Chapter Three.
At the McRea's home, they have all sat down to dinner, but for Colt it isn't going very well as everyone is staring at him. Waiting for his first move. "This uh...this looks really good, Mo-..Mrs. McRea." He stammered. Colt wanted to call her mom, but the words wouldn't come out. He just didn't feel he could say it to her right now. "Mom honey, but thank you." Said Mrs. McRea.
Colt looked down at the food in front of him. 'Peas, pass. Potatos, that's alright. Chicken," With that Colt picked it up and took a cautiously watched bite. He bit into the chicken leg and chewed the meat looking around at the gazing eyes of his new old family. "What do you think honey?" Mrs. McRea asked. "...I like it, it's good." Answered Colt, placing the chicken leg down. 'Although I wish I could eat it in privacy.' He thought.
"So, let's make conversation, since when was this family ever quiet at the dinner table?" Said Johnathan, turning his attention to his new brother. "Dad told us you were on the baseball team back at your old school, what position did you play?" Colt took a sip of his milk and placed the glass down. "First base." He answered timidly, wondering about their approval.
"Cool, I was on the basket ball team but only for a short time because Mooom made me quit." The boy said teasingly. "Well," The woman started to saying, wipping her mouth off. "What did you expect with all those away games you made, I couldn't be everywhere at once." Johnathan laughed and hit Colt's hand with his own. "That's the understatement of the year." He said. Now this interested Colt, he wanted to know more about the family, if he was in fact now stuck here with them.
"When you were taken, Mom went Military on us all." "That's enough Johnathan." His mother said but the boy just looked at her and continued on. "She never let any of us out of the house with out her knowing about it, I'm 21 years old and still with a babysitter. Not only that I still live at home."
"Johnathan Paul, McRea that is enough!" His mother had snapped. "Let's find a more civilized topic hmm? And the for the record I was taking precautions, any mother would have done the same thing if her youngest til Jeremy here was stolen away from her." John rolled his eyes and began to eat again. "So Jeff, did you have a girlfriend?" Jeremy asked. Colt huffed out a laugh and nodded. "A lot of them to be precise." "Wow! How many like a hundred?" The boy asked in pure interest. "Well uh...I'm not really sure, but there was one girl that never stopped being special to me."
Colt looked down at his food while the family exchanged glances, then he looked back up with an impish smirk. "What about you, Jerm' you have any girlfriends?" The little boy twisted his face up. "Eeeuuww, girls are gross, I wouldn't even touch them." Colt laughed and shook his head. "Give it time, you'll be at an age when you can't get enough of them and then one day they'll take your heart right out of your chest, while it's still beating and leave you on some mountain, standing cold and naked."
The little boy's eyes widened with questions hearing that but all he could say was, "Whoa..." "I was almost married." John said casually. "Really, what happened?" Asked Colt. "Well, she was older than me and decided to find someone that was more in her age range, on the night we were supposed to be married." Colt was sorry he asked. By the look on John's face he obviously made him open up an old wound.
"But hey, I'm over it and right now I'm single." John added to remove the silence.
"Don't bother asking me about relationships, I'm a quiet book worm, nobody is attracted to me." Anna remarked without a an ounce of bitterness or resentment.
"It's better that you don't hon' boys are only out for one thing." Their mother said.
"She's right." Colt agreed. "I was like that when I was younger, it was all I thought about. Now I'm a little more responsible."
Mrs. McRea smiled with pride hearing her son agree with her. It was nice. "Tell me about the Douglas's, what was it like being a ninja?" Jeremy asked. "What's your ninja name? Can I have one?" The boy looked to his mother. "Mom can I take ninja classes, Jefferson can teach me, can't ya Jeff?"
Colt looked shocked for a second. "Uh, well, I guess so."
"Cool!" The boy cheered. "I don't think so," Their mom said and gave Colt a look that said, 'Don't.'
"Don't you ever turn off?" Anna said, flicking a pea at her younger brother. "Knock it off! Mom, tell Anna to knock it off." "Don't throw food." Mrs. McRea said, and Jeremy stuck his tongue out at her. 'This is too over whelming, I have to get out of here.' Colt looked at his father whom during the entire dinner hadn't said a word. "May I be excused?" He asked. "Sure son." The man replied. "Just leave your dishes in the sink there." He added.
