Jonathan did his best to not get in trouble until Friday. So, he hoped that he could have a good weekend. Something that he discovered that would not happen on Saturday morning.
"Dad, come on, grandpa already tortured me! I cannot have farm chores and army training on the same day!"- Jonathan complained. - "It is not fair, it is Saturday! Everyone will have fun today!"
"You are not everyone."- Clark said firmly- "Jon, I understand that it is frustrating being grounded on the weekend, but son, you broke your curfew and disrespected me, your mother and grandfather. It is unacceptable behavior."
"I understand, but where is forgiveness in this house? We need to go more to the church to warm the cold heart of this family."- Jonathan argued. - "I will pray for this family during mass, see you."
"Jonathan, you are smarter than this."- Clark said firmly- "Don't fool me and meet your grandfather outside."
"See, your cold heart can't see that your son will be tortured outside."- Jonathan argued.
"I believe that you survived the last training."- Clark said while he gently made his son walk. - "You looked well."
"It's because the pain was inside and the worst pain was in my heart, because my own parents allowed a former general to torture me."- Jonathan argued.
"Jonathan, your determination is admirable, but as I said before: you are grounded and you will train with your grandfather today."- Clark said firmly- "So, out!"
"At least I tried."- Jonathan said, shrugged. So, he met his grandfather in the backyard. He greeted him with clearly demotivation.
"50 suicides running to warm, go!"- Samuel ordered.
"Yes, sir."- Jonathan said quickly. He learned his lesson in the barn: be quiet and eventually you will be free.
"I liked the change of posture, Jonathan."- Samuel said.
"I just don't want to go to Hellville CrossFit again."- Jonathan said with a small smile. - "The coach is a former general, maybe you know him."
"He is the best coach of this town."- Samuel said- "And his general qualities are indescribable."
"Now, I know where my arrogance came from."- Jonathan remarked.
"Sixty suicides running. No back talk in my training."- Samuel remembered firmly.
"Now I understand why people say that the truth can hurt."- Jonathan argued.
Samuel held his laugh and kept serious. "70"- Samuel said firmly. So, his grandson did what he asked. Then he gave him the ball to practice launching.
Jonathan looked at the football ball and felt his tears in his eyes. "Grandpa, I am sorry. I just cannot."- Jonathan said, upset. He ran to the barn where he allowed himself to cry.
Samuel followed his grandson and found him crying while he hugged his own legs, hiding his face. "Football was my special talent for years and in one fuck year I lost everything. Even my dignity, grandpa, I will work at McDonalds until the last day of my miserable life."
"Look to me."- Samuel asked- "You made a mistake, apologized, and learned from it. Learning is what really matters. Nobody is perfect, so everyone can make the wrong choices sometimes."
"Tell it to the perfect citizens from Smallville." Jonathan said ironically- "My parents made me apologize to the principal, the football coach, and the team. And what did they do? They turned their backs against me and wait the first opportunity to punch my face like I was the only player who was so desperate to play one fuck game and decided to take aliens drugs for it! The truth is that it is impossible to beat Superboy, so everyone was feeling weak and powerless and using the drug! It is just unfair what they did to me! So, this football practice in my backyard is a waste of time and brings me memories that I really miss, so please let me alone."
"Jon, I will not leave you alone."- Samuel said firmly- "You are an amazing boy, and you don't need powers to be special to anyone."
"Tell it to my former coach."- Jonathan argued upset- "I had to take drugs to play, grandpa."
"You don't need powers to be special to anyone who really matters: your parents, your brother and me."- Samuel said firmly, correcting himself- "And you can show how formidable you are if you practice and work hard with me. So, get up! Lanes do not waste their time with self-pity!"
Jonathan got up with his grandfather's help.
"You have the strong blood of the Lane's, so you will have an amazing future, understood?"- Samuel said firmly.
"Yes, sir."- Jonathan said.
