"I love you so much son." I looked up at him and smiled.
"I love you to dad."
I got up and opened the fridge.
"So you want anything dad?" He shook his head.
"Nah, I'm fine." He stood up.
"Sometimes I wish you kids didn't grow up so fast. You, Jojo. It seems like yesterday you were eating your mother's lipstick…" he paused.
"We would find you sitting in the bathtub with lipstick on your face and you would chew it. We would have to buy your mom ten different sticks. You loved it for some reason, just like you liked peanut butter and cheese sandwiches." I made a disgusted face. I never knew I did such things. He ruffled my hair and started to walk out.
"You know I'm still a kid. I'm not exactly gown up yet." He stopped.
"I know, but you're the only one, besides your two year old sister, that ever has time for old dad." I looked up at him.
"Well at least you got me." He walked over to me and picked me up.
"You'll always be my little boy." He put me down and went on his way. I walked to the fridge and grabbed the bread. I walked to the pantry and grabbed the peanut butter. I spread the peanut butter on the fluffy white bread. I looked left and right making sure no one was looking and stuck a slice of cheese on my sandwich.
"Ha! Gotcha!" My dad came from behind.
"Old habits never leave!" He picked me up and I started consuming my sandwich. He sat down with me on the divan and he told me some stories from his work… and how he met Horton.
"One day, at work, I was as busy as a bamummble bee working on my papers. All of a sudden, I hear this weird voice coming from outside! I run outside and put my fists up. The noise was coming from the drain pipe! I couldn't hear through the murmuring of the voice. I stuck in the telephone whoba and I heard this voice asking who's there? I told him who I was and he was shocked! I didn't believe him at first but when he showed me I was shaken! That's how I met Horton!" I looked up at him.
"Wow. What a job huh?" I laughed.
"Yeah, Jojo. It's a mayor's duty to… uh, talk to… huge elephants." He said hesitantly.
The next morning, I got up and showered. I was getting ready for my first day at work. I had read an add that they needed someone to keep up the daily repairs for the old heat lodge. I had asked my dad for permission the other morning. I wanted to have some money earned for me and Mi-mi, so that when we get older we can move out together. I kissed Mi-mi good-bye and went off on my way to the heat lodge.
Once I arrived there, I met the owner and one of the workers. The owners name was Millard McMosh. He showed me around and pointed to the areas on the map that I would be working on. He handed me my map and I went off on my own. I looked at my daily needs list and all the safety warnings. I worked with a guy named, Roy Kiniset. He had been working here for a rather long time. He was about 18 years old. He showed me the most dangerous parts of the factory. We went behind one of the sliders and there was a hot room with steam grates. He looked down at me.
"Make sure you never walk on one of the steam grates. Over here are the circuits. You need to tighten these two on the right on a daily basis. The one on the left is the one you never need to touch. When you slip through this area, you tighten it and get out as carefully as you can. If you touch this wall it adds pressure and it sets off the whole steam system. And if that happens, you get crushed in the wall, get sent through the conveyer belt and you can never get out. One guy got boiled alive because he got knocked out and got taken all the way to the end of the conveyer belt." I looked up at him giving him that 'are you serious look' and he nodded his head.
"So you really need to be careful. I save no asses." I nodded and got to work. I did all the minor work and went home.
My dad greeted me at the door and handed me my dinner plate. We walked to the kitchen and we sat down at the table.
"So Jojo! How was work?" I shrugged and took another bite of my whotatoes.
"Is it safe? Is it clean?" I kinda choked on my milk at the 'is it safe question'
"Well yeah I guess it looks safe." My dad went back to eating his dinner.
The next day I made my way to the heat lodge. I was nervous of going to fix the circuits. Would if I got stuck? I got my hard hat with the flash light and the tool belt. I made my way to the steam area. Roy had beaten me too it.
"Sorry kid, boss fired ya today." He gave a little smirk from the side of his mouth. He looked kind of sickly. The heat had gotten to his head and knocked him out. Roy set off the steam system! I thought quickly and tried to squeeze through the collapsing wall. I managed to grab Roy's arm but I got stuck as well. The conveyer belt was taking them further under the heat lodge. He tried to pick up Roy, but he was too heavy. I saw a vent that I could unscrew I grabbed hold of a handle that was above and made do to open it. I forgot about Roy and ran down the conveyer belt and slid him back to the vent. Of course. Of all places to end up, we ended opening the female's sauna room vent. Two ladies, in towels, went to the vent.
"Hey! What's going on?" She looked concerned. She could see I was pulling a boy.
"Here try to hand me the older one!!" I did my best to push Roy up the wall. The lady grabbed him. I ended up sliding further down the conveyer belt. I slid off the edge. I held on tight to the concrete edge.
"Hold on sweetheart!" the lady yelled to me. I was screaming. I was terrified.
The ladies called the owner and he tried throwing a rope down. The only one they had wasn't long enough to reach me. Just as I was losing all hope, I heard a voice. The best voice you can hear. My dad.
"Jojo! Hold on!!" I yelled for him. I was losing grip because of all the steam, and almost slid off. One of my hands let go of the wall. I saw the boiling water and got shivers going up my back. I felt someone grab me and throw me over their shoulder. It was my dad! He had gone through the vent to come save me! He handed me to the ladies, and pulled him self out of the vent. We were drenched in sweat and caked with soot. My eyes were reddened because of the embers irritating them. They handed me and my dad towels. My dad told me to sit outside of Mr.McMosh's office. I could hear the mumbled yells and threats. My dad was furious at Mr.McMosh. He stormed out of the office and grabbed my arm and drug me to the car. It was quiet.