Colt got up from the table and put his things away. "Could I maybe watch some t.v before bed?" He then asked. "Sure son," His father said. "No honey." His mother answered and Colt cocked an eyebrow. "Sooo, which is it?" He asked. "Go on ahead and watch some t.v son." His father said. "Thanks." Colt replied and walked into the living room, hearing their voices behind him. "He's weird." Jeremy said. "And he didn't answer any of my questions." "Well maybe if you'd learn to pause before asking another one." Johnathan stated.
"Whatever." The boy said. 'I've got to get out of here.' Colt thought and continued his journey into the living room. He found himself a nice arm chair to sit in, to avoid being next to anyone when they all finished up and joined him. And knowing them it would be shortly. Since he's gotten in this house he's been surrounded by them, engulfed almost and it was driving him crazy and this was only the first day!
Taking the chance to really look the living room over, he noticed that the place was actually decorated nicely, and he'd of loved staying there under any other circumstances. A phone caught his vision next and his hands were itching to pick it up, but there was an off chance that he'd get caught. But he wanted to call home and hear the voice of whoever would pick up. He didn't care who....he just wanted to hear his families voices one last time, if this was going to be forever.....
........................................
"Good night, Mrs. McRea." Colt said leaving the hall bathroom after brushing his teeth. The house was getting ready for bed and with luck he made it into the bathroom first. "Good night, Jefferson, and call me Mom." She replied. Colt just waved and walked into his bedroom.
Sighing, Colt slipped his feet from his slippers feeling the warm carpet beneath his feet. "Thank God it's time for bed, I need the rest." Colt murmured to himself. "Maybe thing's will be better tomorrow." He figured and yanked the blanket well over his head. There was a creak on the other side of the room from the door opening and the sound of feet followed shortly after it. Moving the blanket from over his head Colt sighed seeing no one there.
Pulling the blanket back over his head he sighed but the sound remained in his room, making him look out again. "What is that?" He asked himself. Before he could even react something wet ran across his face. "Ahhh!" He shouted shoving his hands outwards to keep back whatever was in the room attacking him. "What's the matter, are you having a nightmare?" His mother asked running into the room, with cucumber goop on her face.
"There's a-..a-..." Colt paused seeing a large, completely white dog standing before him. "A dog?" He narrowed his eyes at it. "Its a dog?" He stated again, as though his mind were letting it register. "Mom what's going on?" John asked coming up beside her with the rest of his siblings. "Oh nothing," His mother answered walking into the room and grabbing the samoyed by the collar. "I'm sorry Jefferson, I forgot to tell you we have dogs."
Pushing through the small pile up, Jeremy made his way into the room. "What's going on?" He asked with curiousity flooding his voice. Then a huge grin came across his face. "D.K.!" The boy ran over to the dog who turned and nuzzled it's muzzle into the boys abdomen. "Hey boy, when did Kelly bring you back?" He asked the dog, talking as though he were the only one in the room.
"I hope he didn't scare you," Mrs. McRea said to Colt. "Are you afraid of dogs?"
Colt shook his head. "No, he just surprised me that's all." His words were dry and hazey from sleepiness. How many more surprises did this family have? He wondered. "This is Donkey Kong." Jeremy stated to Colt. The dog turned and looked back at Colt and walked over dipping it's head for a pat, which he absently gave. "He's named after my favorite game, Mom let me." The little boy added. "Our other dog is a girl that Anna named Manga."
"That's enough, let's leave him to sleep, Jeremy get D.K. out of here and put him outside." His mother instructed.
"Aw Mom, do I have to?" He winded.
"Yyes. Now move it." With an agitated sighed the little boy lead the dog out of the room. "Come on boy," They heard Jeremy in the hall. "We'll sleep in my room." His mother made a ticked sound and looked over her shoulder then back at Colt. "Good night sweety." Mrs. McRea said hurrying the other two from the hall. Closed the door they left Colt back in his silence.
"Good night." Colt replied, and when the family was out of ear shot and the door was closed he lay down and sighed.