"So, we will practice every day, so then your former coach will regret every time that he left you on the bench when he sees you in action."- Samuel said firmly. So, Jonathan smiled, and his grandfather hugged him.
After the football training, Samuel went to the house, determined to buy a house in Smallville. He felt that he failed as a father, but he will not fail as a grandfather. Jonathan needs his help, and he will be there for him.
"So, dad, how was the training?"- Lois asked curiously.
"Your son thinks that he has no future and I had to convince him to play football again."- Samuel answered giving details of his talk with Jonathan- "I will buy a house here to be closer with my grandsons, especially Jonathan. He was always a good kid, happy, loved to play football and enjoyed making his brother laugh. Now, he feels lost and wants more attention, which is why he is acting out. So, I understand that it is hard to congratulate him now but try and show with actions how he is important to you."
"Thanks, dad, for your advice."- Lois said gently- "It's really good to have you around here."
Hours later, Jonathan finished all his farm chores and now he was building the new chicken coop in which would have a heating system and each hen would have its own compartment in which Jonathan could collect the eggs without having to enter the chicken coop.
After finishing dinner, Lois found her son a few meters near their chicken coop where he was working hard on his project.
"You are doing a wonderful job on this farm, Jon."- Lois said gently.
"Thanks."- Jonathan said with a small smile.
"It is late, you can keep working tomorrow. Get ready for dinner."- Lois asked- "Your father and brother will be here soon."
"Yes, ma'am."- Jonathan said firmly.
Minutes later, after taking shower, Jonathan met his brother and father in the living room. Jordan was excited about the football training and the game which will be next Saturday.
"Hey, Jon, how was your day?"- Clark asked.
"Fine."- Jonathan answered indifferently.
"Let 's have dinner."- Lois said- "Dad, I made your favorite meal."
"I was smelling your grandmother's recipe. Boys, this steak is unique."- Samuel said excitedly. Minutes later when the family finished eating- "I have good news. I will buy a house here in Smallville."
The twins looked at each other astonished, while Clark wired his eyes in shock. Lois just smiled; she was happy to have her father closer to her family.
"Should I call a neurologist or psychiatric? You lost your mind."- Jonathan asked ironically- "Only insane people choose to move to Hellville."
"Jonathan!"- Lois said sternly.
"Jonathan, I am fine. But I do not know if I can say the same for you. The next disrespectful remark, you will go outside and do one hundred push-ups, understood?"- Samuel warned.
"I'm sorry, sir."- Jonathan said, concerned.
"I am planning to train Jon, so I need my own place. I cannot stay in Jon's room until the end of the year, right?"- Samuel explained.
"I'm enjoying having you here, grandpa."- Jordan said happily.
"Kiss-ass."- Jonathan murmured to his brother.
"It's enough, go to your room, Jonathan!"- Clark ordered.
"Jordan's room."- Jonathan corrected, before getting up- "I'm surrounded by idiots at school and at home."- Jonathan grumbled while climbing the stairs.
"I can hear you, Jonathan!"- Clark said nervously.
"I know!"- Jonathan argued.
Minutes later, Jonathan was not surprised when his father knocked the door and got in the bedroom.
"Jonathan, what is going on?"- Clark asked- "Your grandfather was telling his family that he is planning to move to Smallville, and you decided to be disrespectful to him."
"I was not disrespectful; it is not my fault that my family is sensitive. Everything I say in this house is disrespectful! Come on, look for help!"- Jonathan argued- "Give me a break!"
"So, calling me, your mother, and your grandfather insane is being respectful?"- Clark asked sternly- "I understand that you do not like this city, but this does not give you the right to be disrespectful with this community nor the people who chose to live here."
"So, I need to be respectful while the others chose to fuck my life? Interesting advice."- Jonathan argued.
Clark took a deep breath, because for a second, he considered using old school parenting. Jonathan expected that his father was going to leave the room, but Clark sat on his bed and looked at him with concerned eyes.