"I can't believe you lied to me! You deliberately disobeyed me! I had asked you to get a safe job. Do you have any idea what would happen if you had gotten killed? Your mom and I would be heart broken!" I interjected.
"But dad I wasn't going to get hurt! The guy I was working with got knocked out and I had to save him!" My dad didn't look like he was buying my story, even though it wasn't a story.
"I don't care! I want my son, as future mayor, to be intact by the time I'm dead!"
"Is that all you care about?? All you care about is me being mayor??"
"No! I care about the safety of my son! I'm getting tired of babying you! Your 14 Jojo! Maybe you need to grow up a little before you can have a relationship." I turned my face towards the window and had tears in my eyes. Once we got home I jumped out of the car, ran inside and sprinted upstairs. I took a cold shower and lay down on my bed. I covered my sorrow with a blanket. I didn't eat. I didn't sleep. I just laid there letting time go by. My dad hated me, I probably won't be able to date Mi-mi. Pretty much my whole life had just gone down the drain, like that.
The door creaked open and I could hear footsteps coming towards my bed.
"GO AWAY!" I heard my dad huff under his breath. He spoke softly.
"Hey, I uh, talked to a boy named Roy Kiniset. He wanted to thank you. And I wanted to apologize. I didn't think you were telling the truth." I yelled back at him, blanket over my face and tears streaming down.
"Why would I lie to you? I wouldn't make up a story like that! I told you it was safe because I didn't want you to worry." I cried my heart out and couldn't hold anything back. My dad lifted the covers away from my face. He saw how red my face had gotten from me crying. My dad lifted me up out of my bed and wrapped his arms around me. I pushed away from my dad and walked out of my room.
When it came around to being dinner time, I sat at the table. My dad asked me to pass the ham, but I ignored him. My mom nudged him.
"I think you hurt his feelings, Ned. You need to talk to him."
"Honey! I've tried!" she gave him that wife look and he let out a huff. I'll talk to him. He followed me to my room and knocked on my door. When I opened it I saw my dad and without a thought, I started too close it. He stuck his foot in the door and stopped me from closing it. When he walked in, I just sat on my bed.
"and you wonder why I don't talk to you." He looked a little shocked.
"I'm sorry son. I guess I should believe what you say from now on. I don't want to look like a bad father. And I guess I didn't achieve much. Is there anything I can do to make you see I can be a good dad?" I looked up at him with a slightly evil look on my face. I walked over to him and sat on his lap.
"I don't think you're a bad father. I just wish you would understand me more." He looked down at me.
"How can I do that? You don't like talking to me!" I shrugged
"Well if you hung out with me more maybe you'd understand me better." He smiled.
"Let's go hang out then!"
The next morning, I took my dad to the observatory. I decided to teach my dad some things about inventing. Once we got there I felt a sense of comfort.
"Okay, This is the junk pile. What kind of musical instrument do you like?" He thought a while.
"Well I like pianos. Would that be too hard to make?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Dad, look around you. Do you think a measly piano will be hard to make?" He shrugged.
"Okay so we need a blue print." I sketched out a piano that was piece by piece.
"So tell me how we get started." I walked over closer to the junk pile and grabbed metal pieces.
"Can you find things that are plastic?" My dad went rummaging through the pile and found as many things that he could that were plastic.
"See, I'm going to flatten this piece of metal. Once we get two pieces that are fully flattened like this, we can sadder them together." I handed my dad a mask and we sadered together. Once we had the frame completed 6 hours had gone by. I grabbed my dad a water.
"So that's were all the water bottles are going!" I smiled and walked over to the oven.
"Okay on this stove like thing, we place the plastic on it. Once we get all the plastic melted, we will put it in this shaper." We got all the plastic melted and scooped it into the shaper.
"We just need to wait ten minutes until it's dry. While were waiting, we need to get the piano strings tied in." I took the piano string I had already made from my cupboard.
I was too short to get up to the top to put the strings in, so my dad lifted me up and helped me string the piano.
"Okay we need to go and take the molded plastic out of the shaper, once we get it out, like this, we need to cut the keys into the right width and length." I showed my dad as I use my knife to cut the keys into shape. Having that done, I took the 76 keys and put them onto the piano perfectly in their place. Once we were done, 10 hours had passed by.
When we went home, My dad was worn.
"I don't see how you can stand building stuff all day."
"I don't see how you can be mayor all day." He smiled.
"See typical father son things are playing football and building sheds." He laughed
"Well that's what makes me different." I walked up stairs with a frown on my face. My dad could tell I was upset.
I took off upstairs and met Mi-mi. It was weird she looked different. She had looked like she had been crying. I pushed her hair behind her ears and gave a worried look.
"Mi-mi what's wrong?" She couldn't look up at me.
"When your mom came home, she handed me this envelope. I haven't come out since." My dad had seen us in the hallway and could see Mi-mi crying.
"Jojo what's wrong with Mi-mi?" I shrugged
"I just found her here crying." She hugged me and my dad, she was bawling.
"My mom died. My father left her in Whoindia to make money so she could send it down here to whoville, but since she's dead; my dad gets all the money. I'm never going to go to college" My dad and I took Mi-mi in our arms. My dad looked into her eyes.
"Mi-mi, when we decided to take you into our family, we expected we would pay for your college." She looked up at my dad
"No I could never!" My dad stopped her.
"Every child deserves an education. And your one deserving kid." She looked down.
"I miss my mom!" She ran away into her room and closed the door behind her. I motioned for my dad to go away so I could talk to her by myself. I set off to Mi-mi's room down the hall.
