Chapter 2
The next day Jason and the rest of the rangers were waiting for Tommy
on the steps of Angel Grove High. "What could be taking him so long?" Billy
asked. Kimberly shrugged. "I haven't seen him all morning." she said. It
was now lunch time and the group was hoping he would show up for his last 3
classes, since he had skipped his first three. "This is not like Tommy at
all. I have never known him to skip classes before." Billy said. "He used
to do it all the time before he moved here." Zack reminded them. Trini
nodded. "But he said once he came here, he wanted to start over. And he's
been doing that. Why is he starting again all of a sudden?" The others
shrugged. Jason had sat silent through the whole thing. Tommy was his best
friend, he couldn't figure out why he was doing this, or what he was doing.
"Jason? Do you know something about this?" Zack asked him gently. He shook
his head. "No. I was over at his house the other day and the ceiling was
really interesting him for some reason, because he hadn't heard a word I
said. Then when I did finally get him to talk, he told me that his parents
just told him that he had an older brother, and he's mad at them." he
explained, telling them the little he knew. Kimberly sighed. "I can
understand being mad at his parents, but this is ridiciulous. Skipping his
classes isn't the way to deal with it. Besides, he's always wanted a
brother, he should be happy he has one." she said. Jason nodded. "He is,
he's ecstatic actually. He's just upset because it took him 17 years to
find out. He's mad because he's missed out on 17 years with his brother. I
really don't blame him, actually. I mean, his brother is the only thing he
has left of his birth parents, and I'd want to capture that memory too, if
I could help it." he said. Billy nodded. "Capturing a memory and completely
shutting yourself off from your friends are two different things, Jason. I
can understand where Tommy is coming from. If I had a way to remember my
mom, I'd take that chance immediately. But I can't, and you don't see me
doing the things Tommy's doing." he said. Jason had never thought of it
that way. In a way, both Tommy and Billy were alike. Billy had lost his mom
in a tragic car accident when he was 9, having been raised strictly by his
dad. Tommy on the other hand had lost his parents in a car accident when he
was a year old, and had been adopted and had never had any memories of his
birth parents. So in many ways, Billy and Tommy were a lot alike. Jason
nodded. "But people are different, Billy. And Tommy is nothing like you,
nor will he ever be. He is dealing with his problems in his own way, which
I will admit is bad for him." he said. The others nodded. I was shaming
everyone by the way I had been acting, including Kimberly, my own
girlfriend.
