A/N: On completing the previous set, I suddenly realized that the last time I'd done drabbles involving churches was for Robocop. Over there, if the Cyborg isn't having church related flashbacks while STANDING in said church, then a criminal is having an arms deal in an abandoned sanctuary, complete with stained glass windows. In comparison, the previous set here was downright sane and normal. (Yay for sane and normal.)
I don't know if it was open in the 70's, but Fort Worth has a Bakery called The Black Rooster.
Reasoning for Pete suddenly being so open when he hadn't been before? Emotional and physical safety. Helen provided him a space where he could talk about things and it would be okay if he did. That means a lot in this situation.
Week 9 - UDC 2
41. Family
Pete glanced down at the MIA bracelet that Sheryl had given to him on Friday, and then looked at Helen and searched her face. Was it a time for honesty, here in this place that stirred memories? "I told Nick about breaking my arm in November." Helen frowned at him, but didn't move. "Placement before the Tathams, their son has a short temper and reading problems. I was trying to help him with word problems, and we were alone because Mr. Tomkins was still at work and Sheryl had gone grocery shopping. Bart..."
"Got angry?" Nick suggested and Pete glanced at him.
"Frustrated, and I made the mistake of forgetting that there even were front steps when I ran." Pete got a far-off look in his eyes before he shook his head, forestalling Helen from saying anything. "I think I scared Bart more than I scared me."
Helen glanced at Nick, to find that he wasn't surprised to hear any of it. "He told you this before."
"On Friday, after Mrs. Tomkins gave him the replacement," Nick explained. "And Pete? Our principal is still right, that you should run to his office when stuff like that happens, no matter that you think you'd be running there all the time. He can't do anything about the problems if you tell no one."
"Which arm was it?" Walt asked suddenly, and Pete held up his left arm, pointing to the mid-shaft of his lower arm. "Was it a full break?"
"No. Greenstick, and I had to wear a splint for a month."
Walt studied him. "And did you tell Mr. Jenkins the how?"
"About the tutoring? No, Mr. Bradshaw. I wasn't sure how to tell him that part."
Nick cleared his throat. "I saw him chasing you at least once across campus last week. Were, are you still trying to tutor Bart?"
Pete shrugged. "If not me, then who? I had an idea, to get him assessed somehow to figure out where he needed help so he'd stop getting mad over word problems, but I wasn't sure how to-"
"Ah," Helen interrupted, smiling. "I think I know how."
"How?"
She regarded him seriously for a minute, then smiled again. "You let the adults worry about the how."
42. Travel
They were quiet for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company in the sanctuary when Helen noticed that Pete was watching something that intrigued him. She followed his gaze to an elderly woman, lighting a candle at the stand near the altar in prayer. It was a small thing, that, but important all the same.
"Mrs. Bradshaw?"
"Hmm?"
A pause, then a deep breath. "Can we... can we light one for my Dad?"
She shared a glance with both her son and her husband before looking at him again. "Of course we can, Pete. Of course."
Together, they made their way to the stand of candles near the altar where Walt lit a long-stemmed match and then handed it to Pete. Pete stared at the flame in his hand for a long moment, then pressed it to the wick of one of the candles. Then he blew the match out and Walt took it back from him. "Dad... no service, because of his status."
Because MIA could have easily meant alive, somewhere out there, Helen thought privately as she watched Nick pull Pete into a hug when he started to sniffle again.
43. Food
People were filing into the building for the mid-morning Mass as they were leaving, and Nick frowned when he heard a soft rumbling from beside him. He blinked and looked down, for that hadn't been his stomach. "You hungry?"
"Starved," Pete admitted, then blinked at his own answer. "I mean, we ate breakfast. I'm fine."
Something about that, the quick self-correcting, caused Nick to grab his father's arm. "Dad, I think we need to have an early brunch."
The rumbling sounded again and now Walt was frowning at Pete, who was staring at the ground. "You know, I think you're right. Helen, what do you think? Stop at that nice bakery on the way home? Get something fun?"
"Yes, I think we should," Helen said after a moment, then got Pete's attention. "Ever had quiche?"
"No?"
"Are you allergic to eggs?"
Pete stared at her. "Also no. Why?"
"Then you'll love a quiche."
44. Blessings
At the bakery while Nick and Pete waited for them in the car, Helen watched as her husband requested bagels, four doughnuts, a loaf of French bread, and one of the bakery's specialty Quiche's, swiss cheese and spinach with ham. "We're going to spoil him, you know."
"We had a breakfast that normally satisfies all of us until 1PM or so," Walt reminded her. "And that kid is already starving. When Nick was his age? Easily both heavier and seven or eight inches taller. I wouldn't think of this as spoiling him right now, would you?"
She thought about as she glanced out the window to see that the boys were talking among themselves in the backseat. "No, you're right. Hadn't thought of it that way yet. And if he's trying to have a growth spurt, of course he would be hungry. Every time Nick has one, I have to go shopping two or three times in the same week."
"Mmm... Chicken Salad or Egg Salad?"
"Why not both? Oh, those jalapeno cheddar biscuits look good..."
45. Thanks
Getting back in the car, Walt handed a white bag to Nick with a smile. "One each."
Nick peeked inside, then held it open for Pete. "Buttermilk bars. Pick one." Pete picked one, eyes very wide as he held the doughnut in his hands. "Big, huh?"
"Yes." He noticed both adults watching him as Nick pulled one out for himself, then handed the bag to his mother. "Thank you?"
Walt nodded, then started the car. "You're welcome."
The ride back to the house was a quiet one.