I swaggered into her room and took small strides to her bed. I didn't want to upset her.
"Mi-mi?" She rolled over and held out her arms and I went closer to her bed and held her close in my arms.
"It's okay babe. I'm here for you. I love you." I held her head into my chest and kissed her on her fuzzy cheek. I rubbed her back and it dulled her crying. She scooted closer to me and kissed me. I kissed her five times on the cheek and wiped her tears away. I stroked her charcoal hair. She nestled her head on my black and grey chest. She began to cry a little harder. I grabbed her head in both hands and pulled her in for a big kiss and we lay there face to face.
"Shhhh. Its okay I'm here. I won't ever leave you." I rubbed my nose on her cheek.
She leaned closer to me and layed on my shoulder.
"I'm so glad I met you. Your one of the best things that's happened in my life." She giggled as I placed my hands around her hips.
"I love you." We fell asleep.
When we woke up the next morning, Mi-mi was sound asleep. I didn't want to budge in fear I would wake her up. I kissed her on the nose and she woke up.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to wake you up!" she smiled.
"It's okay!" She got up and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later she came out. She looked fresh and beautiful. Her natural black hair was out of her usual ponytails or braid. She had on a beautiful sari that was emerald green just like her eyes. A peridot heaven. We went downstairs and had out breakfast as usual. We went into the front room just me my mom my dad and Mi-mi. She usually was interested in Saturday cartoons, but the look on her face was dazed and unfocused. My dad motioned for her to come over and she hopped on his lap. She started tearing up and lay on his shoulder.
"It's okay sweetie! I'm always here if you ever need to talk." She looked up at him.
"Your better than my own father was to me." She smiled and gave her a big hug.
A ding on the doorbell broke the family moment. The mail man came and gave our daily mail.
"Bill, bill, Newspaper, Magazine, junk mail, junk mail, Mi-mi, dentist, junk. Mi-mi opened her mail. Her eyes scanned the paper and I could see the fear building up in her eyes.
"oh no. oh no. oh no. oh no. This can't be happening!" My dad got worried.
"What's wrong?" She scooted closer to my dad. He took the paper from her and looked at it.
"We are sadly informing you that a Mr. Rashend Rajj has escaped the Whoville prison. We inform you to keep inside your house at all times until the police arrive." My dad looked at mom. Mi-mi ran upstairs
"Look at all the trouble I've caused you! I've put your whole family in danger!" My dad grabbed her arm.
"Sweetie! Everything is going to be okay. Sweetie it's okay." He picked her up in his arms and walked to the bottom of the stairs.
"Girls!! Come downstairs right away!" once he got everyone downstairs, he told them all about Mi-mi's dad.
I saw Mi-mi try to get out of my dad's arm.
"please put me down!" She was whimpering while tears where forming in her eyes. My dad put her down a little confused. She ran upstairs crying. I chased her upstairs.
"Mi-mi!!" I caught up to her and grabbed her.
"Mi-mi it's okay. I won't let your dad hurt you. Not while I'm here." I hugged her and held her close. The telephone wrang.
"Mi-mi! Jojo! Come down stairs!" We rushed downstairs and saw my dad talking to an officer. The officer looked at little Mi-mi.
"It's okay now. We have your dad in jail now." Mi-mi hid behind me. Her day had not gone well at all. Mi-mi had quietly snuck upstairs. When I went upstairs Mi-mi was sitting in a corner with her knees to her chest.
"Mi-mi? Are you going to be okay?" She turned away and looked out the mirror.
"I'm just a big problem in this family. I don't deserve such good people like you all!"
I looked at her a little confused.
"I thought you loved me?" She looked up trying not to say the wrong things.
"No, I just think… I feel like your family is getting sick of my problems. And I don't want to be a burden to anyone. And I don't want you to have me as a drain." She sobbed as tears rimmed her eyes.
"I don't see you as a burden. No one asks for these things happen. I love you no matter what." She had a look of hope spread across her face. I embraced her.
"No matter what." I rubbed her cheek and walked her out of the room.
After the whole ordeal with Mi-mi's dad I felt like an emotional weight had been lifted from my shoulders. My parents took all of the girls, including Mi-mi, for an outing. So I stayed at home and baby sat little Heady. Heady was my two year old sister. Petite curls framed her face; atop her head she had a large red bow. Heady was just learning to speak. I saw her big eyes look up at me, the only one who could really "look up" at me, and giggle.
"Jojo, Play blocks?" I shrugged and sat beside my little sister. One by one, The square cubes where placed on top of each other. She giggled and clapped her tiny hands together admiring her work.
"Good! Good!" I gave her a big smile. Her eyes began to get droopy. I picked up the toddler and lay her on the couch. As I slowly walk away, I head a diminutive whine come from heavy-eyed Heady. I turn around and meander to her side. She held her weensy arms up and I picked up the blubbering little girl. Once I swooped her up she stopped crying. Her eyes were drowsy looking and like she had a magnet in her thumb, right into her mouth it went.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, I hear a little voice say,
"Love Jojo." I smiled and sat on the couch. I lazily flipped through the TV channels. Little heady cooed in her sleep.
The dead lock to the door jingled. The door swung open, in came a happy face with 97 followers. (including mom) He saw me and out came an,
"awwwwwwww!" He sent my sisters to bed and I was a little stuck. My dad lifted Heady from my lap and cradled her in his arms.