"Another fine mess you got yourself into, Colt." He murmured. "My cell phone!" He remembered. "I can call home with this." Slipping out of bed, he went over to the dresser and shoved his hand down under his shirts and pulled the little black phone out.
He looked at it as though the heaven's themselves had opened up and gave it to him. "I'll just call home and talk to Mom or Dad." He said dailing the number. He listened to the rings of the phone then a dail tone. "We're sorry, the number you have dailed is no longer in service, please hang up and dail again. Thank you." With that the operater hung up. "No, they wouldn't- change the number on me....." He walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Maybe I pressed the wrong number on accident it is pretty dark in here." Sitting himself close to the window he made sure he pressed every number correctly. Bringing the phone up to his ear he listened getting the operator again. "No...they wouldn't change the number on me."
With an air of defeat he suddenly remembered. "Lissa!" He quickly dailed her number and the phone was answered after two rings. "Hello?" A groggy voice said over the other end. "Lissa?" Colt mumbled to himself then started to cry.
Outside of his door, Mrs. McRea listens soundlessly to him talk with this 'Lissa' person. "Mom?" Anna said startling the woman. "Yes honey?" She asked turning around.
"...What are you doing?" Her daughter asked.
"I'm um, making sure Jefferson sleeps alright tonight, I'm worried about him that's all." She explained and closed her rob over more walking to her room. Anna looked after her path, then walked quietly up to Colt's door listening in herself. She heard his voice, it sounded as though he were on the phone.
'Oh Mom...' She thought in a sigh.
* * *
"Tum tum, sweety I want you get ready for school." Jessica said almost automatically. "I don't want you to be late." She was staring out the window, when Tum tum walked in and he could have sworn she didn't see him at all. "Do I have to? All the kids at school are gonna pick on me, I just know they will." The small boy replied. "You have to, it's your responsibility." His mother stated and turned to look at her son.
Her eyes were puffy and red. She must have been crying all night again, something Jessica has done since Colt left. Tum tum was concerned but he didn't know what to say to make anyone feel better really, because he personally never had any real problems that he had to coach himself through. "Um..Mom." He started and walked over to her giving her a hug. "You're still the best mother in the whole world." He stated.
Jessica smiled weakly and gave her son a squeeze around his waist then released him. "Thank you honey, now go get dressed, I'll make your breakfast while you get your things together." Tum tum ran upstairs and into his bedroom.
In the room across the hall Rocky was on the phone with Neilissa. She was telling him about last night and he just shook his head hearing everything. "He says they did nothing but stare at him the entire time waiting to see what he was going to do next." She informed. "It's only been one day he says and already he wishes he was at home with you guys."
"I can imagine." Rocky commented. "And get this, he's not really 21 he's actually only 19 and he has a twin sister!" This got Rocky's full attention, he never would have dreamed anything like that up but he knew how Colt must feel going through all that stuff and alone at that. "He says he tried to call you guys-..."
"Hang on." Rocky interupted a second and strained an ear to hear the voice of his mother calling to him. "That's Mom, I've gotta go."
"All right, what should I do if he calls again, he wants to know your new phone number but I didn't know what to tell him." Rocky sighed sadly hearing that. "Our phone automatically blocks any out of state calls from his number and the McRea's, so even if he did know the number he wouldn't be able to do much with it." Rocky paused a second then made his voice very serious. "Listen, I want you to be there for him, because right now you're all my brother has and you just give him messages from us I'll see that we get his."
'Lissa made an unseen nod from her side of the phone then said. "No problem, I'll be your information highway." Her quaint laugh came through the phone and it made Rocky smile. "You'll never change," He mentioned and said goodbye, hanging up. "Coming!" He called to his mother and walked out of the room. "Yeah mom?" He asked when he got downstairs.
"Baby, could you walk with your brother to school, I wanna make sure he's ok." She asked with kindness.
"Sure thing." Rocky sat down and looked at her while she idly made breakfast. "Mom are you alright? I'm supposed to look for a job today but, I'll stay home for you if you need me around here."
