Chapter Two- The Help of Friends

Espa was up and out of bed the next morning before any of his brothers. He was nervous about the meeting to come. Slowly, he made his way to the kitchen to begin making breakfast. He stood by the refrigerator door, staring at the finger paintings Andrew had adorned it with. Then he looked up at the freezer, where Jon's latest test grades were being posted. His brothers truly loved showing off their good work. Everyone except Christien. His middle brother was a fairly private person, and that was perhaps why he was so perceptive when things were going wrong with his brothers. He spent a lot of time alone, when he wasn't with Randi Wilson, his best friend. Espa shook his head,and got the milk out of the fridge. He then proceeded to pour cereal into three bowls, and laid graham crackers on Little E's tray. Please let this day go smoothly. Please! I'll never ask for anything else. Just let me keep my brothers! Just as he was about to go and wake up the little ones, his eyes widened. A vision was coming over him.

He could see his house, and it was trashed! The child services people were picking his brother Andy up off the floor,and heading out with him. He walked out after them,pleading in tears for them to return his little brothers to him. Jon, Christien and Little E were all in the station wagon too. Andrew tried to wrestle out of the tall man's grip, crying for his older brother,yet Espa could do nothing but watch them go…….

"NO! I won't let the come into being!"

"What's the matter, Big Brother?" Christien asked softly from the doorway. "Was it another vision?"

"Yeah….I think Bakura's going to demote me." The elder Roba lied. I will not tell them what I saw. He might be able to read the others, but I have mental barriers against him. "Don't worry about me, Chris." He tousled his brother's hair. "Is Jonathan up? They re-opened schools today."

"Yeah. He's changing Little E." Chris sat down in front of his cereal. "Frosted O's again?! Can't we have something different, Espa?"

"You know I can't afford anything but the specials, Chris. So eat it or don't." Espa replied sharply. His tune changed when Andy came bounding into the kitchen. "Andy! You look so nice today!" The little boy had put on his black jeans with a short sleeve shirt. Espa scooped him up, and set him in his chair. "Frosted O's all around, okay?" He smiled when Andy dug right in. He knew how much Andy liked his sweet cereal. Espa glanced at the clock. "Jon! Get a move on! You're going to be late!"

" I'm not going." Jonathan told him, as he carried Little E into the kitchen.

"Of course you are. You don't look sick or anything." Espa took the baby from him, and frowned, noting how warm Little E was. He sighed. "You were planning to stay home and take care the baby again, weren't you?"

"He's sick, Big Brother, and you've got finals!"

"Can I stay home too, Espa? Please?" Christien looked up at his older brother, pleadingly. "I'm not feeling too great either…"

"No no no! You three are going to school. I'll just call Bakura and let him know I can't come in until….oh no!" Espa had remembered Child Services was coming in the afternoon to inspect and interview them. "Guys, you have to go to school today, okay?"

"Who's going to watch the baby while you take finals?" Jonathan asked, as he wolfed down his cereal without thinking about what it was.

"Let me worry about that. You two better get going. Andy, go find your bookbag. Rex and Monica should be here any minute to take you to school.

" 'kay,Espa." The five-year-old went to find his school bag.

As his brothers went looking for their school stuff, Espa held on to the baby, with a deep sigh. This can't be a good sign. He feels very hot. I can't miss my finals, and I can't call into work. I'm already doing that tomorrow….I wonder if Joey has anything this morning…He nodded decisively, and set his brother in his high chair. "Here, Little E. Have some grahams." He picked up the phone, as he heard the front door slam. "Andy, go keep a look out for Rex. Tell him to come in the kitchen when he gets here."

" 'kay!"

Espa smiled to himself, as he dialed Joey Wheeler's phone number.

"Hello?"

"Serenity. Hey. It's Espa. Is Joey around?"

"Hmm…..yeah. I think he's helping Lacey get ready for school. Hold on."

Espa heard Serenity yell for her brother, then a few seconds later, he came to the phone. "Yeah? What's up, Roba?"

"Joey, are you busy today?"

"Not that I know of….why?"

"I need you to watch Baby Espa for a little while. I have finals for Mrs. Fitzpatrick, then I have to go to work."

"What happened to Weevil's mom sitting for you?" Joey wanted to know.

"I can't get into that right now. This is very important. I'm also going to ask Rex to keep Andrew after school."

"What's goin' on today?"

"Child Services is coming to inspect and interview. If I don't pass, they're going to come back and take my brothers away."

"Whoa….that's heavy stuff. Is there anything else I can do to help, man?"

"Just take care of Little E so I don't have to call out of work. I'll bring him by before I go to school."

"Okay. Serenity's walking Lacey to school now, so whenever you're ready, man."

"I appreciate this, Joey. I really do." Espa hung up the phone, and turned to see Rex in the kitchen doorway, with Andy and Monica in his arms. Andy's eyes were wide in fear. "Hey…."

"Who gonna takes us 'way, Brover?" Andy demanded, his eyes filling with tears. "I not leaving."

"Oh man…." Espa muttered to himself, picking Baby Espa up. "I'm not going to let anyone take you away, Andy. Don't worry." He looked at Rex, shaking his head, his eyes telling him how worried he really was.

"Monnie, why don't you take Andy out to the car, and you two get in your car seats."

" 'kay, Wex." Monica grabbed Andy's hand and did as her brother told her.

"Is it really bad, Espa?" Rex asked once the two were gone.

"Yeah. This is my final chance to prove I can do this. I failed the last two tests."

"Why are they on your case after all these years?"

"Andrew's been confirmed to have a learning disability, and when it's an issue like that…."

"A learning disability? Really? He seems pretty smart to me, Espa…"

"Yeah, I know. That's why I think it's more of an emotional thing. I'm getting a second opinion tomorrow."

"Good idea. Andy said you needed to talk to me?"

"Yeah. Can you keep Andy until about two o'clock?"

"No sweat. We'll go to the arcade or something. It's Meghan's birthday today."

"Tell her I said happy birthday." Espa smiled a little. "Well, I better get going. I still have to drop Little E off at Joey's. Thanks for everything, Rex. I owe you big time." He hefted the baby on his hip, and picked up his prepared diaper bag. "We're all set, right, E?" He grinned brightly, and got a tiny-toothed grin back, before his little brother coughed, and laid his little head on his shoulder. "Maybe Joey will have some cough medicine for you…." He murmured, as he followed Rex out of the house, locking his front door.