The next day, I had promised to go work with my dad. I got up from my bunk and raced to get ready. I looked in the mirror. Yet again dark circles rimmed my eyes. I had stayed a little late at the observatory last night. I glided a comb through my hair, brushed my teeth and made sure I looked good.
I met with my dad at the end of the stairs.
"Hey Jojo! A good father son outing!" I looked up at him and gave a microscopic smile. We left the safety of out humble abode. The noise chitter chatter of girls was finally out of my head as we walked to my fathers work.
Once we got to the intersection I got a little jittery. I had remembered the last time I had crossed this intersection, I had been sent to the hospital. I grabbed my dad's hand and squeezed it as tight as I could. He noticed I was frightened and picked me up as we crossed the street. I closed my eyes until we made it in one piece, safe at the sidewalk. He put me on his shoulders and looked up and smiled at me. When we entered the city building, I met Ms.Yelp, My dad's assistant.
"So this is your boy! Nice to meet you sweetie!" I looked up at her and gave her a look that had attitude written all over it.
"This isn't your 14 year old son is it?" My dad gave a puzzled look.
"Yeah? Why?" She looked a little confused.
"I guess I saw how small he was and..." I cut her off.
"And what? Thought I was 5 years old!?" I huffed and crossed my arms. My dad set me down on the floor. I stood in protest, muttering under my breath.
"Ms.Yelp, He's a little sensitive about his height being mentioned. I told you I only had one son!" She mocked him and walked off. My dad led me to his office.
"Well this is it!" I studied the room. A chair, a desk, frames in the wall, a couple chairs in the corner… etcetera. The usual office stuff. I sat on my dad's big office chair. The chair pretty much swallowed me. I frowned.
"You look sad, what's the matter?" I hid my face in my hands and rubbed my eyes.
"Huff, I'm so… so… short! Why do I have to be this small?" He picked me up and I sat on his lap.
"You can't help it son! I think your perfect size." I looked down at my hands and placed them up to my dad's. Tiny. I looked down and hid my face behind my bangs. I felt my dad place his hands on my shoulder.
"Jojo, look at Mi-mi. She's the smallest who out of all of whoville. She doesn't go through life focusing on her height. You're fine. Don't worry so much okay?" I glared up at him and nodded.
I pushed through some papers on his desk and saw an old photo album.
As I pushed open the Album, I gazed at the glossy coverings that protected the photos. Flipping through the pages, I glanced at each and every snapshot. Some of them where my dad, others where him and my mom when they were young. I chuckled at the baby pictures of my dad. His infantile face looked rather similar to mine when I was a baby. I stopped when I saw the next few photographs.
"Hey, are these you and me?" He trotted over to the desk and studied the pictures carefully. A smile crossed his face as he looked up grinning.
"I believe so! Look how cute you where with your little feet!" My dad wondered over to his library he had ever so organized.
"A…B…D…J!" He pulled a book from the stacks of many novels and sauntered back to the desk. Laying it open, I could unmistakably see that the young lad sitting on his knees was myself. One by one, I flipped through the whole book. I seemed to have an apparent bond with my father. Smiley, cheerful, laughing. Three uncommon attributes I had.
"Look at that one! Were you teaching be how to swim?" He deliberated the picture.
"Yeah! We were at the old Whoville swimming pool! You were such a fast learner too! Never did you cease to stop!" he chuckled and relived the moments we had had together.
My dad cleared his desk of the photo albums and he began to show me the extent of his work.
"See, when I get these files in this inbox, I read them over and decide if they should get a money grant or, if they are able to construct in a certain area." I picked up one of the folders and began to skim through the black text on the document.
"So, this ones talking about putting a new fountain in the national park… do you decide if your gunna give them some money?" My dad nodded his head.
"What do you think I should do on that one?" He said with a smile. I looked up at my father.
"I could always build it." My dad raised an eyebrow.
"You think you can handle it sport?" I smiled and shook my head.
I was having a great time. Me, my dad and the office. My dad had a pretty cool job. Even though I didn't really want to take over as mayor, I still felt something deep down that felt a little guilty if I didn't. I want to make my dad happy. No matter what it takes, he deserves the best.
My dad talked on and on about me being mayor. He would tell me he was so proud and I would be a great success. I hated how he would make me feel. Deep inside of me I was in tears. It made me feel like he didn't want me for who I was. I told him I wanted to be a musician, but all he did was ignore me. He pushed my wish in the corner.
As we walked home that afternoon, all I could hear was the buzz of cars and silence from both of us. My dad stopped and looked at the ground.
"Hey, Jojo. So how did you like my job?" I didn't respond to my dad's question. I was afraid of hurting his feelings if I told him the truth.
"Jojo, did I do something to make you mad?" I shook my head no and we continued walking home. When we got home, I went straight up to my room. I sat on my bed and stared out my window. I watched the birds and the sparkle of the stars bounce upon the dark blue sky. I felt a warm hand grasp my shoulder. Startled, I flinched and looked back. My dad stood over me. I turned and looked out the window again. He crouched down to my eye level and looked me in the eyes.
"Jojo what's the matter?" I looked away from him and just ignored him. As he walked out the door I spoke up.
"It's always what you want." I mumbled. He stopped in mid track and spun around. He looked a little confused.
"What do you mean Jojo?" He walked towards me fiddling with his fingers. I spun around and looked in his eyes with an evil look on my face.
"It's always what you want! Mayor this! Mayor that! I feel like what I really want to do, you don't approve! It makes me feel horrible!" I ran past my dad. I never talked to him again that night.
