Sometimes The Living Is Sweet

by So_Im_Told

Summary:

And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet.

"Kid, a couple of candy bars and some soda does not make a meal.”
The boy seemed to realise that this lady had noticed him taking things from the store, though she hadn’t reported him.
He shrugged, unsure what to say to her.
“I’m a teacher. My name’s Ms Larkin. What’s your name?”
“...Jack Kelly.” he answered cautiously.

Chapter 1: Jack Kelly

It was a late Summer evening and Medda Larkin was at the convenience store stocking up on snacks and essentials to keep in her classroom for her students. She was regretting not going to a larger store and filling up an entire shopping cart as she gathered arms full of all of the things that might be needed.
Though she was grateful that the store wasn’t busy. There was only one other customer and Medda made a point of loudly ignoring him as he looked around and she chatted with the worker at the counter and took her time getting what she needed.
The boy left without buying anything and Medda felt a twinge of helplessness as she watched him go but tried to focus on her own shopping and what she needed for her students then she left the store without collecting her change.

Heading home Medda caught sight of the scruffy teenager that had been wandering around the store. He was walking ahead of her. 
“Young man!” she called out.
The boy stopped and paused for a moment before he turned round, hands in pockets and cap pulled low over his face.
“I didn’t do nothin!” he said quietly. 
“...I’m not accusing you of anything.” She told him with a smile, she was scrambling around with her shopping bags, moving things around, seeming to select certain items thoughtfully and place them into another bag.
The boy watched her cautiously and she half expected him to start running. 
“Here.” Medda told him, holding out the shopping bag she had just rearranged to him.
The boy frowned and took a step away; “I don’t need nothing.”
“Kid, a couple of candy bars and some soda does not make a meal.”
The boy seemed to realise that she had noticed him taking things from the store, though she hadn’t reported him.
He shrugged, unsure what to say.
"Why you trying to help? Why didn't you call the cops or something?" 
"Over some candy and a drink?" 
The boy shrugged again. 
“I’m a teacher. My name’s Ms Larkin. What’s your name?”
“...Jack Kelly.” he answered, cautiously taking the bag, “Thanks.”
“It’s no problem at all.” She told him truthfully.
“...I got sandwiches too.” The boy confessed with a small smile, “...from the store. Not just candy.”
“Healthy choices.” Medda smiled back. Aware now that he was closer that he didn’t look in a very good way “...Are you alright?” 
“...Yeah.” he mumbled again, seemingly the question caught him off guard and his voice wobbled slightly as he turned and started to walk away “I really gotta go. Thanks again Ms Larkin.”
Medda watched him walk away. Wishing that there was more that she could do.

Chapter 2: Not a Normal Family

Charlie grinned as he watched his older brother climb up the fire escape. He opened the window and grabbed Jack’s hand to help pull him inside.
They sat quietly together for a few minutes on Charlie’s bed before they began to look through the shopping bag. 
“Where’d you get all this stuff?” Charlie whispered, grabbing a chocolate bar and starting to open it. 
“Some lady gave it to me.” Jack explained, grabbing one of the sandwiches he had taken and handing it to his brother.
“Here have this first.”
“Thanks!”
Jack sat back leaning against the wall, watching the younger boy look through the bag as if it were Christmas morning. 
"You looking forward to the first day of school tomorrow?" 
Charlie shrugged. 
"Same." Jack replied, opening a can of soda and taking some sips before handing the can to his brother. 
"Lets set off early, please?" the younger boy asked. "I don't wanna be late and I don't want anyone should see...." he mumbled glancing at his bad leg for a moment. As he was getting older the difference in his legs and the way he moved was becoming more noticeable. They didn't need to talk about it but it was getting harder for Charlie to walk. The way that the younger brother was able to hold himself too, kind of like he couldn't stand up straight. And his bad leg turned inwards in a way that looked painful. It was painful for him - Jack knew. But Charlie hardly ever said anything about it. And only ever to Jack. 
"If anyone bothers you, tell me."
"Nothing anyone says at school will be worse than the Delancey's." Charlie tried to laugh though his smile faltered.  
Jack smiled and reached out to ruffle Charlie's hair. 
"Let's finish eating and then get some sleep."

---

When the school day had ended, the walk from the High School back to their new foster father's place wasn’t very far but Jack was worried about Charlie.
He kept glancing at him as they walked side by side.
“So, how was your first day?” Jack asked his little brother
Charlie pulled a face at him.
“Any classes you liked?...Hey slow down would ya! You don’t gotta tire yourself out.” 
“Actually I’m thinking of joining the track team.” Charlie grinned, jumping, stumbling and laughing as Jack grabbed him to stop him from falling and his crutch tumbled to the ground.
“Charlie!” Jack frowned but in a second he was laughing with his brother "God, you're annoying!" 
Charlie looked triumphant and reached up to ruffle Jack’s hair. Nodding a thank you when Jack handed him his crutch and they began walking again.
“How was it, really, Crutchie?”
“...I dunno yet. It was only the first day, Cowboy.” 
“I guess you’re right.” Jack smiled at their nicknames.
“....How was your first day?” Crutchie asked.
“Yeah, it was alright.”
They walked in comfortable silence until a car pulled up beside them and both of their smiles faded.
“Hey.” Morris Delancey leaned out of the window, grinning. “Uncle Wise has a job for us. You’re on.”
Oscar was sitting in the front passenger seat looking bored.
"Can we drop Charlie off at home first?" 
"He can walk." Morris laughed, like he'd made a great joke. 
Jack closed his eyes for a moment, then looked apologetically to Charlie.
“You know the way home?” he checked.
“I can come with you.” Charlie suggested.
“Too slow!” Morris stated, pointing at the kids crutch.
Jack was relieved in a way; he didn’t want his kid brother getting friendly with the Delancey’s. 
“See you later.” Jack promised, climbing into the back seat of the car.
“Yeah.” Crutchie stood there, watching as the car drove away.

---

Later that night, Jack climbed onto his bunk in the room that he shared with Crutchie.
“Jack!”
“Go back to sleep, Crutch.” Jack yawned, reaching out his hand and helping Crutchie to climb up to the top bunk.
“What did you guys do?” The younger boy whispered.
“Don’t matter.”
“Stealing again?”
“Yeah.”
“You get caught?”
“I’m not in the refuge, am I?” Jack smiled.
“Guess not.” Crutchie sighed, hugging his brother.
Jack hugged him back.
“Just two years. Then I’ll be eighteen and we’ll find our own place. Hey! Maybe we'll go to Santa Fe like Dad always said.”
“You’re crazy.” Crutchie laughed quietly but he hoped that Jack would tell him a story about when their folks were still alive. When they were still kids enough to play at being cowboys and believe that things could get better. 
Charlie still hoped that they could. 

The youngest brother was the first to wake up in the morning; He carefully climbed down from Jack’s bunk and grabbed the grocery bag from the night before, choosing a chocolate bar to eat for his breakfast. Then he went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up best he could before going back to the bedroom.
Jack woke up as Charlie was spraying the deodorant that was in the bag of groceries the lady had given to them.
“Woah! Easy on that, kid.” Jack complained.
Crutchie only laughed and sprayed some up at Jack who jumped down from the top bunk and started to playfight with him, trying to grab the can of deodorant.
They collapsed into giggles until there was an angry knocking at the door and they both jumped and became as still as possible.
“Shut up in there.” Came the voice of their foster father. “Now come and get some breakfast.”
The boys didn’t need telling twice.
They didn’t always get breakfast at this foster placement and Jack thought about what the lady at the store had said;
A couple of candy bars and some soda does not make a meal.
“Mornin’ Weasel.” Jack greeted with a bored expression, like he was looking for a fight.
“At least call me Mister.” The man complained, glaring at Jack from where he was standing at the kitchen counter waiting for the coffee to brew.
Jack sat down at the table. 
“Good morning Mr Wiesel.” Charlie greeted, following after Jack and sitting beside him, placing his crutch down on the floor and tucking it under the table.
“Good Morning, Crutchie.” Wiesel nodded. Smiling at the youngest then handing him a plate with a piece of toast on it.
“Thanks.” Crutchie smiled, spreading a little too much butter over the slice before starting to eat.
Wiesel then passed Jack a plate with two slices of toast.
“...Yeah. Thanks.” Jack said with caution. Grabbing the jar of jelly that was out on the table and making himself a sandwich.
“So what’s this about?” Jack asked with his mouthful.
They’d been with Wiesel for  two months now and he hadn’t made a habit of sharing many meals with the boys.
“Morris and Osc said you did good last night, son.”
“Don’t call me that. My name’s Jack.”
Wiesel looked irritated but then as he poured himself a cup of coffee he seemed to take a breath.
“You hear what I was saying? You did good. Well done.”
Jack put his head down, unsure how to accept the praise. 
“I just did what they told me.”
“That’s right. You keep that up and soon enough we’ll teach you the ways of the trade.” Wiesel told him, putting a cup of weak coffee down in front of each of the boys and then sitting down at the table opposite Jack.
“...Stealing isn’t a trade.” Crutchie thought out loud.
Wiesel looked amused in a way that made the younger boy nervous.
“You just keep quiet. I took both you boys in. You’re a numbers kid, Good with math, right Crutchie? So you could be useful even with that bum leg of yours. But I don’t need attitude from you. Either of you. Understand?”
“Yes sir.” Charlie whispered, looking down at his plate and moving the crumbs around with his finger. “Sorry.”
“That’s alright, Charlie.” Wiesel said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“You boys finish your breakfast then get to school.”
“Yes sir.” Jack and Charlie said in unison.

“...We are not a normal family.” Charlie commented as they walked to school.
Jack nodded in agreement and offered his little brother a small smile. At least they had each other.
“You think you’ll have to go with Oscar and Morris again tonight?”
“Nah. It’s not all the time, this can work.”
“Jack what if you get caught stealing? Weasel isn’t our uncle. He won’t bail us out if we get in trouble. We could get sent to the refuge!”
“I’m not gonna get caught.” Jack promised with a shrug.
Crutchie stopped walking and looked seriously at his brother. His face was more sad than angry.
“I don’t want us to be split up again.”
“...Hey.” Jack said gently, “That’s not gonna happen.”
The resumed their walk in silence and once they reached the school gates they stood there for a moment, ignoring other students that were walking past them.
“Meet you here after school then.” Charlie stated.
“Yeah.”
Just as Charlie was about to step away, Jack reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into a hug.
“We’s a family.” he promised his little brother. “Would I let you down?”
“...No way.” Crutchie mumbled. 

Jack could hear the smile in his voice.

Chapter 3: Francisco Sullivan?

