"Look, anytime you two need somewhere to go...I'm here for you, you too, Mark. And I understand why you came to me and honestly I'm fine with it. However, as soon as we walk through that door, we all know that I can't be okay with that...Okay?" He explained with a smile.
Both boys smiled back and headed to the front door. It was Sarah who answered first.
"Boys, you're back...thank God. Come on in. Thank you, so much Neil."
"It's no problem. I had the day off anyhow."
Mark's father appears from behind Sarah.
"Boys, march straight into that living room and apologize to your grandparents."
Neil gave a small push, "Boys, do as your told."
Rather reluntantly they both dragged themselves to apologize and after what was almost an 'Back when I was your age...' stories from Sarah's father, Jerry Cohen came into the room,
"Roger, Mark...up to your room. We'll discuss this later."
Mark followed Roger up the stairs, looking back once to catch a wink from Roger's father.
Roger threw himself on the bed and Mark sat on the edge.
"Boys," Sarah made her entrance, "I've dicussed this with your father..."
"Who are you talking to?"
"Roger not now. Anyhow, we've agreed...you two shouldn't have run away, but asthe news was quite a surprise for the two of you... you'll only be grounded for three weeks."
She smiled as if that made the whole situation better.
"Plus, it'll teach the two of you to get along and work together..."
With that she took her leave. Roger and Mark stared at the door for a few moments before brooding in their own little corners of the world.
"Uh...Roger?"
"What."
"Well, since we're,...is this...I mean..well..."
Roger sat up on his bed and turned to Mark, "Come on boy, spit out, come on, speak, boy..."
"Oh, shut up." Mark retorted smiling, "I was just wondering...well, truce?"
Roger looked at Mark's outreached hand and ignoring it laid back down, "I thought we agreed to that when yu followed me."
"I...I...I was just just double checking."
"Sure."
"Besides, I wasn't following you."
"Then what were doing?"
"Making sure you didn't do something stupid."
Roger laughed sarcastically, "Aw, Marky...you care."
"Shut up. I do not."
"Do too"
"Do not."
"Just admit it...you're happy I am now your brother." Roger teased plucking at the guitar.
"Step brother."
Roger reverted, "Still, you care."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do not."
Just a short little chapter, but there should be more shortly. Thanks.