Three days had past and I was still not talking to my dad. Father's day was today and the whole family was asleep. I got up out of bed and grabbed a few oranges. Taking the fruit squeezer, I smushed the oranges and poured the sunset colored liquid into two glasses. After I was done with that, I went to the pantry and grabbed the Whoquick mix. In a large bowl the tan batter was stirred and stirred until it was semi-lumpy and ready for the griddle. I cooked about 12 whocakes and put six on each plate. Sizzling on the heat was four strips of bacon. After they where browned, I took two and put one on my mom's and one on my dad's. Quickly, I put the plates into the whocrowave and ran off. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a heart felt letter. As fast as I could I snatched the plates from the whocrowave and ran upstairs before my parents woke up. Smoothly and silently I placed it on there coffee table that stood next to them.
When they woke up, the delicious smell of whocakes and bacon filled the air. I sat in my room just drawing up some blueprints. All of a sudden, my dad comes in the room with a bounce in his step.
"Thanks Jojo for the wonderful breakfast!" I gave a little smile.
"No prob." My dad took hold of me and starting hugging me to death! He put me in his lap and started tickling me! I lost balance and fell off his thigh. I rolled over trying to stop laughing. My dad was crying he was laughing so hard! He picked my up and rubbed his nose on mine. I remembered when he used to do that when I was a baby. I jumped off his lap and ran out of the room. He followed me and I motioned for him to follow. When we got to the front room, there, ever so delicately placed, was our piano. I painted it and lacquered the finish to make it look shiny. My dad stood there mouth ajar.
"Oh! Jojo! You finished it! It looks amazing!" He walked over to the piano and played a little tune.
"Perfectly tuned and everything! You amaze me Jojo. You most defiantly amaze me." He gave me a hug and sat me on his lap. My dad hovered his hands over the keys and I placed mine on his. He played a song that I recall from preschool days. I tried to follow along by playing on the bases. We made a great team.
(Ned's pov)
"What a day! Oh there's a card!"
Card: Dear dad,
Sorry I kinda blew up at you. You're the best dad in the world! Through the bad times, and the good ones, you were always there by my side. Always. I want to make you proud… and I promise to be the best mayor I can be. I love you dad.
Love always,
Your one and only son,
Jojo
(Jojo pov)
I sat down on my bed and looked up at the ceiling. Just as I was to lay down, my dad knocked on the door. My dad came in my room, tears rimming his eyes and a big smile on his face.
"Jojo. This letter! I don't know what to say!" I scootched of my bed and hugged his waist. And buried my face in his fur.
"I love you dad." My dad crouched down and embraced me tightly.
"I love you to son. You're such a sweet boy. You always have been." I grabbed around his waist. He picked me up and put me to bed, topped with a good night kiss.
"I'm sorry I made you upset about the whole mayor thing. If you don't want to be mayor, I will NEVER, ever, make you be something you don't want to be." I looked up at him from under my blankets.
"It's okay dad. I love you anyways!" I laughed and rolled over… falling asleep. My dad walked out of the room as I slept away.
The next morning, me and my dad went to the who depot to get some nails so he could hang some pictures. Once there, I gazed at the tools. My dad got a pack of three inch nails. I saw this one drill set and my eyes were locked on it. I wanted it so bad. My dad saw how much I liked it.
"If you want it, you can get it you know." I shook my head
"Nah, I'm good." We walked out of the department store and walked home. As we past the many shops on our walk back home, I enjoyed every minute I got to spend with my dad.
We were home for about two hours, when I decided to hang out with dad in his office. I peeked into his office. He looked like he was having troubles by the faces he was making while looking at his paper. I walked in to the doorway.
"You need any help?
My dad looked up from his papers and took his glasses off.
"Come pop a squat by daddy." I raised an eye brow and staggered into the room.
"How are you doing?" I shrugged as a rummaged through his papers on his desk. As I flipped through the papers, I saw this old picture of him and I in the hospital.
"Hey, dad. What's this from?" He took the picture and looked it over. His face saddened.
"That was when you fell from the apple tree in the back yard. You have a scar on your belly. They had to stitch your stomach up because you coughed up blood after you dropped out of the tree. I remember how sad you were. I always keep this picture with me. I also keep this picture." He took out a picture and it's me and him. I shoved my ice cream in his face and he shoved his in mine.
"You were such a little trouble maker! Especially when you got into the glue. You would glue your hand to your toys. You would say that you didn't want to loose them."
My dad and I went into the kitchen. Little heady was balling her head off.
"Heady what's wrong? Did you fall?" I picked up the crying toddler and tried to get her to tell me what's wrong. Her big watery eyes looked up at me.
"My toof hurt! Mouth hurt really bad!" I made sure I comforted her.
"It's just your teeth growing in. Every things going to be fine okay?" She nodded her head. I put down my little sister and went and took out the garbage. Mi-mi followed behind me with the other bag. When we got out back I heard weird sounds coming from the bushes. Dropping the bags, I searched through the foliage to try and find what was causing the ruckus. Deep in the bush I found a young parrot. Its colors were of blue green and red. The parrot had black markings on its face. I tried to pick it up but it seemed a little fragile. Mi-mi handed me a handkerchief from her pocket and I wrapped up the little bird in it. Being careful not to drop it, I walked into the house cautiously. My dad came up to me with a curious look on his face.
"What did you find?" I showed his the baby parrot.
"Here Mi-mi. I'm gunna run to the observatory and build it something to stay in for a while."
I handed her the bird and went off.
Once I got the observatory I grabbed a bunch of stuff and built a bird cage. I tore up some newspaper and lined the bottom of the cage with it. Quickly, I ran home with the cage in hand. Mi-mi greeted me at the door and I put the little parrot into its safe haven. The parrot looked content in his cage.