Antonio decided to spend his lunch break in the Drama classroom, that way he would be able to chat with Ms Medda and help her to set up for her next class; his first Drama class of the new school year.
He was tap dancing on the table.
Ms Medda watched from her desk with an amused smile.
“Racetrack, lunch.” she reminded him gently.
“Oh yeah.” he grinned, jumping down, grabbing his schoolbag and taking out his lunchbox.
Medda watched him, nodding encouragingly as he glanced over at her;
The change in Race was remarkable and she felt proud as she watched him open his lunchbox and hesitate for a moment before nodding to himself and beginning to eat.
When Medda had first met Race he had been tiny. It was the summer before he started middle school; He was covered in bruises and she had caught him looking in through the window of her classroom during one of her summer dance workshops for the high-schoolers...
By the time that Race had started Middle school, Medda Larkin was his foster-mother. By his Freshman year of high school, Medda Larkin had Adopted him. 
His name was Antonio Larkin.  
Now he was a Junior and doing so well. 
They still were working through a lot of things but he was happy and safe. He had a home and some good friends.
Race finished most of his lunch and then moved over to sit with her at her desk.
“How are you feeling, Race?”
“Good.” Race answered truthfully with a nod, Tapping his foot slightly and glancing at the paperwork that she was looking at.
“Want to help me by clearing the tables to the side of the room?” Medda asked with a smile, noticing that he was restless.
“Yes mama.” he said, jumping up and starting to move the tables “We gonna be dancing today?” he asked hopefully.
“Not much today, my darlin'. First lesson of the year, so some ice-breakers and some games.”
“But everyone knows each other already!” he told her with a pout.
“It’s always a fun way to start the year. And we have a new kid joining the class!... and I thought you liked the games.” Medda gasped in surprise.
“...I do.” he quickly admitted, glancing at her and smiling when he saw that she wasn't truly offended “but I want to dance, Mama!”
“You have dance class on Friday.” she reminded him.
“...New kid?” Race asked, seeming to catch up with what she had been saying before.
“That’s right.”
“Is it Charlie…umm…I dunno his last name." Race jumped up and down, "He tried to join the track team yesterday during lunch. He’s funny.” Race laughed, breaking down into giggles.
“No, not Charlie. I haven’t had a class with anyone named Charlie yet…What’s so funny?”
“He has a crutch! Said to call him Crutchie. We got chatting a little bit. He’s hilarious and real nice and… Oh, wait. He’s a freshman.” Race hummed. "I haven’t met any new kid in my other classes yet.”
“Well, to be fair son, you’ve skipped quite a few classes.” Medda said with a raised eyebrow.
“I do the work! You said that’s okay! So long as I do the work and I come to you instead of just disappearing!”
“Hey. Hey, it’s okay. I’m not mad at you, kiddo, you’ve been doing good." She explained quickly offering him a comforting smile. "I don’t think this new kid is very fond of class either, so let’s try and encourage him. Shall we?”
“I can do that!” Race smiled earnestly as he moved to start moving the tables to the side of the room.

---

By now, school had really started back up and so Jack knew it was time to actually attend classes rather than just avoiding them by sitting in the library or finding somewhere to hide.
He checked on Crutchie and they had lunch together sitting near the school front gate where they would always meet at the end of the day. They were grateful that most days their lunch breaks overlapped.
When Jack finished his school supplied free sandwich he stood up and walked his little brother to his class before he slowly made his way to his Drama class. Squinting at the map of the school someone in the office had printed out for him. 

Jack was a little late to class but any hope of just sneaking in was crushed when he looked through the small window in the door and saw the class sitting on the floor in a vague half circle of little groups around the teacher who was sitting on her desk and talking very animatedly.
The woman looked vaguely familiar and Jack frowned then jumped in shock when suddenly she caught sight of him, grinned and waved him inside the room.
“Just in time, I’m about to do the roll call, take a seat.” she smiled,  waving away any apology he might have been trying to give - not that he was going to apologize.
She was already moving around her desk and grabbing the register and starting to call out names.
A boy sitting with his legs out in front of him, wriggling his feet smiled up at Jack and patted the floor beside him.
Jack dropped his backpack and reluctantly sat down, noticing with some horror that as each name was called, students were standing up, some of them singing a line of a song or even doing a dance move.
The boy beside Jack jumped up; He answered “YES MAMA!” when his name ‘Race’ was called and grinned as others in the class laughed before he did an impressive dance move.
The boy next to Race; David, was had been a lot more quiet; he stood up, answering his name with a simple yes and a small bow.
“Francisco Sullivan?” The teacher called out and Jack stood up...
They recognised each other.
“... I go by Jack Kelly.” he said simply.
“...Welcome, Jack! I'm Ms Larkin.” The teacher smiled curiously but continued calling out names of other students as if this were no problem.
The kid beside him, race was whispering to him, chatting excitedly and undeterred by the fact that Jack was ignoring him. 
Jack listened to the rest of the names in the roll call. Some of the names he was sure were nicknames, Jack was convinced. Who names a kid Race…?

Chapter 4: Angels!

It was Friday morning and Jack and Charlie were at the kitchen table, eating the leftovers of a pizza that Wiesel, Oscar and Morris had ordered the night before. 
“I’m going away for a few days.” Wiesel told Jack and Charlie as he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“How long for?” Charlie asked, a little spark of hope in his voice that only Jack noticed: The chance for them to have free reign of the apartment for the weekend or longer; to use the kitchen, watch TV together. To take their time in the bathroom and be able to truly relax in a way they couldn’t when Wiesel was around.
“You goin’ on a job with the Delancey’s?” Jack asked with the same hope - if the Delancey’s were gone too, then things would be perfect.
“A couple days, I should think. Yes, my nephews will be joining me.”
“A job?” Jack asked again, wondering what they were planning and if it could mean trouble. Half worried and half relieved that he was being left behind.
“Never you mind.” Wiesel scowled, losing his patience with the boy's questions. “You two are more trouble than you're worth. Just make sure you don’t get yourselves in any trouble.”
“You know us, Weasel.” Jack grinned, putting his arm around Charlie. “We’s angels!”
Charlie gave a big lopsided smile and gave Wiesel a thumbs up. 
The old man actually choked a laugh and waved his hand at them as if pushing them away.
“Get to school. Both of you.”
“But it’s still early.” Jack protested.
“Then you won’t be late.” Wiesel told him with an uncaring shrug.

“He’s not so bad.” Charlie said with kindness - He was leaning heavily on his crutch and still eating the last slice of pizza. 
“That doesn’t make him good, Crutch.” Jack sighed tiredly. Though he nodded in vague agreement; They’d been in worse placements;
Weasel was a lazy old con-man but he had agreed to take both of them and he didn’t hit them and generally left them to their own devices.
So what was a missed meal every now and then? They weren’t little kids anymore. Jack reasoned to himself. The only family they needed was each other.
After a stay in the refuge and being separated from his brother, any place could seem good...
But The Delancey’s, Weasel’s nephews who stayed at the apartment often and usually got Jack involved in whatever they were doing; stealing, fighting, gambling, drug runs...They were a lot more tricky than their uncle; sometimes they were agreeable and would even give Jack a share of the money they made. But more often than not they were mean, thuggish and violent and Wiesel was always on their side.
Of course he was - they were his family.
Jack and Charlie weren’t.
Jack absent-mindedly wiped his hand across his face where a black eye was forming after a disagreement with Morris over what Jack thought he deserved for the his help the previous night. Taking advantage of his smaller size, they had Jack climb in through windows to break into the stores that they were robbing.
Jack had only wanted some money for his part. Enough for lunch and food for the evenings Wiesel didn’t bother or they were only allowed the leftovers. 
But instead they hit him, pushed him around and laughed when he pushed them away.

“See ya later.” Charlie smiled once they reached the front gate of the school. “Earth to Jack? We’re here...Where’d you go. Santa Fe?” Charlie teased.
“I wish.” Jack laughed, giving him a gentle shove. “Be good.” he told his brother.
“You know I always am.” Charlie lied with a grin. 

By the time school was over and they made it back to the apartment - Wiesel and the Delancey’s were gone.
They’d left a key under the front doormat so Jack didn’t have to break in so things were looking up.
Only the kitchen was empty. There was hardly anything; a cruel trick by Morris and Oscar probably. 
Crutchie hopped around the kitchen happily - yelling and singing at the top of his lungs because there was no one there to tell him to shut up.
“You can go turn on the TV, or have a shower…go to bed. Whatever you want to do.” Jack told him as he looked through whatever was left in the kitchen cupboards. He started to make them both a cup of coffee.
“Go to bed? No chance!” The fourteen-year-old rolled his eyes, skipping through to the living room and jumping onto the couch.
"Let's watch a movie!"
Jack chuckled and carried through their cups of coffee and then sat down on the floor so that Charlie could stretch out on the couch. His younger brother was looking through the channels, deciding what to watch.
The cups of coffee were set down on the table to cool.
When Charlie couldn’t settle on something to watch, Jack grabbed the remote and found a channel that played old Western films. The kind of thing they used to watch with their dad, that they found comfort in. They slowly sipped at their cups of coffee and watched with smiles on their faces, trying to ignore the rumbling noises that their stomachs were making.
“You really hungry?” Jack asked when the first movie was over and another Cowboy film started playing. The music swelled and Jack sighed, remembering nights snuggled up on the couch with Dad. 
Charlie nodded reluctantly as he looked into his empty coffee cup. "Only a little bit." 
“Okay then! I’ll go get us some food!” Jack announced, jumping up and starting to think of a plan. Walking around the coffee table in an exaggerated 'cowboy' walk to make Charlie laugh. 
“Don’t be stupid. Just watch the movie with me.”
“Seen it.” Jack shrugged - he figured that once you’d seen one old cowboy movie you’d seen them all.
“Jack, don’t go. Just stay here”
Jack grabbed his baseball cap and pulled it down low on his head. Grinning and winking at his brother.
“Jack!”
“I’ll be back later. I’ll bring some good stuff. You stay here. I’ll get us some food, we gotta have snacks for watching more movies. Any requests?”
“I don’t…”
“Kid. Everything will be fine.” Jack promised “Stay here, okay? I’ll be back soon.” 
“...Promise.” Charlie nodded.
“Promise.” Jack agreed.
Jack left before anything else could be said and headed in the direction of the convenience store he had taken a few things from the previous week. He hadn’t been caught...or at least not by the shop owner - everything would be fine.