Jessica laughed, her voice was distant but she laughed. "Rocky no, this is actually helping to keep me busy while I...I need this okay." Rocky looked down and nodded. 'This is so hard on her, I wish she didn't feel like she had to go through with it alone.' He thought. His little brother entered the kitchen and walked over to the stove. Jessica gave him a plate filled with pancakes and eggs and bacon and come sausage. "Cool!" Tum cheered and sat down. "Rocky, you hungry?" She asked him holding out a plate.
"Ummm...sure. I'll fix it myself though." He said standing up to grab a plate. "Sweety I already fixed yours." She mentioned. "Yes, but you need that more than me and I can get my own breakfast so it's okay." Jessica's face scrunched and she shoved the plate into his hands before he could even hold on to it and it went crashing to the floor. "Oh Mom I'm so-.." Rocky started but was cut off.
"Look at what you did." Jessica said frantically, stooping over to pick up the glass. "Let me get that I-..."
"No! You'll cut yourself on the glass, shoot." Jessica muttered bringing her finger up to her mouth. Rocky saw the little trickles of blood on the floor and he helped her up and walked over to the table sitting her down. "Mom please, I'll clean up the plate, you just go relex in the living room for a while."
"I'm sorry Rocky, I didn't mean to snap at you." She was saying. "It's okay, I understand. I'll bring you some breakfast and you go sit and calm yourself down a bit." Rocky stated. "Okay, thank you honey," She replied standing. Rocky planted a kiss on her cheek and helped her to the living room. Jessica sat down on the couch and fell asleep as soon as her head hit one of the large decorative pillows.
Tum tum shuddered and shook his head. "That was scary," He commented. Rocky cleaned up the glass and stuffed it into the trash can. "We've gotta be extra nice to Mom Tum, and extra helpfull we can't let her burn out like this." He said lowly incase she were listening.
"I got'cha." Replied his brother, placing his dishes into the sink. "I don't know why mom is so upset though...she didn't steal Colt, aunt Sabrina did, Mom was just an accessory to her crime." Rocky blinked at his brother then put a hand on his shoulder, steering him into the living room. "You watch too much tv. Let's get you to school."
The two of them grabbed their jackets and walked out of the house.
At the McRea's home, they have all sat down to dinner, but for Colt it isn't going very well as everyone is staring at him. Waiting for his first move. "This uh...this looks really good, Mo-..Mrs. McRea." He stammered. Colt wanted to call her mom, but the words wouldn't come out. He just didn't feel he could say it to her right now. "Mom honey, but thank you." Said Mrs. McRea.
Colt looked down at the food in front of him. 'Peas, pass. Potatos, that's alright. Chicken," With that Colt picked it up and took a cautiously watched bite. He bit into the chicken leg and chewed the meat looking around at the gazing eyes of his new old family. "What do you think honey?" Mrs. McRea asked. "...I like it, it's good." Answered Colt, placing the chicken leg down. 'Although I wish I could eat it in privacy.' He thought.
"So, let's make conversation, since when was this family ever quiet at the dinner table?" Said Johnathan, turning his attention to his new brother. "Dad told us you were on the baseball team back at your old school, what position did you play?" Colt took a sip of his milk and placed the glass down. "First base." He answered timidly, wondering about their approval.
"Cool, I was on the basket ball team but only for a short time because Mooom made me quit." The boy said teasingly. "Well," The woman started to saying, wipping her mouth off. "What did you expect with all those away games you made, I couldn't be everywhere at once." Johnathan laughed and hit Colt's hand with his own. "That's the understatement of the year." He said. Now this interested Colt, he wanted to know more about the family, if he was in fact now stuck here with them.
"When you were taken, Mom went Military on us all." "That's enough Johnathan." His mother said but the boy just looked at her and continued on. "She never let any of us out of the house with out her knowing about it, I'm 21 years old and still with a babysitter. Not only that I still live at home."
"Johnathan Paul, McRea that is enough!" His mother had snapped. "Let's find a more civilized topic hmm? And the for the record I was taking precautions, any mother would have done the same thing if her youngest til Jeremy here was stolen away from her." John rolled his eyes and began to eat again. "So Jeff, did you have a girlfriend?" Jeremy asked. Colt huffed out a laugh and nodded. "A lot of them to be precise." "Wow! How many like a hundred?" The boy asked in pure interest. "Well uh...I'm not really sure, but there was one girl that never stopped being special to me."