"Dad. Can we keep it?" My dad thought a little.
"Well, as long as you take good care of him. What are you going to name him?"
"I like the name Rio… would about you Mi-mi?" She smiled and nodded.
I took little Rio to my room and cleared my desk. He squawked a little and I could tell he must be hungry. Me and Mi-mi went into the backyard and dug up some worms. He chowed them down. Now we know what he likes! Mi-mi went to a math club meeting and I stayed and kept Rio company. When I walked up to the cage he climbed over to me.
"Squaaaaaa! Squaaaaaaa!" I opened the cage and picked Rio up. I took my scissors and clipped his wings a little so he wouldn't fly off. He just hung out on my shoulder. He was an awesome bird! I placed him on the floor.
"Squaaaaaa! Play dead! Play dead! Squaaaaaa!" I swear I could have heard him say play dead. I lifted my hand and pretended to shoot him. The little parrot fell over and pretended to be dead. I started laughing hysterically. I swooped up the bird and brought him into the kitchen.
"Hey! Dad!!" My dad ran over.
"Is something wrong?" I shook my head.
"Look!" I put him down and pretended to shoot him. Like normal, Rio fell over. But this time he started saying stuff!
"Squaaa! Ahhh! Squaaaaa! I'm dieing!" I picked him up and he bounced his head up and down making noises as if he were laughing. My dad was cracking up!
The next day I took Mi-mi and we went hiking at whoville hills. The scenery was beautiful! There were so many wild flowers and trees all around us. I Grabbed Mi-mi's hand and we ventured further into the woods.
We walked past deer park. I saw a huge spotted stag, one of the majestic mammals of the woods. Mi-mi took many photos on our trip and was having the time of her life. We walked over to the side of Warners cliff. We watched the huge creek as it washed the debris down its crystal clear waters. Mi-mi was about to snap a shot when her foot lost it's grip and Mi-mi went sliding down the side. My quick actions enabled me to grab her just in time.
"Mi-mi don't let go!"
"I don't plan too!" I let go of one of her hands and grabbed a tree and was able to pull her half way out. I wrapped my legs around the trunk and pulled her up all the way. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her whole body was scratched up. I kissed her and made sure she was okay. I picked her up and used the rest of my energy to try and walk back. Just as I got about ten feet down the path, a couple come into sight. They come running up to us.
"Oh my goodness! What happened?" I tried to talk but I was too weak. I collapsed. The people tried pouring water on me and I was able to tell them what happened. I don't remember too much but they took us to the ranger's office. We were cleaned up and sent on our way.
When we got home and opened the front door, My dad came over and was shocked.
"Jojo? What happened?" I shook my head and grabbed Mi-mi's hand.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm guessing you had a rough time on the hike?" I shook my head and kept walking.
(Week later)
Glad to have put that behind me, I got out the permission slip out of my backpack.
"Here dad… It's a permission slip for school. We're going on a field trip to whosapeak park." My dad grabbed the paper from me.
"Ah! Really? I heard that it was an amazing place to go!" My dad skimmed the paper.
"They need chaperones?? I would love to go with you." I rolled my eyes and let my dad sign his self up. I put the white paper back into my sack and went upstairs to pack. The trip was in two days.
Each day my dad got more and more excited. The day had finally arrived. I hugged Mi-mi goodbye and off we went. We approached the school fence and the class met up at the bus stop. Once we boarded the bus I put on my headphones to block everyone out. I was in my own little world. I felt a tap on my shoulder. My dad broke the melody. I took off my headphones to see what he wanted.
"Jojo, why do you have to have on your headphones?" I didn't reply. I just kept off my headphones the whole way.
We had reached our destination. I could tell by the amount of trees in the forest. Not to mention the river than lay next to the bend in the road. My dad leaned over me trying his best to look out the window. When we pulled up to the campsite, my dad got all giddy. One by one we were escorted off the bus. Me and my dad were placed in cabin 3. I put my bags down on my bed. Luckily, being the mayor and all, we got a separate cabin. Our cabin master called all of the kids outside and we all listened to our activities.
"Okay kids! Today is going to be the trip to lake Takwho. So campers grab your backpacks and we'll be heading off!" My dad and I ran to our cabin and grabbed out backpacks. And off on the hike we went!
All of us stayed together as a group as we ventured further into the forest. I looked all around me hearing all the beats and rhythms of the woodland. My dad was all wound up about seeing the beauty of the surrounding area. The journey got tiring and we were 13 miles away from camp. Me and my dad were straddling behind because of my short legs. My dad reached in the side pocket of his backpack to retrieve his water bottle, and tripped on a stone. The group still walked on… leaving us behind. I helped my dad up; by the time he was situated, we were far behind. The group wasn't in sight. We hurried to see if they were going around the curve. My dad stopped in his tracks.
"A fork… Uh, I don't know which way they went!" He rubbed the back of his neck. A worried look covered his face. He grabbed me and put me on his shoulders. It seemed like we were walking for hours. My dad wasn't to good at finding his way out of things, so I felt more and more scared. My dad could see it in my face.
"It's okay Jojo. We'll find how to get back." He looked down at the floor and let out a sigh.
"Do you have your whophone?" I nodded my head and pulled it out.
"No reception." I said coldly.