Jack quietly walked into the store - keeping his head down he quickly made his way around, helping himself to a few things.
He had enough change in his pocket for a pack of gum so when he had filled his coat pockets with a couple of sandwiches and some candy bars and anything else he could fit he made his way to the checkout and placed down the single packet of gum and the coins.
"Thanks." he said before making his way out. 
The store owner looked at him suspiciously and Jack started to walk more quickly. 
“Hey…!”
That was all Jack could hear before he was bolting out of the shop and running as fast as he could. Running whether he was being chased or not. He ran until he was out of breath, leaning against the wall of some random alleyway where he let himself crumple down to the floor and then kicked out at a dustbin in frustration. He was exhausted and he knew that this wasn't a normal way to live. 
He was sixteen. He had a fourteen year old little brother depending on him and he was hungry.
He opened one of the chocolate bars he’d taken and ate it in a few quick bites. Instantly regretting his decision, he stood up and threw up in the dustbin he’d just been kicking.
He wiped at his face and then began a slow walk back to the apartment, feeling miserable and swearing to himself when it started to rain.
At least he knew he could get some sleep tonight and wouldn’t be forced to go on any jobs with Morris and Oscar. He had enough food in his pockets to tide them over a few days and he could use the time to make a proper plan. That nice teacher, Ms Medda...She kept all kinds of stuff in her classroom; snacks, clothes, deodorants. Kids were allowed to help themselves. Stupid. Next week Jack would take the lot for him and Charlie.  

Jack jumped in fright and started running when a car pulled up beside him.
“JACK KELLY!” called a familiar voice as a car drove along, slowing down to match his pace. 
Jack kept his head down and carried on running.
“Hey! Jack! It’s me. Race!” Racetrack Higgins said, sticking his head out of the window and smiling nervously at the boy on the sidewalk, clearly in distress.
Seeing that it was Race seemed to break Jack out of whatever fearful trance he was in and he slowed down and finally stopped. Staring at the car.
Race opened the door, he was sitting in the backseat and David Jacobs was with him. Of course, Ms Medda was driving.
Medda looked at him with concern.
“Do you need a lift, sweetheart?” she called after Jack who had started walking again.
“No.” Jack hummed. He was out of breath and felt ill; a lift would be good but he didn’t have any money.
Race had already stepped out of the car and reluctantly David Jacobs followed after him, Keeping hold of his friends arm as if expecting Race to run after Jack if Jack started to run again.
Sensing they were following him, Jack turned around.
“What do you want?” he demanded. Folding his arms across his chest defensively.
“I just got finished with a dance class.” Race smiled, bouncing up and down on his feet happily as if this were a completely normal interaction.
Jack stared at him for a moment, figuring out if Race was making fun of him or not. He smiled at Race's earnest face. 
“You dance?” Jack asked, the question directed to David.
“...Me?” David asked in surprise “Oh! No. No, Race and Ms Medda were just picking me up.”
“We’re having a sleepover.” Race answered before Jack could ask.
“Oh.”
“You want a lift?” Race asked again, pointing at the car and Jack nodded.
“If it’s no trouble.”
“You okay?” David asked Jack as the three boys walked back to the car.
Jack didn’t trust himself to answer.
Race climbed into the front seat beside Medda and Jack climbed into the back and sat beside David. They smiled awkwardly at each other.
“Jack! I didn’t know you and David both live near here?” Race chatted "Maybe we can all hang out after school? David could walk with you in the morning when he’s not looking after Les. Do you know Les? What are you doing out in the rain?”
“Slow it down, darling.” Ms Medda told Race gently as she looked back at the boys sitting in the backseat.
They drove in silence for a short while.
“I live just round the corner. Where do you live?” David asked quietly.
Jack nodded, allowing himself to smile at David again then pointing in the vague direction of the apartment.
“We don’t have to drop you off at home, you can come with us.” Race stated; he was a lot calmer now and somehow he gave Jack a knowing look. Jack stared out of the window. He felt like he was going to be caught out.
“You could just drive me to the end of the street. Please.” he asked.
“Of course, Jack.” Medda said, keeping the drive slow and glancing back in the mirror at how the boy was acting. “However, we are going out for dinner. My treat.” she announced with a raised eyebrow. “Want to come with us? We’d love your company.”
“Why?” was the first thing Jack said in disbelief. No one but Charlie ever wanted his company. 
But he liked David and Race - from what he knew of them during his time at school so far. They were nice to him in Drama and Math classes. Race was hysterically funny during math when he got bored; and that was often, but he seemed really smart too.
David was a lot quieter but had a way of making Jack feel like he wasn’t stupid when so much of the time Jack did feel stupid.
He reluctantly shook his head.
“I can’t…I gotta get home to my little brother…”
“Bring him along!” Medda smiled - as if it was no trouble at all.
“Well if you’re sure…”
“Course she’s sure! Mama’s the best.” Race said, practically shaking with pride.
It was no secret that Ms Medda was Race’s Mom: He talked about it a lot - Mama this and Mama that...Jack thought it was kind of weird.
But then he thought about his dad all the time.
If you have a good mom or dad then it’s probably good to talk about them.
Jack wondered if Davey had a good mom or dad, if he was less shy maybe he would talk about it. 
“Okay.” Jack hummed. Directing them to the road of Wiesel’s apartment. “If you wait here, I’ll go get him. Be a few minutes.”

Jack left the car, part of him expecting them to drive away. When they didn't he ran to the apartment to get Crutchie.
He flung the food he had taken from the convenience store into the fridge then went to the couch where Charlie was napping.
“Hey, wake up kid!” Jack smiled.
“Wha? What is it?” Charlie asked, waking up right away.
“Come on. We’s goin’ out for dinner.”
“Really?!” Charlie smiled, jumping up with impressive speed.  "Is this a joke…” he suddenly asked, looking at his brother suspiciously. “...Jack, is this a joke?” he asked, trying to hide any disappointment.
“Hey! Would I let you down?” Jack asked - the question he so often asked Charlie.
“No way.” his little brother replied.
“That’s right. Come on. We’ve got friends waiting.” Jack smiled, grabbing Charlie’s jacket and baseball cap - shoving the hat on the kids head - then starting to walk with him out of the apartment.

Chapter 5: Sometimes there’s nothing to eat

The menu at the restaurant Jacobis, was overwhelming.
Jack and Charlie stared at the long list of food and glanced at each other.
Jack tapped his foot anxiously, the words on the page muddled together until they didn’t look like words at all. He glanced at the pictures on the menu and around at the other tables to see what food they were having. 
“You boys can get whatever you want.” Medda smiled around the table.
Race and Davey nodded, looking fairly comfortable and happy - not needing to look at the menu because they had been there before. 
Charlie was looking at the menu by himself now Jack had given up looking;
“Can we get…fries?” he asked cautiously.
“They do fries.” Charlie told his brother reassuringly, pointing to the menu to show Jack, who squinted at it for a moment and moved his head as if he was reading and then nodded.
"Yeah. Can we get some fries please." 
Medda glanced between the brothers. Jack was doing a good job pretending to have read the menu and most people wouldn’t have noticed his act but years as a teacher, her intuition as she watched him and the knowledge that the young man had skipped most of his classes that involved anything that might involve reading and writing added to a picture building up in her head of the boy that went by the name Jack Kelly.
“Can David and I share a pizza like always?” Race asked.
“Of course you can, darling.” She told Race with a nod.
“....Could we get a pizza too? Just a plain one. Please.” Charlie asked.
“Pizza does sound good.” Medda laughed.
“I’ll share it." Charlie told the table.
“Anything else?” Medda checked. 
Still overwhelmed by the amount of choice, Charlie looked through the menu. He figured out that he could be quite a fussy eater sometimes - he didn't know what he liked and didn't like. He didn't want to risk ordering something he wouldn't eat but he didn’t want to miss out on the chance of a good meal.
“Charlie likes plain pasta, just with some butter.” Jack mumbled uncertainly. “Could we have some of that?”
“We usually get a side of mac and cheese to share, too.” David said helpfully.
“And maybe some chicken nuggets?” Race added.
Medda really smiled now, reaching out to take hold of Race’s hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.
A waiter arrived and Medda ordered the food as well as water for the table and a glass of lemonade for everyone.
“Thank you!” Charlie grinned, excitedly wiggling around in his seat once the food was ordered. 
Race was playing some game on his phone and David was smiling sort of awkwardly at Jack, who smiled back.
After a look from Medda, Race put his phone back into his pocket and grinned around at his friends.
“This is like a party.” he commented.
“Yeah!” Charlie said enthusiastically.
“Have you boys got plans for the weekend?” Medda asked Jack and Charlie, nodding a thank you as a waiter came along with their drinks on a tray that he placed in the centre of the table.
Jack grabbed a straw and put it into charlies’ cup of lemonade - making sure his younger brother had a good hold on the cup so he wouldn’t drop it.
“You got it?”
“Yeah. Thanks Jack!”
Race was already gulping down a glass of water like he was dying of thirst and David smiled as he tapped his friend on the shoulder like some kind of reminder between them, Race put down his cup and chuckled.
“Sorry. I forgot my water bottle at dance.” he mumbled.
Medda chuckled too and grabbed a straw, placing it into her son's lemonade and pushing it towards him.
“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s good to stay hydrated. Maybe not all in one sudden go though!” she teased kindly.
Racetrack pulled a face as he took a small sip of lemonade then grabbed a sugar packet from the little box in the middle of the tray and added it to his drink.
Charlie watched him and then did the same. Smiling as he sipped at the newly sweetened drink. 
“So. Weekend plans?” Medda asked again.
When no one answered, David spoke up.
“Well. I’m staying over at Race’s tonight." he shrugged, knowing that Medda and Race knew his weekend plans but talking anyway, "Usually I wouldn’t…not on a Friday night…but things being the way they are…well. It’s good to be with a friend.” he smiled.
Jack narrowed his eyes- there was a full story there that he didn’t have yet and he didn’t really know David well enough to ask.
But David told, without being asked: “My Dad got hurt at work…messed up his leg pretty bad…He’s gonna be okay!” he added quickly when he saw that Jack and Charlie’s eyes were wide with alarm.
The brothers seemed to let out a breath and moved to sit a little closer to each other. Jack put his arm around Charlie’s shoulders.
“He’s going to be okay but he’s in hospital just now. My sister -”
“Sarah.” Race added helpfully.
“...And my little brother, Lesham.”
“Les.” Race rolled his eyes.
“They’re staying with Kath…That’s Sarah’s girlfriend. I could have stayed with them over the weekend but Race invited me and well. Everyone said it was all okay.”
"I have bunk beds.” Race added helpfully
"So do we." Charlie commented, adding some sugar packets to Jack's lemonade.
“We have another guest room too. If you guys want to stay over too but we could probably all fit into my room if we wanted to stay up all night.” Race said thoughtfully, chewing on his straw.
Charlie glanced at Jack and smiled.
Jack smiled too. “Maybe…I mean. We don’t got no plans.”
“So long as it’s no trouble?” Charlie asked quietly, glancing uncertainly at Ms Medda.
“Boys. You’re welcome any time!” she said happily.

