Chapter 7
By: MysticFantasy
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Jack could still feel the vibrations of the saw on his arm as he took a shower to clean his arm of all of the remains of the cast. He had felt so much better once the cast was gone and his arm felt as good as it did before being broken.
Turning the water off, Jack dried himself and changed into some of the new clothes Evelyn had gotten him. He did admit that the clothes felt comfortable and were a lot better than the old worn out clothes the system had given him.
They were warmer for one thing and they fit him better. The pant legs weren't too long, the shirt didn't have any holes
After cleaning the bathroom, Jack went downstairs and spotted Bobby sitting on the couch watching a movie.
"Lookin' good Jackie." Bobby said. "Feel better without that cast?"
Jack nodded.
"Good. Come on. Watch this movie with me." Bobby said patting the spot next to him.
Jack quietly made his way over and climbed onto the couch close to Bobby but with some space still between them.
"You ever seen this one before?" Bobby asked.
The younger boy observed the screen. A man mountain climbing to get to two people who were stranded at the very top.
"No." he answered.
"It's a good movie but there are some parts where you can't see. I'll tell you when though." Bobby said.
"Where is everyone?" Jack asked.
"Jerry's out back working on his treehouse again, Angel is with another crazy girlfriend and Ma went to the center to pick something up. For now it's just you and me kid."
"Bobby, do you think Ms. Evelyn really will adopt me?" Jack asked.
Bobby muted the TV and turned his attention to Jack.
"I know she will." he answered. "Remember. I said I believed we would be brother's one day. That day is slowly but surely coming. Wouldn't you like to have me, Jerry and Angel as brothers?"
Jack nodded with a faint smile.
"You guys are fun." he said.
"I am but Jerry and Angel are boring after a while. With me you never get a dull moment. I'm always pulling something to get your curious and get me grounded."
"Why?"
Bobby froze when Jack asked that.
Come to think of it, why do I keep pulling all of this crap now that Ma's got me straightened out a bit? he asked himself before turning his eyes to Jack who was still waiting for an answer. Maybe having this kid around will get me under more control. He does kinda look up to me. I don't want him to go through more than what he's already gone through. He's a pretty good kid and doesn't need to be a troublemaker like me.
"Guess I was just bored or something Jackie." Bobby answered. "But with you here, I can't be bored. We'll find something to do together. Ok?"
"Ok."
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"Want to help me Jackie?" Evelyn asked.
"I don't know how to cook." Jack replied half hiding behind the wall.
"You don't have to cook anything sweetheart. You can just spread some butter on some bread. Then I'll show you how to sprinkle it with some garlic. Need garlic bread for spaghetti."
Jack nervously walked over and stepped onto a small step stool that Evelyn placed in front of the counter. In front of him on the counter was a small tray holding several pieces of bread and a small bowl of butter was next to it.
"Here you go Jackie."
Jack took hold of the butter knife. He scooped a small amount of butter onto it and started to spread it on the first piece of bread. When he was done with it and he started on the next one, he noticed Evelyn placing spaghetti noodles in a pot of boiling water.
He turned his attention back to the bread and butter and found himself enjoying that he was helping out. In the other homes he'd been in he was never even allowed to set foot in the kitchen. Heck, he barely even got to see food. The few times that he did there was always something wrong with it.
Green, spoiled, bleach, laced with rat poison...
"Jackie?"
Jack blinked a few times and realized he had spaced off. He looked down at the tray and realized that he somehow got all of the bread done.
"Are you ok honey?" Evelyn asked.
"Yes ma'am." Jack answered.
"You looked like you had fallen asleep on your feet with your eyes open." Evelyn said with a light chuckle as she ran her hand through his soft hair.
"Has anyone done that before?" he asked curiously.
"Bobby does it all the time." Evelyn said with a playful smile. "He'll look like he's paying attention to what's going on and when it's over he'll ask what happened. He does it almost every day. You'll see for yourself. Now, let's get the garlic on this bread."
Jack nodded and watched as Evelyn showed him the next step.
"Remember what she shows you Jackie. Learn from the master." Bobby said as he suddenly appeared. "Something I never did."
"I agree." Evelyn chuckled as Bobby kissed her cheek.
"You don't know how to cook either?" Jack asked.
"Nope." Bobby answered honestly. "Best I can do is boil water and make a sandwhich. So take it from me, learn to cook. It'll come in handy later."
"You can still learn you know." Evelyn pointed out as she stirred the noodles.
"Nah. I got you and soon I'll have Jackie too."
"Fine. In exchange you can always take out the trash then." Evelyn stated.
"Need help with the sauce?"
Jack lightly chuckled.
"You laughing at me Jackie?" Bobby asked as he playfully ruffled the child's hair, making it stick up. "Hey, that's a good look for you. Rock star."
Jack looked at his reflection in the silver toaster. His hair did look cool. Like he really was a rockstar.
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"Ms. Mercer, we know that it was through no fault of his own but Jack did missed a great amount of school. I'm actually very impressed that his scores came out the way they did. He's obviously a bright child."
"Mr. Renalds, Jack missed school because the homes that he had been in didn't care about his education. They just cared about the checks they would get because he was living there with them. You know very well from my other boys that I will make sure that Jack comes to school every single day." Evelyn declared.
"You're right." Mr. Renalds said. "You are the only person I've ever come across to get the famous Bobby Mercer under control. Jack doesn't seem like he'll be getting into as much trouble. With your world Ms. Mercer, can I count on Jack to be here every day and do his school work?"
"You have my word Mr. Renalds." Evelyn vowed.
"Alright then. Starting January 3rd, Jack will officially be enrolled in this school as a fourth grader."
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"How's the adoption coming along?" Jerry asked.
"I think it's going to happen Jerry." Evelyn answered. "A day before Jack starts school...We'll know for sure if he's going to be a Mercer."
"I hope so." Jerry said. "He's holding himself up pretty well around here. And he's brought out another side of Bobby that I haven't seen before."
"I know." Evelyn agreed. "Jack's brought out a gentle side of Bobby. I hope that Jack will be allowed to stay with us."
"Me too mom. Me too."