"What is going, Jon? You are not like this."- Clark asked calmly- "Do you really believe that is okay what you did during dinner?"
Jonathan sighed and looked at the floor thoughtfully.
"You are better than this Jonathan."- Clark said, holding his son's shoulder- "Are you upset because you are not going to the football practice with me and your brother?"
Jonathan did not answer. He did not want to face the truth. He was missing football practice with his dad and brother. He missed the football field, the bleachers and even the smell of wet grass. That was why Jonathan wanted to forget football, but his family for a strange reason would not allow it.
"Jonathan, you need to talk."- Clark said gently.
"I don't give a shit."- Jonathan said nervously.
"You care, Jon, it's why you are upset and angry."- Clark said calmly- "It is just one year, Jon, next year you will be able to play. Nobody here wants to make your life miserable, unfortunately you made a mistake and are facing the consequences of it. Your suspension from football for one year was the condition of your staying in school."
"So, I should be grateful for it?!"- Jonathan asked ironically- "Wonderful!"
"Ok, you clearly are not in the mood for talking. So, I will leave, Jonathan, but I hope that you will think about your behavior today and tomorrow we will talk again."- Clark decided- "Good night, son."
Jonathan did not answer, he was tired and stressed, and suddenly he began to cry. Jordan felt sorry for his brother, so he said nothing, he just sat down on his brother's bed and hugged him.
"You are not alone, Jon."- Jordan said gently.
The twins stayed hugged for a while.
"You should try to sleep, Jon. I will be here next to you"- Jordan said gently. He was grateful for everything his brother did for him and he felt that God was giving him the opportunity to do the same.
Jonathan agreed with his head, so when he laid down on his bed, he was surprised to see his brother letting his bed next him.
"What are you doing?"- Jonathan asked, surprised.
"I will sleep next to you, it's not like it's the first time that we do it, right?"- Jordan answered smiling- "Before we were born we shared our mother's womb, then every time I had nightmares at night, you stayed with me until we slept; and every time I had my anxiety attacks, you were always by my side. Now, it is my turn to support you and comfort you."
"Thanks, Jordan."- Jonathan said, thrilled.
A few minutes later the twins were talking.
"Do you want to watch a TV show on my tablet?"- Jordan asked suddenly.
"I don't think it's a clever idea, I'm grounded."- Jonathan answered.
"So, why Hellville CrossFit?"- Jordan asked curiously. So, Jonathan explained how was the army training with their grandfather.
"160 repetitions, gosh, you looked fine after it."- Jordan said confused- "And how was coach Lane training today?"
Jonathan explained how the training was and then, his brother looked sternly at him.
"So, you did NFL training with granddad and later you just did farm chores. Jonathan, do you have anything to share? Or did you forget our promise: no lies between the fraternals"- Jordan said seriously.
Jonathan looked at his twin brother, ashamed, he knew that he promised to Jordan to never lie to him again after taking X-K.
"Give me your phone, I will write to you"- Jonathan asked anxiously. So, when Jordan gave him his phone, Jonathan wrote on the cell phone notepad: during my fight with Tyler, I discovered that I have healing powers and super-speed. I have been using the super-speed to study since last Monday night, when I read six chess strategy books in a few minutes.
"Hermione, I'm so proud of you."- Jordan teased.
"Shut up"- Jonathan said, ashamed.
Jordan had a big smile, and his eyes were shining.
"We need to"- Jordan tried to speak, but his brother put his hand on his mouth.
"No, please"- Jonathan asked- "First, I need to win their trust. They will not believe in me, Jordan."
"Maybe it's because you are doing a shit job on this task."- Jordan remarked.
"Thanks for your honesty."- Jonathan said, rolling his eyes.
"Ok, let 's see. Jonathan, what are you planning to say to our parents and grandfather tomorrow?"- Jordan asked seriously.