Colt looked down at his food while the family exchanged glances, then he looked back up with an impish smirk. "What about you, Jerm' you have any girlfriends?" The little boy twisted his face up. "Eeeuuww, girls are gross, I wouldn't even touch them." Colt laughed and shook his head. "Give it time, you'll be at an age when you can't get enough of them and then one day they'll take your heart right out of your chest, while it's still beating and leave you on some mountain, standing cold and naked."
The little boy's eyes widened with questions hearing that but all he could say was, "Whoa..." "I was almost married." John said casually. "Really, what happened?" Asked Colt. "Well, she was older than me and decided to find someone that was more in her age range, on the night we were supposed to be married." Colt was sorry he asked. By the look on John's face he obviously made him open up an old wound.
"But hey, I'm over it and right now I'm single." John added to remove the silence.
"Don't bother asking me about relationships, I'm a quiet book worm, nobody is attracted to me." Anna remarked without a an ounce of bitterness or resentment.
"It's better that you don't hon' boys are only out for one thing." Their mother said.
"She's right." Colt agreed. "I was like that when I was younger, it was all I thought about. Now I'm a little more responsible."
Mrs. McRea smiled with pride hearing her son agree with her. It was nice. "Tell me about the Douglas's, what was it like being a ninja?" Jeremy asked. "What's your ninja name? Can I have one?" The boy looked to his mother. "Mom can I take ninja classes, Jefferson can teach me, can't ya Jeff?"
Colt looked shocked for a second. "Uh, well, I guess so."
"Cool!" The boy cheered. "I don't think so," Their mom said and gave Colt a look that said, 'Don't.'
"Don't you ever turn off?" Anna said, flicking a pea at her younger brother. "Knock it off! Mom, tell Anna to knock it off." "Don't throw food." Mrs. McRea said, and Jeremy stuck his tongue out at her. 'This is too over whelming, I have to get out of here.' Colt looked at his father whom during the entire dinner hadn't said a word. "May I be excused?" He asked. "Sure son." The man replied. "Just leave your dishes in the sink there." He added.
Colt got up from the table and put his things away. "Could I maybe watch some t.v before bed?" He then asked. "Sure son," His father said. "No honey." His mother answered and Colt cocked an eyebrow. "Sooo, which is it?" He asked. "Go on ahead and watch some t.v son." His father said. "Thanks." Colt replied and walked into the living room, hearing their voices behind him. "He's weird." Jeremy said. "And he didn't answer any of my questions." "Well maybe if you'd learn to pause before asking another one." Johnathan stated.
"Whatever." The boy said. 'I've got to get out of here.' Colt thought and continued his journey into the living room. He found himself a nice arm chair to sit in, to avoid being next to anyone when they all finished up and joined him. And knowing them it would be shortly. Since he's gotten in this house he's been surrounded by them, engulfed almost and it was driving him crazy and this was only the first day!
Taking the chance to really look the living room over, he noticed that the place was actually decorated nicely, and he'd of loved staying there under any other circumstances. A phone caught his vision next and his hands were itching to pick it up, but there was an off chance that he'd get caught. But he wanted to call home and hear the voice of whoever would pick up. He didn't care who....he just wanted to hear his families voices one last time, if this was going to be forever.....
........................................
"Good night, Mrs. McRea." Colt said leaving the hall bathroom after brushing his teeth. The house was getting ready for bed and with luck he made it into the bathroom first. "Good night, Jefferson, and call me Mom." She replied. Colt just waved and walked into his bedroom.
Sighing, Colt slipped his feet from his slippers feeling the warm carpet beneath his feet. "Thank God it's time for bed, I need the rest." Colt murmured to himself. "Maybe thing's will be better tomorrow." He figured and yanked the blanket well over his head. There was a creak on the other side of the room from the door opening and the sound of feet followed shortly after it. Moving the blanket from over his head Colt sighed seeing no one there.
