be happy to see that." She looked at the boy who only frowned. She didn't care. She took his hand and dragged him with into the house. She really had been mistaken about him.

"Hey you two. What's up?" Her husband asked her, when she entered the kitchen with Ryan in tow.

"Here." She handed him the report.

"From drop out to straight A student. This is quite a development. Congratulations." She knew later she had to apologise towards her husband. But she already knew how.

"Well this is your first Harbor report and then only A's. This needs to be celebrated. What about a nice family dinner you and Seth, your girls and we? And you choose what to eat?" Her husband said. This was a good idea. The boy didn't seem too happy about his report. He seemed so depressed.

"No, thank you. But the last bus to Chino goes in two hours." He scrupulously stuck to the deal. Man, it was two days and two nights he didn't stay with them. And yes, it felt curious when he didn't sit at the kitchen counter next to her son, like he used to every morning. Yes, she started to miss him being around, although one didn't notice him a lot. It was the thought he was there.

"Why don't you stay over the weekend?" She suggested. Two glances were shot at her. "Why not? Seth would be happy having you around even on the weekends and I can imagine a girl who would like having a date on Saturday evening and thus I can monitor your knee, because you're still limping."

"Thanks…but…I already claim enough of your time and I …need to help my brother. And…my knee is fine, just bruised." No, she didn't believe this anymore. A bruise lasts a couple of weeks, maybe one month. But the boy still was limping, not badly, but enough to make her notice.

"Ryan, you're working twenty-four hours seven days a week, either for school or for a job. Don't you think you should take a break? I mean this here is the proof for very hard work." Her husband started to persuade.

"C'mon Ryan, if you don't want a family dinner, then…something else? Would you like going to the movies?" She suggested. He probably was a little overstrained with so much family.

"No, thanks I'm fine really. I need to pack my stuff." The boy was so uneasy.

"Okay, then what did your Mum do with you, when you got such a report?" She asked. Maybe it was easier for him sticking to a familiar routine. She looked at him. Confused eyes were staring at him.

"C'mon there must be something." Her husband tried to make him feel a little easier.

"My Mum didn't even care whether I went to school. I doubt she ever had seen one of my reports and if she had, it's questionable if she was sober enough to understand it." Oh God! Why hadn't she forgotten about this? She looked at her husband, who looked clueless like she felt and then she watched how the boy went off.

"Wow, this was scary."

"Seth? Have you listened to …to this?" She asked him.

"Yep, shell I go and talk to him or are you willing to let him go home now?" She hated his sarcasm.

"Would be worth a try." Her husband answered and then her son went to the pool house.

"Was this my fault?" She asked her husband, not sure what to think about what had happened seconds ago.

"No, but I told you the boy has a hard past."

"Well here he is. He only has one condition." Her son said. Ryan slowly emerged from behind her son.

"What condition?" Her husband asked suspiciously.

"I prepare the dinner, just…as a little reward." He said shyly.

"Lasagne?" She asked. She loved his lasagne. Well, no matter what he made, it always was good. Yes, she was envious. A sixteen years old boy was a better cook than she was and she was the woman in this household.

"Uhm…can I use the phone? I have to tell my brother I stay over the weekend."

"Of course you can." She gave him the phone. He took it and went to the hallway.

"Yeah…hi. How are you?…that's good…uhm…just…a question…would you mind if I'm staying in Newport over the weekend?…Yeah…okay…cool…that's great…I know…uhm…can you do my one favour? Stay out of trouble, okay? You know what happens if…you know what. Okay…right…take care, bye."

"Trey is okay with that." He said, handing her the phone back. She was surprised by the close relationship the brothers seem to have. She never could imagine being that close to her sister.

"Great, I go to the girls, you prepare the dinner and then we all have a fun evening." Her son concluded.

"Thanks Seth, I didn't expect you to help." Ryan said grinning. There was something, between him and Seth she didn't understand. They both were different as day and night. But still they were so close to each other. Seth had no trouble being Seth when he was with Ryan and even Ryan was able to act around Seth more naturally – more like a teenager.

"I know that and that's why I keep out of the kitchen while you're in there." Her son was a spoilt little boy. But Ryan didn't care.

"I can help you." She offered. At least it was her choice of menu this evening.

"Uh…Mum do you think this is a good idea? You and kitchen? Think of our guests this evening. You don't want to poison them or?"

"Seth, you can be so lovely."

"I know. Ryan, don't let her even close to the kitchen. There are reasons, why we're ordering our dinner, instead of cooking it." Ryan looked a little confused.

"Seth is right. She knows how to handle contractors and construction worker, but she's a mess in the kitchen. Sorry, honey." Her husband said.

"Okay, I admit. I'm really not a good cook, but I can learn." She said, realizing that this whole situation - although it was jokingly – made Ryan feel uncomfortable.

"My Mum wasn't a good cook either. I guess this is nothing out of the ordinary." He said quietly.

"I'm glad to hear. But before you stay around in the kitchen I want to have a look at your knee. And don't tell me once again it's only bruised."

"I'm okay…really…just." She only looked at him intensely. He sighed and pulled up his trouser.

"It's still swollen, and no it's no bruise anymore a bruise is coloured. You really should let an orthopaedist have a look at it."

"No…listen…it looks worse as it is. I know how to handle this."

"Okay, but then you have to let me give you a hand in the kitchen." She felt bad if the boy was doing everything alone. She wanted to help him, showing him that he meant something to her.