Part 16

A few days went by and Wes enjoyed his days. He had fun with the kids in his classes but he had the most fun with Mike and Tina. The trio would go out canoeing, hiking together, camp in the forest or just hang out. Wes had started to suspect something though. At times Tina didn't stutter and at times she did. He didn't know why and felt that it would be mean asking her about it, it wasn't his thing to know.

He and Mike had also turned into her protectors. Older kids liked to make fun of her for her stutter and so did younger kids but one glare from Mike and Wes would send them running… that and the promise of Mike letting Wes and his martial arts loose on them.

Wes had hit a grow spurt too during the summer and was now around 150 centimeters. He was happy because he didn't feel like a midget anymore. Most of the guys were taller than him here too but it didn't feel as bad as being around the Warblers. But he was at the camp known as the little terror because his death glares could make anyone run away from him in fright. Right now the trio was sitting by the lake, drying off in the sun.

"I like it here", Tina said. "It's so fun."

"I agree", Wes said. "It makes you forget all your troubles." He lied back on the small pier.

"Hey Wes what were your parents like", Mike asked and looked at the other boy. It had been told the second day that Wes was an orphan when the 13-14 year olds had a writing class where they were to write about what their parents where doing. Wes had told the councilor he couldn't write what they were doing because they were dead. Nina had smiled at him when she heard what had happened, she was happy he played his part. Wes felt bad about lying to Mike and Tina.

"Can you guys keep a secret", he asked and they nodded. "My parents aren't really dead… but my dad is very rich so I have to play the part of an orphan to keep me safe."

"R-really", Tina asked and stared at him.

"Yeah… although it wouldn't make any difference because dad doesn't really care about me that much."

"That's horrible", Mike said. "What about your mom?"

"I don't know who she is."

"So she might be out there somewhere", Tina asked.

"Yeah… but if she wanted to meet me she should've tried many years ago… right?"

Mike nodded and Tina looked sad, near crying.

"Don't cry Tee", Mike told her and took her hand.

"Yeah", Wes said and sat up, he gave her a hug. "It's okay."

"I-Ow!" a ball had hit her in the face and then another came flying at them. Mike caught it and Wes caught another one. They heard laughter and looked up and saw the oldest kids laugh at them.

"Oh look the little baby is crying!" one of the boys taunted. Tina was crying and holding her nose that was bleeding. Wes growled and stalked up to the older kids.

"What the hell is your problem", he yelled at them. "Do you seriously want me to kick your asses?!"

"Ha as if", one of the boys said. "What can you do pipsqueak?"

"Oh you didn't just go there", Wes said and buried his foot in the sand.

"I think I did shrimp."

Wes smiled and kicked upwards, the sand flew into the boy's face and he started to scream in pain from the sand getting in his eyes.

"Oh look the little baby is crying", Wes mimicked and turned around and walked towards Mike and Tina. He heard an angry shout behind him and spun around and dodged. He felt an arm move above him, he stood up, grabbed it and pulled the boy that had tried to hit him over his head and slammed him into the sand.

"Buzz off", Wes spat and turned around again. One of the boys stalked towards him. "Attack me from behind and the whole world will know you're a coward!" The boy froze at Wes' words. Wes ignored him, walked up to Tina, took her hand and together with Mike walked her to the infirmary.

When they were done in there they got to tell Nina about what happened and she promised to talk to the boys that had been mean, but she also scolded Wes for stooping to their level. Wes only nodded and the trio left. They were right now sitting on Wes' bed talking and having fun.

"H-hey Wes", Tina said and took a picture from Wes' nightstand. It was one of him and Jerry. "I-is this your b-brother?"

"One could say that", Wes said and smiled.

"Wait", Mike said and took the picture. "Dude that's Jerry Jonston!"

"What", Tina asked and looked again. "Oh my God you're right!"

"What", Wes asked confused.

"You know Jerry Jonston?!" Mike gaped at Wes.

"Yeah", Wes said feeling a bit awkward with the way they were staring at him. "He was at my school and practically acted like my older brother… so?"

"So?!" Mike asked and grinned. "Jerry is the king of this camp! Everyone loves him… well everyone that's met him. He's been here since he was about 5 or something! When he became a councilor and cabin leader everyone wanted him! He is the coolest guy ever!"

"Who is", Johnny asked coming inside with a few of his friends.

"Jerry J-Jonston", Tina said.

"Yeah that guy rules!" Johnny said. "I'm kinda sad he isn't here this year."

"Same here", Mike said and then turned to Wes. "Why isn't he here?"

"He started courses early at Harvard and he's gonna be there a semester before it's off to Beijing", Wes explained and the boys that had just entered stared at him.