By the time the sun had set, we were still lost. How it fell to be lost and not found… made me sick to my stomach. Would if we don't get back? Will we be eaten by cannibals? Now I was letting my thoughts control me. I heard shuffling behind me. I bit my lip and grabbed my dad's hand. Everywhere we looked was trees… just trees. The crackling in the bushes got louder and more noticeable. Oh, how eager I was to return back to camp. I put my foot down on the gravel and out of no where a coyote jumped from the bushes. He had been stalking us the whole time. My dad grabbed my hand and threw me behind him. He broke off a branch from a tree near by. He swatted at the angry coyote. It's eyes where bloodshot and he defiantly looked hungry. He staggered closer, hit the coyote in the head with the branch and kicked the mutt in it's face. The dog backed off and ran away whimpering. My dad turned around and picked me up and we rushed through the darkness, as we ran in the light of the moon.
We walked further and further. It was way past midnight and I was getting dreary. My dad pulled me closer for warmth. My dad found a safe little thicket and we were gunna have to stay there for the night. I dozed off and drifted to sleep.
When I awoke the next morning, my dad was still asleep. I rubbed his nose with my hand trying to wake him up. Dad woke up and we had to figure out what we were going to do.
(at camp)
"Everybody! Get together! We are going to do a head count!" As they counted on they found that two campers were missing.
"Uh, we have two campers missing… can we find names please?" The teacher looked around.
"The O'Malleys! Jojo isn't anywhere around!" The cabin master got worried.
"We have never lost anyone before. We'll have to alarm his wife and get a search party arranged.
(Jojo and Ned)
"I have no idea how we are gunna find our way back." My dad buried his face in his arms to hide his defeat. I pulled my knees to my chest and laid my head on my arms.
"Dad, I think we'll be fine." I smiled, which made my dad smile back. I opened my backpack to search for anything that we could use to our advantage. All I had was: Three water bottles, a camera, my blue hat, dad's pack of matches and whosquito repellant. I grabbed my dad's arm and we were on our way to find camp.
(At camp)
"Hello? Hi. This is cabin master Ruth. Yeah. We were on a hike and when we arrived back at destination, your son and husband were no where to be found." Mrs. Sally O'Malley got worried.
"What do you mean 'no where to be found?'" The cabin master tried to comfort her.
"We have search teams trying to find them right now. We will inform you as soon as we find them." My mom was getting concerned.
"I'm coming down there… I'll be there in about 40 minutes." Sally grabbed her purse and ran out the door. The eldest of the daughters, Holly, watched the kids.
(Jojo and Ned)
We walked further and further. I was famished and I had run out of water a few hours ago. We were forced to drink the water from the river, which wasn't too great. My dad and I searched for signs of civilization of any form. We had to pick up pace or we wouldn't ever get back. I was dead beat. My dad noticed my fatigue and picked me up and placed me on his shoulders. I rested my head on his. His fluffy hair covered my face, but I didn't care.
I guess I must've fallen asleep because when I awoke it was dark out. We were relaxing in a cave like area. I shivered. Body temperature was at a low. I nestled my head on my dad's chest. Dad took of his jacket and placed it over my shoulders, wrapping his arms around me. My dad looked down at me.
"You're a smart kid… do you have any ideas of what to do?" I looked up at him with my big eyes.
"I think that if we follow the river we can get back. It's just a hunch, but at least it's something." My dad looked at me in awe.
"Why didn't you think of this sooner? That's a wonderful idea! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we will walk along the river." My dad smiled and we went to bed.
The next morning, we woke nice and early. We started walking down the path. My dad looked over the edge and we slid down the side to follow the river. We walked on for 5 hours. The camp was still not in site. My dad got worried. We hadn't eaten in three days and we were living off gum and what's left of our lunch. My body got weak from malnourishment. We've been our for about five days now.
It was almost sunset. We were gunna stop for the night. All we had to eat was some fish we caught from the river. I sat down and covered my face with my furry arms. I started crying. My pain turned in to tears as I was scared we were going to never find our way. My dad came over in a hurry.
"Jojo! It's okay don't cry." My dad picked me up and hushed my crying.
"Dad I'm so hungry! I.. I want to go home!" I managed to mutter through my tears. My dad rocked me back and forth. He picked me up and we continued on a little bit more down the river. My stomach rumbled and I wanted a shower so bad.
(At camp)
Sally arrived at whosapeak park. Eyes full of fear of what may have happened to her only son and husband. The search parties where unsuccessful and returned empty handed.
(Jojo and Ned)
I was weak and I could hardly stand, so my dad carried the whole way. My dad stopped in mid track. We found it!! Jojo!! The camp. I didn't budge I was nauseous and I didn't have any strength. When we got up the side of the river. We were muddy and very weak. The cabin master came running up to us, mom following behind. She hugged me and dad. I started crying… I was in so much pain.
My mom pushed away my tears as they came flowing out of me like faucets. We went home in mom's car. My mom handed me some grapes.
"Here sweetie, this should last you until we get home for now. Are you feeling any better?" I shook my head no and I ate my grapes with tears streaming down my face. Dad, who was sitting in the seat next to me, grabbed me and hugged me. I hid my head in his chest.
"Dad, I don't feel good." He rubbed my hair and tried comforting me.
"Where does it hurt Jojo?" I wiped my face and looked at him through squinted eyes.
"My head is throbbing, I'm hungry and my body aches." He looked at me with watery eyes.
"It's okay Jojo. Get some sleep." I snuggled closer to my dad.
I woke up sitting on the couch at home; Mi-mi's big green eyes staring in mine.
"Jojo? You hungry?" I nodded my head and she brought in a plate that she had already made for me, just in case I woke up. I scarfed down the food so fast. I was terribly hungry. I had lost over 10 pounds while we were at 'camp'. I looked at Mi-mi who had tears brimming her eyes. I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Mi-mi are you alright?" She hugged me getting tighter and tighter with her grip.