Pulling the blanket back over his head he sighed but the sound remained in his room, making him look out again. "What is that?" He asked himself. Before he could even react something wet ran across his face. "Ahhh!" He shouted shoving his hands outwards to keep back whatever was in the room attacking him. "What's the matter, are you having a nightmare?" His mother asked running into the room, with cucumber goop on her face.
"There's a-..a-..." Colt paused seeing a large, completely white dog standing before him. "A dog?" He narrowed his eyes at it. "Its a dog?" He stated again, as though his mind were letting it register. "Mom what's going on?" John asked coming up beside her with the rest of his siblings. "Oh nothing," His mother answered walking into the room and grabbing the samoyed by the collar. "I'm sorry Jefferson, I forgot to tell you we have dogs."
Pushing through the small pile up, Jeremy made his way into the room. "What's going on?" He asked with curiousity flooding his voice. Then a huge grin came across his face. "D.K.!" The boy ran over to the dog who turned and nuzzled it's muzzle into the boys abdomen. "Hey boy, when did Kelly bring you back?" He asked the dog, talking as though he were the only one in the room.
"I hope he didn't scare you," Mrs. McRea said to Colt. "Are you afraid of dogs?"
Colt shook his head. "No, he just surprised me that's all." His words were dry and hazey from sleepiness. How many more surprises did this family have? He wondered. "This is Donkey Kong." Jeremy stated to Colt. The dog turned and looked back at Colt and walked over dipping it's head for a pat, which he absently gave. "He's named after my favorite game, Mom let me." The little boy added. "Our other dog is a girl that Anna named Manga."
"That's enough, let's leave him to sleep, Jeremy get D.K. out of here and put him outside." His mother instructed.
"Aw Mom, do I have to?" He winded.
"Yyes. Now move it." With an agitated sighed the little boy lead the dog out of the room. "Come on boy," They heard Jeremy in the hall. "We'll sleep in my room." His mother made a ticked sound and looked over her shoulder then back at Colt. "Good night sweety." Mrs. McRea said hurrying the other two from the hall. Closed the door they left Colt back in his silence.
"Good night." Colt replied, and when the family was out of ear shot and the door was closed he lay down and sighed.
"Another fine mess you got yourself into, Colt." He murmured. "My cell phone!" He remembered. "I can call home with this." Slipping out of bed, he went over to the dresser and shoved his hand down under his shirts and pulled the little black phone out.
He looked at it as though the heaven's themselves had opened up and gave it to him. "I'll just call home and talk to Mom or Dad." He said dailing the number. He listened to the rings of the phone then a dail tone. "We're sorry, the number you have dailed is no longer in service, please hang up and dail again. Thank you." With that the operater hung up. "No, they wouldn't- change the number on me....." He walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Maybe I pressed the wrong number on accident it is pretty dark in here." Sitting himself close to the window he made sure he pressed every number correctly. Bringing the phone up to his ear he listened getting the operator again. "No...they wouldn't change the number on me."
With an air of defeat he suddenly remembered. "Lissa!" He quickly dailed her number and the phone was answered after two rings. "Hello?" A groggy voice said over the other end. "Lissa?" Colt mumbled to himself then started to cry.
Outside of his door, Mrs. McRea listens soundlessly to him talk with this 'Lissa' person. "Mom?" Anna said startling the woman. "Yes honey?" She asked turning around.
"...What are you doing?" Her daughter asked.
"I'm um, making sure Jefferson sleeps alright tonight, I'm worried about him that's all." She explained and closed her rob over more walking to her room. Anna looked after her path, then walked quietly up to Colt's door listening in herself. She heard his voice, it sounded as though he were on the phone.
'Oh Mom...' She thought in a sigh.
* * *
"Tum tum, sweety I want you get ready for school." Jessica said almost automatically. "I don't want you to be late." She was staring out the window, when Tum tum walked in and he could have sworn she didn't see him at all. "Do I have to? All the kids at school are gonna pick on me, I just know they will." The small boy replied. "You have to, it's your responsibility." His mother stated and turned to look at her son.
Her eyes were puffy and red. She must have been crying all night again, something Jessica has done since Colt left. Tum tum was concerned but he didn't know what to say to make anyone feel better really, because he personally never had any real problems that he had to coach himself through. "Um..Mom." He started and walked over to her giving her a hug. "You're still the best mother in the whole world." He stated.