"How do you know that", Johnny asked and Mike handed him the picture of Wes and Jerry. "No way! You're Jerry's brother?!"

"Not by blood but he took care of me at school", Wes said and smiled. "He kinda made himself my brother."

"You look a-alike", Tina said.

"Yeah everyone at school says that. They used to call me Mini-Jerry or Jerry Junior."

They all crowded around him and wanted to know everything about his 'relationship' with Jerry and Wes told them that Jerry was like his big brother. He told them Jerry watched out for him at school, helped him with homework, protected him, made him laugh and that they wrote each other frequently.

"That's so cool I'm jealous", Johnny said. "Just wait until Andy hears this… or Ryan!"

"Why", Wes asked confused.

"You kidding", one boy said. "Ryan admires Jerry and Andy keeps telling everyone how he and Jerry are close like brothers."

"Yeah right", Tina snorted and the boys laughed. That's when Wes' phone rang.

"Speaking of the devil", he said and answered. "Hi Jerry!"

"Hi kid, how's Asian Camp?"

"Oh it's awesome Jerry", Wes said grinning, he noticed all the other kids look at him eagerly. "Um I'll put you on speaker Jerry."

"Why", Jerry asked.

"Because there are some kids that wanna say hi to you."

Jerry laughed and Wes put on the speaker.

"Say hi to Jerry guys", he said happily.

"Hi", the kids chorused and Jerry laughed.

"Hey guys", he said. "So who am I talking to?"

"Mike."

"T-Tina."

"Johnny."

"Luke."

"Pan."

"Yao."

"Ling."

"Oliver."

"I think I remember you all", Jerry said. "So are you guys having fun?"

"Yes", all kids said.

"Good, now I want to talk to my little brother in private okay?"

"Bye Jerry", the kids chorused and Wes turned off the speaker and walked outside to talk to him. They talked for nearly half an hour and they talked about anything and everything. Wes told Jerry that he was amazed that Jerry was such a hero at Asian Camp and Jerry told him he had no idea about that. He knew the kids liked him but not that he was like a god to them. They talked about how other kids treated Wes and Wes told Jerry about the orphan thing. Jerry snorted and told him that Nina was a kind woman but here ideas were a bit… radical.

They were having a gathering at the fire by the lake that evening and the councilors were telling ghost stories… that weren't really that scary. Mike, Tina and Wes were entertaining the kids around them with singing and dancing. Mike had taken it upon himself to teach Wes and Tina some moves and the kids laughed watching the two newbies stumble. Wes only grinned at it and Tina smiled slightly. When Wes was about to make a little spin he collided with someone behind him.

"Oh sorry", he said. "Oh… Andy."

"Hi dude", Andy said grinning. "Looking good."

"Um… thanks?"

"So how have your first days been?"

"Oh I'm pretty sure you know how they've been", Wes spat and glared at the boy. "You and your friends have been torturing me, Tina and Mike!"

"We didn't mean anything by it."

"Sure you didn't."

"Look, I guess we just wanted to have some fun but did it the wrong way."

"You don't say", Wes said and rolled his eyes before turning to Mike. "How did you do that swing step again?"

"Like t-this", Tina said and took Mike's hands and they made a little dance. The younger children cheered and Wes grinned and turned to a little girl.

"Do you wanna dance with me", he asked and she giggled and blushed. She was only 6 years old or something but she took Wes' hand. Wes danced with her for a bit.

"Hey", he then said and looked at the small children. "Who wants to play a bit of tag with me, Mike and Tina?"

"Me, me, me!" the kids started to cheer.

"Tag you're it!" Tina said and poked Wes on the arm before running off. The kids between ages 6-8 squealed and ran in every direction, Wes took off after them. Nina and Lisa were watching them and Lisa leaned close to Nina and whispered:

"Looks like we have a new Jerry Jonston here."

"True", Nina said and smiled. "And that is very good. Yes very good indeed."

Some of the older kids soon joined into the game and they rearranged it a little, instead of one kid being it four were. The air was full of laughter from children and Nina saw more smiles that evening than they had during the last few days. The only kids that didn't smile were the oldest ones and some of the councilors. Some of the councilors had joined into the game also after a bit, but not all of them. Nina smiled and snuck up on Wes.

"Tag", she said. "You're it." Then she ran and Wes grinned and called out:

"Nina's in too and I'm also it!"

The next morning Wes woke up by Mike shaking him.

"What is it", Wes muttered tiredly.

"Dude someone stole your picture", Mike said.