The boys fell into quiet conversation.
Race had taken his phone out again - only he was taking photos and selfies with his friends - and this somehow loopholed Medda’s rule of no phones at the table. Race grinned triumphantly as he took a photo with her.
"I got you, mama!" he laughed, his voice sweet as he laughed when she pulled him into a hug. He hugged her back with no sign of embarrassment. 
“Hey. I think this is our food coming.” he said a while later and they all went quiet as the food was carried over to the table.
“Take a picture!” Jack asked Race. Putting his arm around Charlie and David. All of them grinning around a table full of food.
The waiter saw this and offered to take some photos of all of them. Race handed over his phone and Jack quietly worried the waiter might steal it but he didn’t; he just took a bunch of photos and then handed it back.
“Great! Thank you!” Race smiled, quickly looking through some of them. Laughing at a few - “I’ll send these to you later.” he told Jack.
Jack didn’t even think to mention that neither he nor Charlie had a phone so there was no way to send the photos.
“Time to eat now, boys.” Medda said gently.

They ate quietly for a while. Working their way through and sharing the many plates of food they had ordered.
Eventually it was just Jack and Charlie eating. Seemingly determined to finish all the food.
Charlie was clinging to his bowl of pasta, still smiling as he continued to force himself to eat mouthfuls even though he was slowing down.
Jack was eating the last of the fries, his eyes fixed on the slices of pizza that remained on the plate in the middle of the table. Could they ask to take it home? Probably not, Ms Medda was paying the bill so she and Race would surely be the ones to take any leftovers home. 
Race was playing on his phone again and Davey was watching Jack and Charlie with curiosity while Medda sorted out paying the bill.
“You don’t have to finish everything, kids.” Medda pointed out with a look of concern.
“But we’s hungry.” Charlie stated with his mouth full. “I want this to last the weekend. This has been the best!”
Jack gave his brother a warning glance, thinking; STOP TALKING CHARLIE.
The younger brother paid no heed and continued to shovel pasta into his mouth as if he’d been told it was his last meal. And as he stuffed his face he continued to chat away as if they couldn't get in any trouble.
Race was looking up at them now too. Davey’s smile had faded and a heavy feeling settled around the table.
Jack grabbed Charlie's crutch from where they had put it under the table In case they had to leave quickly. 
“Why on earth…?” their teacher started to ask.
“Sometimes there’s nothing to eat.” The youngest boy said simply.

Notes:

Please let me know what you think! Comments help me to keep writing !

Chapter 6: I think we should stay

“We should get going.” Jack mumbled, standing up from the table and grabbing Charlie’s arm, holding his brother's crutch in his other hand, he practically started to pull Charlie out of his seat.
“What? No! I ain’t finished.” Charlie complained but his eyes widened as he looked looked to his brothers face. He shoved one more handful of now cold fries into his mouth and stood with Jack’s help then together they stepped out of the booth.
“Boys there’s no need to leave…” Ms Medda told them.
Race was clinging to his mothers hand and she gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Thank’s for the grub.” Charlie smiled awkwardly with a nod of his head. 
“Yeah, we’s grateful.” Jack nodded, making sure Charlie had his balance and then beginning to lead the way out of the restaurant. Charlie hopped along after him. 
Race was the first to jump up to follow them.
“Hey! Where you going?”
“There’s no need to leave.” Medda repeated, standing up to follow them too.
Within minutes they were all outside.
Medda, Race and Davey were following Crutchie and Jack; Who both seemed determined to ignore them just as Jack had been doing before.
“Woah, slow down a second Jacky.” Charlie mumbled, wobbling slightly on the slippery ground as rain continued to fall. 
Jack stopped and took some steps back to meet Charlie, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders protectively.
"I've got you." Jack promised, "Come on let's go." 
“You don’t gotta just run off?” Race frowned, quickly catching up to them.
Davey joined them - he was out of breath but he nodded in agreement. “...Are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine.” Jack answered quickly.
Medda was with them now, too. With something of a knowing look in her eye.
Race grabbed hold of her hand and Jack frowned. Race acted like a little kid.
Davey was leaning over, still trying to catch his breath, not expecting to have been chasing after their new friends so soon after dinner.
“....Are you boys going to tell us what’s going on?” Medda asked.
Jack was ready to argue, to run or lie.
But the way she asked and the way she looked at them…she looked so kind. She seemed to genuinely care what was going on. Before Jack could explain, tears were rolling down his cheeks and he hugged Charlie to him.
“Do we tell her? Jack?” Charlie asked quietly, crying too.

---

Jack and Charlie sat at the kitchen table in Medda Larkin’s home.
As soon as they got inside Medda had asked Race and Davey to head to the living room or to Race’s bedroom.
Race seemed like he was going to protest at first but he grabbed Davey’s arm and they marched away while Race was mumbling about deciding on a movie to watch. 
The apartment was large and comfortably lived in. The floors were wooden and the ceiling’s high. It was warm inside too. Something Jack and Charlie weren't really used to.
Though anxious and worried about what was going on, Jack was curious to see the rest of the place.
Medda bustled about the kitchen, getting cups of water for Jack and Charlie and offering tea.
When Jack and Charlie shook their heads no, she made herself a cup of coffee, humming to herself as she did so.
Jack noticed that the fridge was covered in magnets with logos of Broadway shows - holding up playbills and drawings - likely done by Race and polaroid and printed out photographs.
Finally Medda sat at the table, opposite the brothers.
“How we doing?” she asked softly.
Jack wiped his eyes with his sleeve, embarrassed for crying earlier.
Medda subtly pushed a box of tissues across the table towards him.
On the relatively short journey back to Medda and Race’s - Jack and Charlie had tearfully told the whole disjointed story - everything leading up to the day Medda had first met Jack, when she saw him stealing from the convenience store.
“I know there’s things I’m missing from the story.” Medda told them, taking a sip of her coffee. “I know there’s some things you haven’t told me…maybe you don’t want to talk about.”she said with understanding. 
Jack and Charlie nodded reluctantly.
“But this foster family you’re with right now? They don’t treat you right….do they?” she stated.
“I only got the black eye because I was an idiot….” Jack began to protest but then he stopped himself. Looking down at the table. Then looking at Charlie, who in his mind was sometimes still a chubby little baby; but now he was a scrawny fourteen-year old. That never got enough to eat. Or Clothes that fit him right, or a proper warm bath. Jack knew they both looked and probably smelled pretty bad. That Charlie needed hospital appointments and he probably did too. 
He thought about it all.
What if it had been Charlie that got hit? Charlie with a black eye?
What if Jack hadn’t been stealing food?
What if the Delancey’s did something or made them do something bad?
“...It’s not the worst place.” Charlie whispered tearfully. “At least we’s together. We gotta stay together.”
“We’ve been separated before.” Jack explained, taking tissue and began scrunching it up in his hand like a stress ball.
“Even when we were little kids…even though they’re supposed to keep little kids together.” Charlie said bitterly. Then a sob spilled out of him and Jack hugged him. 
"We used to live with our Mama and Dad." Jack explained, holding Charlie as the younger boy cried.
"Then Mama died." Charlie whispered.
"Dad..." Jack sighed "He was so sad after Mama died but he was a good Dad. He worked so hard for us. I don't care what no social workers or judges say. So he went to jail a few times? Only ever because he was tryin' to feed us. Cops take one look and arrest guys like my dad. And me." he said, looking to Medda, who nodded in understanding. 
"Our Dad was a great Dad." Charlie smiled, leaning over to hug his brother. "Remember his stories Jackie?" 
"Yeah." Jack couldn't help but grin a little. "Our Mom was real good too." 
Charlie nodded though he couldn't tell if what he did remember of their mom were true memories or pictures that Jack had painted in his head. But they were beautiful pictures. Pictures of a time when things were okay and Charlie missed it. 
"When I was near ten and Charlie was seven....Since then..." 
"It's just been us." Charlie finished. 
They were quiet. Not a single word to describe how life was. Because sometimes, the living was sweet. They found moments of happiness. But it always felt so fragile. So unstable. 
“I been to the refuge. When I was fourteen…” Jack finally mumbled, combing Crutchie's lighter hair with his hand, then ruffling it back up. 
“I been in group homes.” Charlie nodded with a shiver "and specialist foster placements. Kind of like hospital. Where they should know how to look after..." he shrugged and vaguely pointed to his crutch that was lying on the floor. "...Kids like me." 
"Kids like me and Charlie. We don't get treated fair." Jack scowled. 
Medda didn't respond, knowing it to be true and knowing that it was important for both boys to express exactly how they were feeling. 
“Seems to me…Miss Medda,” Jack continued, angry now “Me and Charlie cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people…but no one care’s about us. But we got each other. So whatever….this is?” He shrugged, pointing around at the apartment. "We appreciate your concern but we don’t want or need help from you.”
“We’re no charity cases.” Charlie nodded “...Thanks for the food though.” the younger boy quickly added. 
“Yeah.” Jack mumbled. Truthfully feeling quite sick from all he had to eat.
Jack and Charlie smiled to each other again. 
“In two years I’ll age out.” Jack continued, “Then Me and Charlie will get our own place. Then nothing bad will ever happen to us again.” Jack said with determination.
Charlie looked at his brother and  gave his lopsided grin. The childish part of him still believing in Jack’s dreams of Santa Fe.
Jack grinned too, proud of his little speech. 

Medda listened and let them speak. Grateful that somehow they had agreed to come back with her and Race and David.
“So. Where are your foster parents right now?” Medda asked gently, like she could spook them with any words.
She saw now that Jack had more bruises over him than just the black eye - there were scrapes and scars too and she noticed how he moved his shoulder uncomfortably sometimes - He held it in a way that made it seem like perhaps it had been broken before.
Charlie too, looked in a bad way. Not as many bruises as Jack but the children sitting in front of her were not well cared for.
Her heart ached as she remembered Racetrack at eleven years old.
“It’s only Mr Wiesel.” Crutchie mumbled with a shrug. “No one wanted to take us.”
“And his nephews the Delancey’s…Oscar and Morris. They stay at the apartment most of the time. They’re older. Like…20 or something. They’re all away.” Jack mumbled - sort of glad that Weasel hadn’t told him where they were or what they were doing.
"Wiesel don't hit us." Charlie added "But the Delancey's do. They make Jack steal stuff too. And do bad stuff for him." 
"They hit you?" Jack asked with a frown, not concerned about anything else. 
"Only a couple times." Charlie shrugged. "They liked tripping me up and pushing me around more. But they was worse to Jack." 
"I'm fine I can handle it." Jack mumbled. 
The two were talking now, seemingly forgetting all about Medda. 
“You know when they will be back?” Medda asked, finishing her coffee and getting up to make herself another.
“Sunday night at the earliest.” Jack shrugged. Watching her move around the kitchen.
Medda grabbed two mugs. One of the mug had pictures of musical notes and the other had a picture of a red race car with “LIGHTNING McQUEEN!” written on it.
“Too late for coffee but I’m making Antonio and David hot chocolates if you boys want one?” 
Jack glanced at Charlie’s hopeful face.
“Maybe…yeah. Please.” Jack nodded.