"They should not be offended by being called insane, because what is normal? Everyone has a hint of insanity. Aristotle said: There is no great genius without some touch of madness. "- Jonathan answered, being hit by his brother's pillow- "What is your problem? I quoted Aristotle!"
"You quote Aristotle to keep your argument that they are insane. So, please, be smarter at your second chance"- Jordan asked firmly.
"Sorry dad"- Jonathan said ironically.
"I am not joking, Jonathan. Just admit that you were disrespectful during dinner and apologize."- Jordan said seriously.
"Fine, Jordan, I will apologize."- Jonathan decided- "I am sorry for calling you guys' insane last night. Are you happy now, Jordan?"
"If you plan to be grounded until turn 21 it's wonderful"- Jordan answered- "Try: I am terribly sorry for being disrespectful last night. Unfortunately, yesterday, I was upset about being grounded during Saturday. So, I am sorry for letting my bad humor ruin our dinner. And grandpa, I am happy to have you here in Smallville with us."
"I almost cried"- Jonathan joked- "I will try to remember these words tomorrow."
"You will, because it's your turn to say them."- Jordan said firmly.
On Sunday, Clark and Lois were talking about who was going to wake up the twins, since it was 9 am. After playing odd or even, Lois went upstairs to wake her sons, but for her amusement she found them sleeping together. So, she came back to the kitchen where Clark was waiting for them.
"I just could not wake our sons. Clark, they are sleeping together. They are so cute now"- Lois said. Clark smiled and then they went to Jordan's room together.
When Clark saw that Jonathan and Jordan were holding hands, something that they did since they were babies, he couldn't contain his smile. But he had to wake them, so he turned the light and Lois took the opportunity to take a picture of her children.
"Boys the rooster already crowed hours ago. It is time to wake up!"- Clark said firmly.
When the twins opened their eyes and realized that their parents saw them together, both were embarrassed. Jonathan used the blanket to cover his face, while Jordan frowned at his parents.
"Please, tell me that none took a picture of us."- Jordan said, concerned.
"Sorry, Jordan, my twins were so cute."- Lois said smiling. So, Jordan used the blanket to cover his face.
"Come on, boys, it's not that bad."- Clark said- "Just change your clothes, organize this room and go downstairs for breakfast"
"And forget our humiliation"- Jordan remarked.
Minutes later, the twins blushed when they saw their mother showing their picture to Samuel.
"Mom, please, try to not show it to anyone"- Jordan asked seriously.
"I am your grandfather, Jordan. Lois, please, sent this picture to me."- Samuel asked smiling- "See, Jonathan, I have a sense of humor."
"Actually, grandpa, I have something important to say to you and my parents"- Jonathan said seriously- "I am terribly sorry for being disrespectful last night. Unfortunately, yesterday, I was upset about being grounded during Saturday and not being able to play football anymore. I really miss training with my father and brother. I miss everything about football: I miss the smell of the wet grass, the football field, the bleachers and even the uniform. So, I am sorry for letting my bad humor ruin our dinner yesterday. Grandpa, although it is not easy to have you as a coach, I have enjoyed spending my time with you. So, I am happy to have you here in Smallville with us."- Jonathan said honestly. So, Jordan was proud of his brother.
Clark, Lois, and Samuel were relieved that Jonathan was finally honest with himself. They forgave him right away.
"Dad, mom, please, do not let Jon grounded for more days. He apologized and opened his heart, show mercy"- Jordan begged.
"Do not worry, Jordan, today your brother will face Hellville CrossFit again: the mortal training- Samuel said with a small smile.
"Mortal training"- Jonathan stuttered.
"200 repetitions"- Samuel explained. Jonathan widened his eyes and got pale.
"Can I train with him?"- Jordan asked seriously- "We were born together so we will die together."
"I can't say no after these words"- Samuel said gently- "Jon, where is your sense of humor? I am joking with you. It is just four exercises with one hundred repetitions each."
Everyone laughed at Samuel's speech and then had a quiet family breakfast.