"What?!" Wes turned to his nightstand and saw that the picture of him and Jerry was missing. He growled and threw his legs over the edge and got up. He hurriedly changed into his camp outfit and then stormed out, Mike hot on his heel. Mike had no idea where they were going but Wes knew who most likely had taken that picture. Mike realized they were heading for the cafeteria.

"S-stop it!" they heard an angry voice stutter from inside. "It's not f-funny!"

Mike and Wes hurried inside and saw Tina being surrounded by some of the oldest kids. They were throwing something between them, it was a black book.

"Aw what's the matter stutter", Andy asked when he got to book. "You're afraid it will b-break?"

"I think she's s-scared we'll r-read f-from it", another boy teased.

"S-stop it", Tina said and Wes and Mike saw that her ears were tearful.

"Dear d-diary", Andy read aloud. "Wow how sucky are you when you even stutter when you write? 'Dear diary things are f-fun at camp a-and Mike and I have made a n-new friend. He is a-awesome and funny. If I ever h-had a b-brother I'd wish it be h-him'."

"Oh come on", a girl cheered. "Find some secret stuff!"

"I have an idea let's read it at the campfire next time!" a boy cheered.

"Hey I have another idea", Wes called and the older kids turned around and saw him and Mike. "How about you give her back her diary and I won't hit you so hard your balls fall off."

"Oooooh", the kids said and Mike stared at his friend in admiration… and shock.

"What did you say you little punk", the boy said and stalked over, still holding Tina's diary. "Huh? What did you say to me?"

"Oh so you are deaf too", Wes asked crossing his arms over his chest. "I thought you were just stupid. But I can say it again. How about you give her back her diary and I won't hit you so hard your balls fall off." The older boy glared at him and Wes glared back.

"Fine", the guy said smirking and held the diary up. "Here!" He threw it out of the window and the diary landed in the full water barrel outside. The older kids all laughed and Tina ran out crying, Mike followed. Wes watched them go and then turned the smirking kid in front of him.

"You really shouldn't have done that", he said.

"Oh and why not", the kid asked. "I did what you said, I gave it back to her."

"You did", Wes said. "So I won't hit you."

"Uh… good?"

Wes smirked and then the entire room gasped, while the kid screamed in pain and doubled over. Wes had brought his foot up and kicked the guy in the groin. Wes fixed his hoodie before walking up to Andy and snatching his picture back from the boy's hands.

"Thief", Wes spat and walked out, while the older kid was still squirming on the ground. He found Mike and Tina under a big tree. Tina was hugging her wet and ruined diary while she cried and Mike was hugging her. Wes sat down on Tina's other side and hugged her too. Tina started to sing softly:

Why won't they leave us alone
When will our story be known
Let's share this Earth with all God's creatures
Why won't the leave us alone

Why don't they leave us in peace
When will this agony cease
Let's share this Earth with all God's creatures
Why won't they leave us in peace

Does anyone remember how it used to be
When once upon a time we lived in harmony
Does anybody listen or does anybody care
The world belong to all of us to share
To share

Why won't they leave us alone
When will our story be known
Let's share this Earth with all God's creatures
Why won't the leave us alone

Oh why, oh why, why do they make us cry
Why won't they leave us alone

"Because they are stupid", Mike said and hugged Tina close. "Ignore them Tina."

"E-easy for you t-to say", she sobbed. "They didn't r-ruin your stuff."

"Yet."

"Hey come on now", Wes said and smiled at them. "Don't let those jerks get you down Tee, you are better than them anyway. Let's find a hair dryer and dry the pages."

"You t-think that will w-work", Tina asked him.

"I don't know. Let's try it?"

While Mike was in the bathroom Wes turned to Tina who was trying to dry her diary again. Wes bit his lip.

"Tina", he asked.

"Yeah", she asked and looked at him.

"Not to sound mean but… do you stutter for real?"

"W-what?"

"Sometimes when Mike and I talk to you there is no stutter for several minutes and then the next minute you stutter all the time… and you stutter when you write too…"

She looked at him and sighed, she sat down on her bed beside him and leaned her
head on his shoulder.

"Please don't hate me", she said.

"So it is fake?" he said and put his arm around her.

"Yeah… I'm really shy and I don't like to have aural presentations because of it so I fake a stutter so that I don't have too… sorry."

"It's okay. I know how it is to be scared."

"You do?"

"Uh huh", Wes said. "Everyone at my school is bigger than me… much bigger than me and at my first day I was tini-tiny. I've never been more scared in all my life… except from when surrounded by the giants."

"Giants", Mike asked coming into the cabin. "What giants?"