While Medda was making hot chocolate, as if summoned, Race and Davey walked into the kitchen.
All of them went through to the living room and Jack sat on a comfortable couch beside Charlie both holding mugs of hot chocolate.
Charlie’s mug had a picture of Mickey Mouse on it and Jack’s mug matched Davey’s; decorated with pictures of musical notes.
David Sat on an armchair, sipping at his hot chocolate. Glancing over at Jack and Charlie.
Racetrack was leaning over the coffee table slurping his hot chocolate from the Cars cup.
Medda sat in her own armchair and sipped coffee from a mug that said “THANK YOU TEACHER”
“So what’s the plan, Mama?” Race asked. "Can we keep them?"
Medda chuckled and Davey rolled his eyes.
“What actually is going on?” Davey asked.
“Don’t ask me.” Jack shrugged, but he offered Davey a smile. The first time he had properly smiled since getting to the apartment.
“You boys.” Medda said softly, nodding to Jack and Charlie “Are staying the night.”
“Yesss!” Race grinned, reaching out his hand so Jack would give him a high five.
Davey smiled.
After a moment's thought, Jack high fived Race.
Charlie gave Race a high five a lot more enthusiastically and looked at Medda “...Then what?” he asked.
“Then. Tomorrow, we will go to the place you’ve been staying and pack your things. I’ll call your social worker.”
“No.” Jack said. Putting his hot chocolate down on the coffee table, the warm and hopeful feeling that had been building instantly drained away.
“Jack…” Medda tried to explain.
“No!” he snapped “We’ve heard all this before…don’t you get that? You think you’re helping but you ain’t!”
“Mama is helping.” Race said defensively. Jack ignored him and continued to shout.
“They’ll just put us in some random group home. Or split us up!”
“I ain’t being split up from Jack.” Charlie frowned. Grabbing Jack’s arm and holding onto him.
“Jack, it’s okay that you’re angry.” Medda told him and her words made him furious.
“Okay that I’m angry?!” he spat “Who the fuck are you?”
“....Jack.” Medda said calmly. Remaining seated as the boy stood up.
Race stood too and Medda held out her arm as if to stop Race going for Jack. But Race just ran to her like he did when he was a little boy.
Charlie looked at the mother and son curiously. 
Davey observed the scene around him.
“...Or we get put in the refuge.” Jack said solemnly. His anger gone, replaced with a fearful tiredness.
“The refuge?” asked Davey.
“Jack, don’t.” Crutchie mumbled, shaking his head.
“It’s like a prison for kids.” Jack shrugged, shivering as he tried not to think of the months he spent there when he was fifteen - where he had spent his sixteenth birthday until he was finally released and finally got to see his baby brother again. That’s when Weasel had taken them both in.
Now they were here.
“You won’t be going to the Refuge.” Medda said clearly. She was still hugging Race who seemed so small, cuddled in her arms.
“I’ll talk to your social worker….Tonight.” she announced “I’ll take you in for emergency respite care.”
“What?” Jack frowned, as if suddenly hearing what she was saying.
“We’re going to get your things and then you can stay here.”
“Really? You can just do that?” Charlie asked sceptically.
“Not everyone can. But I’m qualified to do that.”
“How?!” Jack asked, confused. Sitting back down on the couch.
“...I’m adopted.” Race mumbled.
“You are?” Jack asked with surprise. And he looked at Medda and Race sitting together on the chair. They looked like a family to him. And the way Race spoke about his Mama…
“Yeah!” Race nodded, half laughing. “She adopted me when I was twelve.”
That was only three years ago, Jack thought. 
“...I didn’t know.” Jack mumbled awkwardly. Sipping at his now cold hot chocolate and glancing around at the framed photos in the room that were resting on the surfaces and proudly hanging on the wall in-between framed Broadway play and musical posters that decorated the walls. Some of photos showed a younger Antonio staring up at the camera and some were of Medda and Race smiling together, outside Broadway shows, dancing together. Some of Races's school photos. The more recent photographs showed the confident, sassy and dramatic dancing boy that Jack was getting to know. There were no baby pictures. 
“Well, we don’t exactly look alike.” Race grinned, hugging Medda.
“I don’t know much about family.” Jack admitted with a shrug, putting his arm around Charlie. The two brothers didn't look very much alike at all.
Jack suddenly felt a surge of guilt that he was the only family that his little brother had.
“Don’t take much to be a family.” Charlie spoke up.
“So it’s allowed? Jack and Charlie can stay?” David asked. Noticing that Jack looked very anxious.
“Yes. I need to make some calls…but yes.” Medda nodded.
“Then what? We stay here a few nights until you find some group home to dump us in?” Jack told her - the anger in his voice a little forced. He was suddenly exhausted.
“Jack.” Medda told him seriously. “You said so yourself; In two years, you’ll age out. You and…Crutchie….” she said the nickname uncertainly.
“That’s okay!” Charlie beamed. “You’s can all call me Crutchie. My pals call me Crutchie.” he smiled.
“You and Crutchie can get your own place then, if that’s what you want but until then, you both deserve a safe place to call home. Where you can be kids….”
“I ain’t a kid.” Jack told her with another frown.
“...I know, Sweetheart.” Medda said softly.
Race had left her arms now and was squeezed up next to Davey on one of the armchairs.
“Jack…” David said softly.
“Yeah?”
“Medda and Race are good people.” David mumbled. “Since my Dad got hurt…and my Mom’s been so busy at the hospital…there’s my sister and my little brother…” he was rambling but Jack watched and listened as David spoke. “I’ve been staying here most weekends for the last three months. Sarah and Lesham have stayed too, sometimes. It’s…I think it would be good if you stayed.”
Race smiled and hugged David.
Medda looked grateful for Davey’s words.
“...What do you think, Crutch?” Jack asked his brother.
Jack needed to know what Crutchie wanted to do most of all.
“....I think we should stay.” Charlie nodded. Squeezing Jack’s hand.
Jack nodded; “...Okay.”

Chapter 7: In the morning

Jack jolted awake with a cry, looking around frantically in the dark room. Then he saw Crutchie was curled up beside him on the top bunk: They were in the guest bedroom at Ms Larkin’s house.
“Jack?” Charlie whispered, blinking at his brother in the early morning light.
“It’s…It’s not morning yet. Go back to sleep.” Jack told his brother.
“Did you have a nightmare about the refuge again?” Charlie whispered.
“...Yeah.” Jack admitted reluctantly.
Charlie struggled for a moment to sit himself up,
“You’s not there, Jack. You’re at Miss Medda’s house, with me!” 
Jack rolled his eyes.
“I ain’t stupid, Charles.”
Charlie stuck his tongue out at that name and began making moves to climb down from the top bunk.
“Be a pal, Jack. Help me down.” He said, as he often asked. Even though he was confident with climbing, Charlie still liked the comfort and security of Jack being there to help him. 
Jack sighed and grabbed Charlie’s hand to lower him down to the ground.
“Don’t know what you think you’re doin’ getting out of bed. It’s still early.”
“Gotta pee.” Charlie announced, grabbing his crutch he began walking to the en suite bathroom. He opened the door wide and turned on the light, laughing loudly when Jack groaned tiredly, turned away and pulled the covers over his head.
When Charlie closed the door, Jack jumped down to lie on the bottom bunk so that it would be easier for Charlie to climb back into bed next to him when he was done using the bathroom.
Jack waited for Charlie - listening in case he called out for him.
A few minutes later Charlie walked slowly back over to the bed and climbed next to jack.
“You didn’t wash your fucking hands!” Jack rolled his eyes.
Charlie grinned and held his hand out towards Jack’s face - laughing as he moved his hand closer and closer, then squealing hysterically when Jack grabbed Charlie and started dragging him to the bathroom.
Jack was laughing too now, he lifted Charlie up easily and carried him to the sink. 
Charlie started washing his hands then gave a sly grin before he started splashing water at Jack.
“Right that’s it!” Jack smiled, he grabbed Charlie again and started carrying him back through to the bedroom where they collapsed onto the floor laughing.
They immediately stopped when there was a knock at the door.
“Boys? Are you fighting?” Came the voice of Ms Medda Larkin.
They were frozen. They lay still on the floor, Charlie was holding tightly to Jack’s arm.
“May I come in?” Ms Larkin asked.
“...Sure.” Jack called out weakly. He stood up and held his hand out to help Charlie stand. They both looked at the floor.
“We…We was only playing. It weren’t real fighting.” Charlie whispered quickly. Jack was standing slightly in front of his brother, his fists clenched.
“You aren’t in trouble.” Ms Larkin told them quickly. I just heard noises and worried you were fighting.”
“Only play fighting.” Charlie mumbled again.
“Yeah. Sorry.” Jack nodded.
“We’ll go right back to bed.” Charlie told her, giving her a nervous grin before starting to hop back towards the bunkbeds.
“You don’t have to. You can go back to sleep of course but if you want to you can go to the living room and watch some TV, that’s fine. Or I can get you some breakfast. David is already awake.” she let them know.
“He is?” Jack asked, surprised. “What time is it?”
“Not long after seven, Saturday morning!” Medda smiled.
“Why’s he awake?” Jack frowned.
“...Can we have breakfast?” Charlie asked.
Medda nodded with a smile and Charlie smiled back and happily started rushing to the kitchen. Jack smiled fondly at his little brother who was running like a baby deer.
"Come on, I'll get you some breakfast." Ms Medda told Jack gently, walking out of the room. Jack followed quietly after her.

