"Uh, I have to drive Angie to school, so you stay here. I'll be right back,"
Craig nodded, still sitting at the kitchen table, his black leather jacket draped on the back of the chair. He had a look of soft shock, like a soldier who's just seen his best buddy ripped in half by a mortar shell.
Angela frowned, her brow furrowed, and stared hard at Craig as they walked out the door. He finally seemed to see her, for the first time since he'd arrived, and he gave her the saddest smile Joey thought he'd ever seen.
"In trouble?" Angie said, holding onto the door frame. Craig nodded.
"Yeah, bad trouble," His voice was soft and husky, like he'd been crying for a long time. And Joey felt how excluded he was for the moment as Julia's children discussed it. Angela's little hand clinging to the door frame, that hand was a rock and wouldn't budge until she was done talking to her brother.
"Are you gonna go away?"
Craig looked down for a moment and then lifted his head.
"I don't know. Maybe. Maybe,"
"Will I still get to see you?"
"Yeah,"
Angie gave him a sad little smile back and removed her hand from the door frame, followed Joey to the car.
On the way to Angie's school Joey thought maybe Craig wouldn't wait, maybe he'd just take off and then he'd be someone else's problem. And maybe that would be better.
"Have a good day," he told his daughter, but her brow was still furrowed and he knew she'd worry all day. She walked much slower than usual to the school.
If only Craig had told him, or anyone, about the abuse then maybe…Joey shook his head. Those thoughts did no good. He had to look at the facts. Craig killed his father. 14 years old and he killed someone. And what had Albert done? The bruises Craig had shown him flashed in his mind again and Joey gritted his teeth.
Snake! Snake would know what to do, or at least have more options. He was a teacher, probably Craig's teacher, he must have dealt with some similar situations, maybe.
Joey drove to DeGrassi, feeling a little better knowing this burden wouldn't be his alone anymore.
Inside the school an odd rush of memories assaulted him. He hadn't been in the school since he had attended it. He didn't know what it was, the smell, the sunlight hitting the row of lockers like that, the peculiar echo, but something triggered memories so strong it felt like an acid flashback and Joey closed his eyes.
"Snake!" he stage whispered outside Snake's classroom, and he felt a bit like the eighth grader he had been, ultra cool in his fedora. Snake glanced over, blue eyes wide with surprise, and he came over.
"Joey, what's going on?" Casual. Snake was keeping half an eye on his class.
"I've got a problem. Well, not me, exactly. One of your students. I need help,"
"Joey, what is this about? I'm at work…"
"I know. I know you are. Couldn't you get someone to cover? Say you have an emergency? This is an emergency. I need your help, man,"
Snake gave him that Snake look. Penetrating blue eyed stare to see if he was telling the truth. Joey stared back, his eyes as desparetly pleading as Craig's. Snake nodded.
"Okay, alright. Go outside and wait for me, I'll work it out,"
"Great. Thanks,"
He left, wanting to get out of that school that made him feel old but not old at the same time.
Ten minutes later Snake emerged, scanned the parking lot for Joey and headed over.
"Alright. What's this about?"
Joey took a deep breath, glanced up at the clear blue sky.
"It's about Craig, Craig Manning, my step son,"
"The kid Emma brought to Spike's party?"
"Yeah, him,"
"He's in my homeroom and M.I. class, he's a pretty good kid,"
"Yeah, well, he's in a shit load of trouble and I'm, I have no idea what to do…"
"Joey, what is it? Is he alright?"
"He killed his father,"
Snake's jaw dropped open and he stared at Joey, uncomprehending.
"What? How'd he do it?"
"He shot him,"
"Oh Jesus,"
Blue sky, time slipping away. Craig was waiting at the house.
"Why? Why'd he do it?"
"His father beat him, you should see the bruises on this kid, but I don't know if that's enough to…to keep him out of trouble. And I have to help him, Snake, he's Julia's son and she would want…she'd want me to help him,"