Wes laughed and told Mike and Tina about the Connors family. He told them how he knew this big guy and that everyone in his family, save the mom, was big and how Wes felt like he was surrounded by big happy giants. The younger kids laughed and they sat there together, talking and joking until it was time for night snacks, it was dark outside by then. They went to the cafeteria together but… everyone stay clear of them, even the little kids which they all thought was odd. Ryan walked up to them after a bit.

"Mike, Wes", he said. "Is it true that you two attacked one of the older boys?"

"No", Mike said.

"Yes", Wes said. "But only after he threw Tina's diary out through a window so it landed up in a water barrel and got destroyed. I kicked him between the legs because he made my friend cry."

"Wes there-"

"I blame it on hormones, they give me mood swings", Wes said and took a sip from his glass of milk, smiling at Ryan. "Jerry keeps telling me it will pass soon."

"Jerry", Ryan asked, nearly stuttering.

"Yeah", Mike said happily and loud enough for everyone else to hear. "As in Jerry Jonston. Wes and him are great friends!"

"He said he was proud of me for standing up for Tina", Wes explained and got his photo out of the pocket. He'd taken it out of the frame and always carried it with him to keep him safe. He handed it to Ryan. "But he also pointed out that I should've gone around it in a different way."

Ryan looked at the picture and his eyes widened a bit, it was Jerry Josnton on that picture. His idol. He turned the picture over and saw a small message signed by Jerry and Ryan had seen Jerry's signature a few times. This was real.

"Oh", Ryan said. "Um I see…" He handed the picture back to Wes.

"Yeah", Wes said smiling. "It was Jerry's idea to send me here. He said I would enjoy it here and that all kids were cool. I can agree with the first part. But surely not the last one. I mean, it doesn't pass one day without someone being mean to my girl Tina here, Mike or me."

"Now wait a minute", one of the older boys objected. "That's not true!"

"Look me in the eyes and say that again", Wes said but the boy looked away. "I'm sorry if Leroy got badly hurt but I had a mood swing caused by him making my girl here upset."

"It's okay", Leroy grumbled. "I was mean so…"

"Jerry will be so happy hearing we made up", Wes said grinning and Tina and Mike snorted into their drinks. Wes kicked them gently underneath the table. "Can we continue with our ghost stories now Randy?"

"Uh… yeah sure…" Randy said and turned around, deciding that this kid was crazy and he walked out muttering: "I'm saving up for college, I'm saving up for college."

"Ghost stories", Johnny asked from a nearby table.

"Yeah I have this great one that a friend of mine told me", Wes said and then turned to Mike and Tina. "Long ago in this small castle near a church and with a huge farm nearby there lived a duchess you could say. She was really mean and had been married two times. But she was so mean that both her husbands had died early, leaving her all alone in that castle." Tina and Mike watched him eagerly and Wes noticed other kids moving in closer.

"Now", Wes went on. "One Christmas Eve she told her servant girl to wake her early so she could get in time to the mass on Christmas Morning. The servant girl promised to do so and the woman went to bed. When she woke up, on her own accord. She saw that there was lights lit in the church and cursed her maid for forgetting to wake her up. So she quickly got dressed and hurried to the church, thinking it was mass going on. When she got there she opened the door, hurried inside and turned around. But what she saw was not a normal mass."

"What was it", a tiny girl asked with big eyes.

"In the church benches sat skeletons", Wes said and some gasped. "Ghouls, ghosts and other terrible monsters and two of them… were her dead husbands."

"Oh no", an older girl said and covered her mouth.

"They both attacked her", Wes said. "They wanted to punish her for making them die with her wickedness. One attacked her with a sable but missed. But he managed to hit her shawl, making a big rip in it. The other one threw a big rock at her, but missed. In terror the duchess fainted and when the priest came next morning he found a big rock outside the door and just beyond the threshold a sable…"

"And the duchess", Johnny asked.

"She was lying on the floor dead", Wes said smirking. "The sable can still be seen in the church and the stone is now part of the graveyard wall. And some say she can still be seen walking from the 'King's-room' into the big ballroom every night at 8. Regretting her evil crimes and searching for her two husbands to ask for forgiveness."

The kids were staring at him in terror and Wes smirked evilly before turning to Mike and Tina.

"I feel like go out and stargaze", he said. "Do you want to come with me… or wait for ghosts to show up?"

"Let's go", Mike said and grabbed Wes and Tina by the hands and pulled them out in the dark, leaving scared kids behind.

TBC If anyone of you can place the song I will dedicate next chapter to you. And no cheating! Oh and the ghost story is not made up by me. It comes from a Swedish castle and the stone and sable exist in the church close to the castle ;) The woman wasn't a duchess... I don't think. She lived there though :P

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