David was sitting at the kitchen table, a bowl of cereal in front of him. He was looking at his phone but looked up and gave a slight smile when Medda, Jack and Charlie walked in.
“Morning.” David greeted them quietly.
“Hi!” Charlie smiled, sitting beside him and looking at the half eaten bowl of cereal that David was ignoring.
“You eatin’ that?” Charlie asked.
Jack took a seat opposite David, keeping his eye on Medda who was bustling around the kitchen, grabbing mugs from one of the cupboards.
“You all fancy hot chocolates again? Or I can do tea or coffee...I think there’s some juice in the fridge.”
“Coffee would be amazing, thank you Ms Larkin.” David smiled. 
“I said! Are you eatin’ that.” Charlie sighed impatiently, pointing to the bowl.
“Oh…no. I’m full.” David said absent mindedly, glancing at the cereal as if he’d forgotten that it was there “It’s all soggy now anyway.”
“Not a problem!” Charlie smiled, grabbing the bowl and pulling it towards him.
Suddenly Medda was by the table, placing the empty mugs down, but she grabbed the bowl of old cereal.
"Hey!" Charlie complained. 
“Oh no, Baby. I can get you some new cereal.” Medda told him quickly taking the bowl over to the sink.
“...But that would have been fine!” Charlie frowned. His eyes wide, he looked like he was about to cry, “Please Ms Medda. Please give that back” Charlie asked, holding his hands out for the bowl.
“No.” Medda told him, “I’m getting you a fresh bowl, Charlie. And while I appreciate manners…” she smiled, a sad and distant look in her eyes, “You don’t have to say anything or do anything to ‘deserve’ your food. Okay? You don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll make sure you always have enough to eat here.”
Charlie and Jack both looked sceptical.
Jack raised his eyebrows and Charlie frowned slightly. 
Medda just smiled and grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge and the box of cheerios from the cupboard and put them on the table
"Help yourselves." she told them as she put bowls and spoons out in front of them and left them to it before going to make a pot of coffee for the table.
All the while she was humming and singing to herself, almost dancing around the kitchen.
David watched the other boys curiously, occasionally glancing at his phone. He was checking for texts.
Jack and Charlie still looked bewildered until slowly, Jack reached out for the box of cheerios and poured out a bowl each for crutchie and himself.
After a few minutes they were smiling and beginning to chat, helping themselves to more cereal and nodding in thanks to Medda who gave them both a glass of orange juice and Jack a cup of coffee when he quietly asked.
Finally Medda sat down next to Jack and started to drink her own cup of coffee.
Not long after that, Race joined them. 
While Davey was dressed in clean clothes and Jack and Charlie were wearing their clothes from yesterday- that they had slept in, Race was wearing a baggy Drama Club T-shirt and pyjama shorts with a pattern of rainbows and unicorns. 
"Morning everyone." he smiled, sitting down at the head of the table in the seat closest to Medda that wasn't where Jack was sitting. 
"Morning Darling." Medda smiled, getting a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice for Race and placing them in front of him. 
"You've got milkshakes in the fridge if you want one of those instead." Medda told him quietly. 
Race nodded and grabbed his spoon, beginning to eat his cereal. 
They all ate together. Quiet but comfortable. 
“Any news about your Dad, David?” Medda asked.
Jack realised that must be the reason that Davey was awake so early.
David took a sip of his coffee.
“No. But Lesham called me three times in the night.” he sighed, looking both annoyed and sad. “He does the same when he’s here with me. He’ll just call Sarah and Kath whenever I let him play on my phone.…” David shrugged. “He calls Mama and wants to talk to Dad. He just doesn’t get it. Dad can’t just talk to him on the phone he’s…!” Davey was getting louder and more angry as he spoke but then he seemed to catch himself. He took a breath and sighed. “...He’s only seven. He’s just a kid.” David said softly. “...He doesn’t understand.”
“It’s tough for all you kids.” Medda said kindly, reaching out a hand and patting David’s arm.
"Maybe Les and Sarah can stay next week." Race commented. "Would that be allowed if we have Jack and Crutchie too?" 
"Don't you worry. You know I can make things work." Medda said softly. 
“Your Dad’s hurt that bad?” Jack asked David.
“...yeah.” David whispered looking into his coffee cup, “The doctors had to put him into a medically induced coma to help his body deal with the trauma. He lost a lot of blood. Maybe he’ll lose his leg. He’s okay. He’s going to wake up and everything but it’s just…It’s just a lot right now.”
“I’m sorry.” Jack said earnestly. Copying Medda, he reached out and held onto David’s arm in what he hoped was a comforting way.
Keen to change the subject, Davey glanced over at Crutchie who was helping himself to another bowl of cheerios.
“How’s the cereal?” David smiled.
“...Cereal tastes better with milk. We usually just have it with water.” Charlie hummed with his mouthful.

Chapter 8: Apple Jacks

Medda drove Jack and Charlie to Mr Wiesel’s apartment on Saturday afternoon.
“You boys just pack all you can - anything else we can collect another time.” she told them as she parked the car.
“We won’t need to make two trips. We don’t got enough stuff.” Jack told her, an edge to his voice. He was anxious. He was sitting in the back seat with Charlie -Race and Davey had stayed behind at Medda’s.
“Well then. We’ll get you some new things.” Medda smiled. “I’ll come up with you.” she told them, getting out of the car. 
Jack nodded slightly, helping Charlie unbuckle his seat belt and then getting out of the car himself. He knew that Ms Larkin wanted to take a look inside the apartment.
Jack and Charlie could still hardly believe the situation they were in: Ms Larkin had promised them that she was going to take care of things and somehow, despite everything that had happened in their past, they believed her.
She had spent most of Friday night on the phone and once they had finished breakfast - she spent the rest of Saturday morning speaking on the phone and emailing until now it was official: Jack and Charlie were going to be staying with her for a trial period of six weeks and then there would be a further review into the boys situation.
“Will Mr Wiesel be mad at us? For leaving?” Charlie asked as he shoved the few clothes he owned into his backpack.
Medda was looking around the apartment, discreetly taking photos with her phone: the empty cupboards, the stark bedroom that the boys had been living in. 
“Who cares? We never have to see Weasel, Oscar or Morris ever again.” Jack smiled but he sighed when he saw Charlie’s face, “You don’t gotta worry, Crutch. They can’t hurt us no more.”
Crutchie sat down on the floor, checking under the bed. He grabbed a grocery bag and Medda recognised it as the one that she had handed to Jack that first time she had met him that rainy night before school started.
“There’s still a few pieces of candy in here.” Charlie announced cheerfully, shoving the bag into his backpack.
Jack pulled up a loose floorboard and took out a shoe box he kept hidden there. It was covered in stickers and tape that held it together, Medda suspected the shoe box held the boys most important treasures.
“Are you boys all packed?” Ms Larkin asked quietly after another five minutes. 
Jack and Charlie stood in the room that had never felt like home, holding onto all of their possessions and nodded.

“What’s going to happen to Mr Wiesel, Oscar and Morris?” Charlie asked once they were back in the car.
Jack bit his lip. Frustrated that Crutchie cared at all about what happened to them. 
“Well. When they get back, Mr Wiesel will be charged with neglect and we’ll make sure no kids are left in his care again.” Ms Medda reasoned.
"Good." Jack nodded.
“Will they get in trouble? For hurting us?” The younger brother asked.
“Possibly. We’ll have to go to the police on Monday…”
“No!” Jack said quickly. Suddenly very anxious.
“Just to file the report and they’ll need evidence of your injuries and you can answer some questions...only if you want to.”
“I ain’t talking to no cops!” Jack spat.
“Me neither!” Crutchie agreed. Crossing his arms over his chest. Copying Jack's expression.
Medda was quiet for a moment and tapped her hands on the steering wheel.
“...What about the hospital?” Medda asked. “And you’ll talk with a social worker not a cop.” she said gently.
“I don’t like hospitals.” Charlie mumbled.
“...Will that help? Going to the hospital?” Jack asked, thinking of Charlie and of his own aches and pains that never seemed to let up. 
“I think so, Jack.” Medda told him honestly.
Jack liked that about her. She didn’t make promises she couldn’t keep and she didn’t lie.
“Okay…But we'll still stay with you and Race?” Jack asked, making sure he understood.
“Of course.” Medda told him.
“Okay then. On Monday.” Jack hummed.
“....Okay then.” Crutchie echoed.

They didn’t go straight back to Medda’s home. She drove them to the supermarket.
“Okay boys, we’re getting a food shop and anything you need!” Medda smiled, getting out of the car and opening the car door for them. 
Charlie started to unbuckle his seatbelt but Jack put his arm out to stop him.
“What’s the catch?” he checked “What do we have to do?” the older boy asked apprehensively.
“No catch. Nothing.” Medda reassured him.
“....Nothing?” Jack looked relieved.
“Well, I expect you to help a little around the house and do your best at school.” Medda smiled “And go to bed at a reasonable time. But you are welcome in my home and I will do my best for you. I needed to get some shopping anyway and if there’s anything you need while we do that then I’m happy to buy it for you.”
“Wow! Thanks.” Charlie grinned, jumping out of the car and beginning to skip towards the store with his crutch, letting his bad leg drag along the ground. Jack jumped out of the car and quickly caught up with his little brother.
Medda got a shopping cart and followed them into the store, quickly checking a list on her phone.
“Alright.” she hummed. “Let’s be quick and get home and make supper. I wonder if Race will be out of his pyjamas by the time we get back.” she chuckled.
“Are you…teasing him?” Charlie asked curiously.
Jack grabbed the shopping cart, wanting to push it, he held out his arms for Charlie and lifted him up, helping the younger kid to sit inside.
Medda watched them with some amusement and nodded.
“Yes, Antonio and I tease each other a lot.” Medda explained “But it's just for fun. You'll see how my boy teases me. But it’s a Saturday. If he wants to stay in his pyjamas all day he can do that.” she chuckled. 

Five minutes later Charlie had climbed back out of the shopping cart in favour of running ahead excitedly. Hardly able to believe that Medda had said they could pick out anything they wanted to eat.
In the breakfast cereal aisle both boys looked up at the many boxes unable to decide.
“Hey look it! That’s your name!” Charlie said, grabbing a box of Apple Jacks and handing them to Jack "Here look...Apple...Jacks." Charlie smiled, placing his finger over the words as he read them out. Jack smiled at his name then glanced at Medda who was looking at him curiously.
"Can we get these?" Jack almost whispered then after she nodded he placed the box in the cart.
“You can choose a box too, Charlie.” Medda smiled.
Charlie hummed thoughtfully before grabbing a box of Cheerios.
“I liked these this morning.”
“Good idea. We need more.” Medda nodded, looking back up at the cereal “We can get another box or two if you want to choose another one each.”
Such a simple thing - but Jack and Charlie didn’t usually have much choice other than eat or go hungry. So to be suddenly with an entire supermarket of food they were a little overwhelmed.
Charlie reached for another box of Cheerios before spying a colourful box of Fruit Loops and pointing to them.
“Can I try these?”
“Of course you can, Baby.” Medda nodded.
Charlie grinned and threw the box into the cart.
Jack decided on a box of Cocoa Puffs and they moved along to the next aisle. They got vegetables, fruit, cookies, juice, milk, all kinds of things!
Ms Medda kept checking her list and occasionally asked one of the boys to grab something for her.
Jack liked pushing the trolley and the feeling of walking around freely and selecting things because he wanted them, not just because he could fit them into his pockets and sneak out.
The supermarket was huge and didn't just sell food so they were able to pick up some essentials; new toothbrushes, towels, washcloths, deodorant. Some new bedclothes, socks, underwear, t-shirts and sweatpants, shorts and pyjamas.
Jack picked out a pair of sneakers that were the right size for him and Charlie got some shoes that looked like Crocs.
“We’ll get you both more things over time. We'll go to the mall and you can pick out what you want.” Medda promised. “But this is just to tide you both over.”
At first Jack felt embarrassed and for some reason angry but he couldn’t remember the last time he had new clothes and Medda made it seem like it was no big deal...she even seemed happy to get them these things.
“Thanks.” Charlie smiled.
“Yeah. Thanks Miss Medda.” Jack smiled too. 