Jessica smiled weakly and gave her son a squeeze around his waist then released him. "Thank you honey, now go get dressed, I'll make your breakfast while you get your things together." Tum tum ran upstairs and into his bedroom.
In the room across the hall Rocky was on the phone with Neilissa. She was telling him about last night and he just shook his head hearing everything. "He says they did nothing but stare at him the entire time waiting to see what he was going to do next." She informed. "It's only been one day he says and already he wishes he was at home with you guys."
"I can imagine." Rocky commented. "And get this, he's not really 21 he's actually only 19 and he has a twin sister!" This got Rocky's full attention, he never would have dreamed anything like that up but he knew how Colt must feel going through all that stuff and alone at that. "He says he tried to call you guys-..."
"Hang on." Rocky interupted a second and strained an ear to hear the voice of his mother calling to him. "That's Mom, I've gotta go."
"All right, what should I do if he calls again, he wants to know your new phone number but I didn't know what to tell him." Rocky sighed sadly hearing that. "Our phone automatically blocks any out of state calls from his number and the McRea's, so even if he did know the number he wouldn't be able to do much with it." Rocky paused a second then made his voice very serious. "Listen, I want you to be there for him, because right now you're all my brother has and you just give him messages from us I'll see that we get his."
'Lissa made an unseen nod from her side of the phone then said. "No problem, I'll be your information highway." Her quaint laugh came through the phone and it made Rocky smile. "You'll never change," He mentioned and said goodbye, hanging up. "Coming!" He called to his mother and walked out of the room. "Yeah mom?" He asked when he got downstairs.
"Baby, could you walk with your brother to school, I wanna make sure he's ok." She asked with kindness.
"Sure thing." Rocky sat down and looked at her while she idly made breakfast. "Mom are you alright? I'm supposed to look for a job today but, I'll stay home for you if you need me around here."
Jessica laughed, her voice was distant but she laughed. "Rocky no, this is actually helping to keep me busy while I...I need this okay." Rocky looked down and nodded. 'This is so hard on her, I wish she didn't feel like she had to go through with it alone.' He thought. His little brother entered the kitchen and walked over to the stove. Jessica gave him a plate filled with pancakes and eggs and bacon and come sausage. "Cool!" Tum cheered and sat down. "Rocky, you hungry?" She asked him holding out a plate.
"Ummm...sure. I'll fix it myself though." He said standing up to grab a plate. "Sweety I already fixed yours." She mentioned. "Yes, but you need that more than me and I can get my own breakfast so it's okay." Jessica's face scrunched and she shoved the plate into his hands before he could even hold on to it and it went crashing to the floor. "Oh Mom I'm so-.." Rocky started but was cut off.
"Look at what you did." Jessica said frantically, stooping over to pick up the glass. "Let me get that I-..."
"No! You'll cut yourself on the glass, shoot." Jessica muttered bringing her finger up to her mouth. Rocky saw the little trickles of blood on the floor and he helped her up and walked over to the table sitting her down. "Mom please, I'll clean up the plate, you just go relex in the living room for a while."
"I'm sorry Rocky, I didn't mean to snap at you." She was saying. "It's okay, I understand. I'll bring you some breakfast and you go sit and calm yourself down a bit." Rocky stated. "Okay, thank you honey," She replied standing. Rocky planted a kiss on her cheek and helped her to the living room. Jessica sat down on the couch and fell asleep as soon as her head hit one of the large decorative pillows.
Tum tum shuddered and shook his head. "That was scary," He commented. Rocky cleaned up the glass and stuffed it into the trash can. "We've gotta be extra nice to Mom Tum, and extra helpfull we can't let her burn out like this." He said lowly incase she were listening.
"I got'cha." Replied his brother, placing his dishes into the sink. "I don't know why mom is so upset though...she didn't steal Colt, aunt Sabrina did, Mom was just an accessory to her crime." Rocky blinked at his brother then put a hand on his shoulder, steering him into the living room. "You watch too much tv. Let's get you to school."
The two of them grabbed their jackets and walked out of the house.