"You have no idea how much I was scared. I thought I was never going to see you again." I looked at her with concern. And gazed down at my toes and agrees; I would've been scared too.
"I'm sorry Mi-mi. I didn't mean to scare you." All of a sudden the door opened and my dad came stumbling in. He had just gotten back from the doctor. He had to get checked, Along with me, just incase we got any illnesses. My dad looked sick and depressed. Mi-mi hugged me goodbye and headed out for her math meeting. My dad sat down and turned his chair so it didn't face towards me. I glanced down at my empty, white porcelain plate and walked over to him. I tried o let him not notice me so I observed him from the corner of the chair. My dad caught me peeking out and he averted his gaze.
"Dad, why are you ignoring me?" He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
"I'm just in a lot of pain… that's all. I don't like you seeing me weak like this." My dad had tears streaming down his face. I climbed on his lap to comfort him.
"Dad, you aren't weak. You where brave enough to carry me all the way back to camp! I admire that!" He pulled me closer.
"I feel like it was my entire fault though. I... I feel like I ruined everything."
"You didn't ruin everything dad! It wasn't your fault! Let's just forget about it." He smiled and hugged me.
"You're a great son JoJo. Best son a father could ever ask for.
My dad got better and I as well. I had gained back my strength, as well as the bond between my dad and I.
The next day me and Mi-mi headed off for school. Hand in hand, we entered the front gate to the school.
"Can you drop me off at my class?" I smiled and nodded and we walked towards her class. This huge who was blocking the entrance to the classroom. I politely tried to nudge him so we could get through, but he wouldn't move.
"Hey, watch it kid! Oh, what do we have here? Your Mi-mi's brother?" I looked at him with a stern and forceful look.
"No, But what does Mi-mi have to do with me trying to get her to class?" He pushed me back.
"We don't need trash like that little runt you got trailing behind you! If you don't move out of the way; you're going to pay kid!" I stood my ground.
"No! I'm not going to let you hurt her!" The bully clenched his jaw and his fist went right towards my face. I fell and was held against the lockers. Using my foot I kicked him in the spot and punched the kid in his face. The principal saw what I had done to him and took me to the office.
"You have no idea how much trouble your in Mr. O'Malley!" she gave me a mean look.
"I was protecting myself?? He hit me first! Gave me this black eye!" The principal hit her fist on the desk.
"I saw the whole thing!" I wrinkled my eyebrows.
"No you didn't!!" She picked up the phone and called my dad.
About a half an hour later my dad arrived at the school. He had a mad look on his face.
"What's this about?" The principal, Mrs.Yee, folded her hands together.
"Your son was involved in a fight! He seriously hurt a young boy and he was sent to the hospital earlier for stitches." My mouth dropped.
"Dad it wasn't even my fault! Have Mi-mi tell you what happened!" He looked at the principal, who was now giving an announcement for Mi-mi to come to the front office.
Little Mi-mi came into the office and sat in the chair next too me.
"So Mi-mi, you mind telling Mrs.Yee and my dad what REALLY happened. They think I'm lying." She nodded.
"Well there's this bully named Clark who always waits for me at my homeroom class. I asked JoJo to walk with me. As usual Clark was waiting for me. He started threatening me and JoJo. Jojo tried to get into the classroom but then Clark punched him in the face and held him against the lockers. Jojo kicked him and then punched him… he was only trying to defend himself. "She finished and clasped her fingers together.
My dad looked at the teacher very angry like. And gently grabbed my hand.
"Come on JoJo. Let's get you bandaged." He took Mi-mi and I out of school early.
"JoJo? Do you need an icepack?" I shook my head, not able to open my eye. My dad went to the kitchen and retrieved an icepack for me. He carefully placed it on my right eye.
"Better?" I nodded my head. He took out a box of bandages and put one on my knee and two on my elbows.
The next day as I readied my self for school, I met up with Mi-mi; I hadn't talked to her at all the day before.
"So, Mi-mi. That guy has been bothering you for how long?" She looked at me and stopped combing out her hair.
"Since I met you." I looked at her in shock.
"Since you've met me? Why haven't you told me? You were already living in a hell when you where living with your dad! Why keep it hidden?" She quickly told me,
"I didn't want my life to interfere with yours. I didn't want to ruin everything. I thought it would make us drift apart." She looked ashamed and I comforted her.
"Well, all I know is that, I wouldn't ever let him hurt you." I hugged her and and we went off too school.
The morning school bulletin announcement came on and I listened:
"Good morning students! Today is the last day to turn in sports packets for the spring! Tomorrow there will be an afternoon assembly with a motivational speaker. Drug resistance week is next week. And last but certainly not least, This Saturday is the spring fling. Take your dates and have a wonderful time! That's all for announcements! Now study hard kids!"
I got excited! I couldn't wait to ask Mi-mi to the dance!
I met with Mi-mi after school.
"So… did you hear the bulletin?" She shook her head no.
"I can never hear during that class… people never shut up. What was it?"
"Spring fling; you wanna go?" She cocked her head.
"what's a spring fling?"
"It's where you take someone to a dance. Sorta like a party at school." She was happy.
"Sure I'll go with you!" We walked home happily hand in hand.
When we came in the door, my dad saw us happy and laughing.
"Yo! What's up you two?" I gave my dad a high-five.
"Oh we were talking about the spring fling!" He smiled.
"you two going together? I SOOOOO want some pictures!"