Back at Medda’s apartment, Jack and Crutchie went to the guest room - their room - to change into their new clothes and to put away some of their things.
Charlie pulled off his old T-shirt and threw it in the bin by the desk with a laugh.
Jack grabbed the old, threadbare T-shirt and frowned at his brother.
“You don’t gotta throw it away. You love this shirt.” 
The old shirt was pale yellow with a long since faded picture of a rainbow on it and the name of the Children’s hospital that Charlie had been to when he was little - It was almost too small for Charlie now, really it should have been too small for him by now - it was years old. But once it had been so big that it went down past his knees.
In the old shoe box they kept some of their treasured possessions in, there were some photos. One of the photos was a picture of Charlie and Jack sitting together in a hospital bed after Charlie had an operation. Charlie was wearing the shirt.
Jack folded his brother's old T-shirt carefully and put it on the top bunk of the bunk beds, he wanted to keep it for now.
Then Jack quickly changed, leaving his own old clothes, on the floor.
He grinned at Charlie who had chosen to wear shorts and had pulled his new long sleeved T-shirt over his head in such a hurry that he hadn’t realised it was back to front. 
Jack chuckled and quickly helped him despite his brothers protests.
The brothers looked at each other; their new clothes were slightly too big for them. Charlie's new socks were pulled up as high as they could go and already falling unevenly down his skinny legs. He kept his old baseball cap and was wearing it backwards on his head. He offered Jack a lopsided grin.
Jack smiled back and they went back to the kitchen together where Medda was packing away the groceries.
“You two look great!” she complimented them.
Charlie smiled and whispered a thank-you, Jack nodded. Not sure if he liked the compliment. 
Race was still wearing his Drama club T-shirt but had changed into some leggings and he was helping Medda sort through the groceries. The pair of them made moving look like a dance.
“I’m gonna help Mama make dinner.” Race explained.
“....can I help?” Charlie asked.
“Okay!” Race smiled.
“Where’s David?” Jack asked. Unsure if he should ask Ms Larkin if he needed to help her to unpack everything but it seemed like her and Race had it all organised and he would only get in the way.
“He’s in the living room” Race shrugged. “He’s not helping make dinner.” he explained.
“Oh. Maybe I’ll go hang out with him.” Jack asked.
“You can do whatever you want, sweetheart.” Medda said kindly. “We’ll call you both through when dinner is ready.”
“....Thanks Miss Medda.” Jack smiled, walking towards the living room while Race got a chair for Crutchie to sit on and was already explaining to him what they were making for supper and what they were doing to help.

Jack walked quietly to the living room, expecting to find David watching TV or maybe reading - he seemed the kind of boy that liked to read, Jack thought with curiosity.
Jack wasn’t a big reader himself, he found it too difficult. He figured out he was stupid, needing his little brother to help him sometimes. But he got by and no one could tell that he could hardly read.
Jack was thinking about all this as he walked into the living room. But David wasn’t reading or watching TV, he was sitting in the dark, crying quietly.
“....Davey?” Jack asked softly.

Chapter 9: New Clothes

“...Davey?”
When Jack spoke David jumped in surprise then quickly wiped his tears with his hands.
“Hey.” The crying boy mumbled, his voice breaking as he tried to speak.
“You okay?” Jack asked, going over to sit beside him. “...Your Dad okay?” he asked worriedly.
David nodded and wiped his face with his hand again.
“You got new clothes.”
“Yeah. Ms Medda got them for me.” Jack mumbled, pulling at the collar of his new T-shirt.
“You look good.” David gave a nervous laugh and then mumbled “I mean the clothes. The clothes look good.”
“...Thanks.” Jack smiled shyly, “Why you crying?”
David sniffed and looked over at the TV that wasn’t turned on.
“Just. Thinking about my family. About what’s gonna happen if my pa…” David’s voice trailed away to silence.
“He’s not gonna die, Davey.” Jack told him softly.
"Things are just really difficult now."
“If he does die then you’ll be alright. You got a Mom, brother and sister.” Jack reminded David - David had more than Jack and Charlie and Jack felt an uncomfortable jealousy bubbling up inside of him. 
David nodded seemingly in understanding and Jack felt a surge of sympathy. He and Charlie had been so young when their parents had died, sometimes it felt like all they knew but Jack remembered the responsibility he felt to his baby brother. He still felt it and wondered if he should try to explain to David. Instead he gently patted him on the back.
“Sorry.” David whispered, suddenly seeming embarrassed. “You must think I’m really stupid.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, Dave. You're probably the smartest in every class.”
David smiled and glanced at Jack. “I’m….alright at some classes.” he said modestly.
“I bet…All of ‘em?” Jack laughed, pleased to see that he was cheering David up.
“No.” David laughed “I rank pretty high in English but then so do Sarah and Kath. I’m good at science and math but Race? He has a natural ability with that stuff."
"He prefers to dance though" Jack pointed out. "He's amazing. I mean, everything Race does is like a dance. He's probably good at other sports too, right?" 
“I’m awful at P.E.” David sighed.
“I’m not so bad at that.” Jack finally was able to say with confidence “I mean, I run pretty fast and I’m strong.” he told Davey with a nod of his head.
“Yeah. You’ve shown us your running." David hummed, thinking of all the times Jack had tried to run away from them but not being heavy on the point "And I’ve seen how you carry Charlie around, like I carry Les.”
“What are big brothers for?” Jack grinned.
“Yeah but Les is only seven.” Davey laughed “Soon I bet I won’t be strong enough to carry him!”
“Nah. You’re stronger than you look. ” Jack nodded again, giving Davey a weak and playful punch in the arm.
“Thanks….What other lessons are you good at?...You don’t come to class much. Don't you like school?”
“I likes…Ms Medda’s class.” Jack answered honestly."
"You should come to more classes. You'd be with me and Race or Sarah or Kath for most of them I think. You still need to meet Sarah and Kath properly." 
Jack hummed with some uncertainty. 
“What about clubs?" David continued. "Kathy, Sarah and I are in the newspaper club as well as the Drama club with Race.”
Jack ignored the question.
“So how comes you and your sister are in the same grade ? Did one of you get moved up a year or one of you get held back?” Jack asked with a cheeky grin.
“We’re twins.” David answered blankly. Noticing Jack was avoiding questions.
“Oh. Who’s older?”
“It doesn’t matter.” David shrugged.
Jack continued to smile and David rolled his eyes and laughed at his friend clearly willing him to answer who was older.
“Okay...Okay. It’s Sarah.”
Jack looked triumphant and then David continued to question him.
“So how come you skip English classes?" David pressed "They’re really good. Mr Denton teaches English and he also leads the newspaper club.”
“Honestly Dave? I aint interested in joining any clubs.” Jack shrugged.
“Okay.” David hummed, looking a little disappointed.
Jack shrugged again feeling disappointed with himself at the thought of upsetting David who was already struggling with a lot.
“They got cartoons?” Jack suddenly asked.
“...What?”
“The newspaper. Some newspapers got pictures and stuff. Does yours?”
“Sometimes? I mean, Katherine has a camera…”
“I mean like. Drawing.” Jack clarified.
“Oh!” David smiled. “No. Not yet! We're not a very popular club. It's just a school paper but if you wanted to draw a cartoon or do a painting then we could print that. Mr Denton is always looking at new things we could do! Do you draw?” David finally asked, out of breath from excitement, his cheeks flushing red.
“I wouldn’t be askin’ if I couldn’t, Davey.” Jack smiled.

Jack and David sat in comfortable silence for a little while until Race and Crutchie called them through to dinner.
They all sat around the table and Medda passed them each a bowl of tomato soup and there were grilled cheese sandwiches and cups of water.
At first they were all quiet, like how David and Jack had been in the living room. After a little time though they were all chatting and laughing together.
Jack felt warm all over his body. So this is what they call a family?
“The soup’s real good.” Jack complimented Charlie and Race.
“We made it all.” Race said proudly.
Crutchie’s hands were shaking slightly - from being tired and excited, sometimes his movements could be awkward and difficult. He spilled soup all down his brand new T-shirt.
"Oh no!" The youngest shouted, upset.
“Don’t worry, Baby.” Medda said softly. She was so comforting and Jack smiled at his younger brother and Crutchie sniffed as if he was trying to stop himself from crying.
“That’ll wash right off!” Race nodded, giving Crutchie a grin and passing him a napkin to wipe his face.
"Thanks." Charlie smiled back. 
David only ate a little of his soup and Jack understood the anxious feeling his friend was probably feeling over all that was happening.
Race nibbled on a grilled cheese sandwich and slowly ate his bowl of soup.
Crutchie seemingly had forgotten all his worries and upset as he ate his food, not worrying about spilling.
When the meal was over, David jumped up and offered to do the washing up.
“Since you guys cooked, we can wash up.” David offeered.
“That sounds like a plan to me.” Medda smiled. “Race and I are gonna watch a movie in the living room so when you are done come and join us if you want.”
“Can I watch a movie with you?” Crutchie asked hopefully, grabbing his crutch from the ground and starting to stand up.
“Of course!” Medda nodded. “I meant we all can watch a movie.” she clarified.
“Yes!” Charlie grinned excitedly, starting to hop through to the living room, following after Race who was already on his way there.

Chapter 10: Like We're In a Dream

Notes:

Some descriptions of a panic attack in this chapter, summary at the end.

On Sunday morning Jack woke up to Charlie climbing up to his bunk.
“Hey.” he smiled, grabbing his younger brother's hand to help him with the final step up the ladder.
“Thanks.” Charlie smiled, grabbing Jack’s blanket and pulling it over himself.
“Can’t sleep?” Jack yawned.
“It feels kinda like we’re in a dream.” Charlie breathed “I keep thinkin’ I’m gonna wake up back in our room at Mr Wiesel’s…or in one of the group homes. Without you.”
Jack looked at his brother in the dim light of early morning - his hair was tussled and his brand new pyjamas sagged awkwardly on his thin body. Jack couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle his brother's hair.
Charlie leaned in and hugged Jack.
“My leg has been hurting and my stomach feels…weird.” Charlie mumbled.
“You’re just not used to having so much to eat.” Jack mumbled “You’ve got a full stomach! We just need to get used to it.”
Charlie yawned and smiled.
“You can go back to sleep but when you wake up, you’ll be right here with me.” Jack said gently.
“You promise?”
“Promise. We’re safe here.”

When Jack and Charlie woke up they got dressed and went through to the kitchen.
Race was sitting at the table doing some homework. Medda was sitting next to him looking at her phone.
The table was already set with breakfast things.
“Good morning boys.” Medda smiled, looking up at them. “Help yourself to breakfast now.” 
“Morning.” Crutchie smiled, sitting down opposite Race and starting to pour himself a bowl of cereal.
Jack sat opposite Medda and watched as she typed something on her phone.
“Where’s David?” Jack asked.
“He’s gone home for Sunday.” Medda smiled “His Mother collected him early. David and the other Jacob’s kids will probably be here to stay again soon.” Medda sighed worriedly. “David left you a note before he went.”
Crutchie poured all of the different types of cereal into his bowl and then added some milk. Race watched him with a curious frown.
“Jacky got a note!” Crutchie said, wriggling his eyebrows around.
Race grinned and glanced at Jack then passed over the folded note that David had left.
Jack snatched it while Crutchie and Race chuckled to themselves and Jack frowned at the note, struggling to read Davey’s neat, looped handwriting.
Jack folded the note and shoved it into his pocket. Then grabbed the cereal - deciding only to have one kind, despite Charlie’s insistence that all of them mixed together tasted delicious.

After breakfast, Charlie followed Race’s lead and did his homework.
Medda began making lunch and Race chatted about what they could all do together in the afternoon.
It was almost overwhelming for Jack and Charlie who were so used to just being left alone in their room at Wiesel’s.
Jack didn’t have any homework- he hadn’t been to many classes, so he just doodled in a notebook.
“What did Davey’s note say?” Crutchie asked.
Jack shrugged and taking the note from his pocket and passing it over to his brother.
“It says; See you on Monday at school. Think about the Newspaper club.” Charlie read out loud.
“Newspaper club?” Race smiled with a laugh “Davey, Sarah and Kath are obsessed with that club. They’re the only members.”
“Aren’t you a member?” Charlie asked, looking up from the note.
“I wanna be in the paper! Not writing it.” Race said dramatically.
Medda laughed at him and he stood up and bowed.
Charlie continued reading - “Thank you for talking with me yesterday. I hope we can talk more. David.”
Charlie passed the note back to Jack who looked at it, as if trying to remember the words and how they looked in David’s writing.
“We could join the newspaper club.” Crutchie smiled “That might be fun.”
“Davey did say that maybe I could do some drawing for it.” Jack reasoned.
“You’d be so good at that!” Charlie encouraged.

After lunch they were all in the living room watching a movie together.
Crutchie was stretched out on the couch with Race who was playing on his phone.
Jack sat on the floor close to Charlie and Medda sat in one of the two armchairs in the living room, quietly looking through some papers that Jack guessed were some sort of scripts or homework assignments.
“Can we have phones?” Crutchie suddenly asked.
“...Don’t be so stupid, phones are a lot of money.” Jack frowned, giving Charlie a little shove.
“Hey!” Crutchie frowned back, aiming a kick at Jack.
Jack almost laughed at his brother’s attempt but instead gave him another shove, harder this time.
Crutchie yelped and pushed Jack.
"Shut up." Jack warned.
“Boys. Stop.” Medda said calmly before any real fighting could begin.
“Sorry. He didn’t mean nothing, Ms Medda. We don’t need phones.”
“But I want one!” Charlie protested.
“Don’t be so fuckin’ ungrateful!” Jack frowned, standing up and glaring at Charlie.
“...I’m not bein’ fuckin’ ungrateful!”
“Hey!” Jack scowled at his little brother “Don’t talk like that you’re just a little kid!”
“Fuck!” Charlie shouted - a smile forming on his face like he was going to burst out laughing and he was expecting Jack to do the same.
“You keep on like that? You want to go back to Wiesel’s? Or a group home?” Jack threatened and Charlie’s smile faded quickly. He looked at Jack, shocked as his brother continued.
“We already got new clothes and a bed…all the food we can eat and no one beating on us. Quit asking for more stuff. Just shut up and watch the movie.”
“Hey! I’m trying to watch the movie!” Race shouted, seeming to want to add to the noise.
"You said we was safe here!" Charlie insisted. 
"Not if you act like an idiot!" Jack yelled, starting to pace around the room. 
"Yo, Jack. Chill!" Race said gently. 
“Boys.” Medda said firmly, though she stayed seated in her chair she had put down the papers she was looking at.
“See. Now she’s mad!” Jack cried as tears started to fall.
“Jack. I am not mad.” Medda told him gently. “Charlie, Jack. I am not mad and even if I was you are still safe here and I won’t send you away.”
“Sorry Ms Medda.” Jack said again, quickly rushing out of the room to the bedroom - closing the door behind him he sank to the ground.
Charlie was right: This was all a dream! He was bound to wake up soon, in Wiesel’s apartment. Or in a group home. Maybe in the refuge.
Tears streamed down Francisco’s face and he crawled over to his and Charlie’s bunk bed and climbed up to his top bunk. 

Notes:

Crutchie tells Jack that he feels like they are living in a dream. They are not used to having full stomach's and not having to live in fear. David has gone home for Sunday and left early, leaving Jack a note.
Later when Crutchie reads Jack the note, Jack considers joining the newspaper club with David, Sarah and Kath to do some drawing.
Charlie asks Medda if they can have phones and Jack worries that that is too much to ask, he and Crutchie fight and Jack runs away to their bedroom in tears and hides on the top bunk of the bunk beds.

Chapter 11: We're Safe Here

“I don’t understand.” Jack said later when he had finally stopped crying and Charlie had convinced him to come back to the living room. His voice was still shaking and he was exhausted, sitting on the couch in-between Charlie and Ms Larkin.
Race was sitting on the arm of the couch, close to Medda.
“You had a panic attack.” Medda explained gently, smiling at the look that Jack gave her. 
“...Basically you freaked out.” Race almost laughed.
Jack frowned.
“What?" Race shrugged "I got them all the time when I first got home. It’s weird here at first...Different. I knew Mama would never hurt me but other people had so I don’t know, it made me panic.” he explained. 
“...Race.” Medda hummed, patting her son gently on the back, not sure if what he had to say was helpful.
But Jack appreciated the honesty "Thanks." he told Race, truthfully. 
“I’m sorry I made you panic.” Crutchie mumbled.
“It weren’t you.” Jack admitted. “I don’t…I don’t know why I freaked out like that.”
“You were feeling overwhelmed. But Jack, you and Charlie shouldn't feel worried about needing and wanting things. You boys are allowed to ask for whatever you want.” Medda explained to the three of them “If the answer is no or not right away, then I will explain to you my reasons and I will never punish you for asking.”
Jack and Charlie both looked doubtful but Race smiled - knowing it to be true.
“...Can I skip school tomorrow?” Race asked, raising his eyebrows.
“No.” Medda laughed.
Race stuck his tongue out at her and laughed too.
“Though Jack and Charlie will miss the morning at least, I’m taking them to the hospital.” Medda reminded the boys - Jack and Charlie would need check ups and there they would be able to talk with a social worker about what had happened to them at Mr Wiesel’s as well as in their previous homes.
“...What time is Newspaper club?” Jack suddenly asked.
Race giggled and Charlie grinned, leaning against his brother to hug him.
“Newspaper club is Monday lunch time and they stay after school on different days.” Race let Jack know.
“How do you know the times? I thought you weren’t in the club.” Crutchie commented.
“I’m not but it’s good to keep my time free in case they want to interview me.” Race smirked.
“I probably can get you back to school in time for your lunch break.” Medda offered.
“I wanna join the Newspaper, too.” Charlie smiled.
“No! Hang out with me!” Race demanded.
“Join the club.” Charlie deadpanned.
Jack laughed at them both. His eyes were still full of tears. He truly felt comforted by Charlie but also by Race and Ms Larkin.

“Sorry I yelled at you earlier.” Jack told Charlie as they got ready for bed later on.
Charlie had just got out of the shower, his hair was sticking up, he had his new pyjamas on and a towel wrapped around his shoulders like a cape.
“It’s alright.” Charlie said quietly as he moved towards his bunk, his crutch tapping on the floor.
“It ain’t.” Jack sighed, climbing down from the top bunk to take his turn in the bathroom. “I shouldn’t have yelled and I shouldn’t have shoved you like I did.”
“I would have won if we got in a fight.” Charlie stated.
“I’m serious, Charlie.” Jack laughed, holding out his hand for his brother to shake.
“I know.” Charlie nodded with a sad smile. He spat on his hand and then shook Jack’s hand.
Jack truly laughed now, then quickly went to the bathroom to wash his hands and have a shower.
“Jack?” Charlie asked when Jack was back in the bedroom and changing into his pyjamas.
“Yeah Charlie?” Jack asked gently, squinting at his brother in the orange glow of the little lamp that Medda had found for them to keep near Charlie’s bed,
"No one has to sleep in the dark here." She had told them.
“Tomorrow when we go to the hospital…Is that gonna hurt? What’s gonna happen?” Charlie whispered. 
“I don’t know.” Jack admitted. Pulling on his shirt and sitting beside Charlie. “Questions, maybe photographs. Shots? We ain’t exactly up to date on a lot of stuff.”
“Do I tell them about how my leg ain’t right?”
“They’re gonna see your leg ain't right, Crutchie.” Jack smiled fondly, smoothing Charlie’s hair with his hand and looking at his tiny little brother.
“I know that.” Charlie sighed.
“You scared?” Jack asked, hugging him.
“I ain’t scared of it hurting.” Charlie said bravely “...But what if it’s all too expensive? And what if it all hurts and they can’t do anything to stop the pain.” he breathed, his face scrunching up as if he was trying not to cry. "What if it's too much money and Ms Medda does send me back."   
Jack felt his heart heavy with guilt, Charlie hadn’t feared any of this until Jack started freaking out about money and how they shouldn’t ask for stuff.
“Hey.” Jack said softly, trying to stop his brother's spiralling thoughts, “That ain't gonna happen. We’re safe here…And you’re safe with me.”
Charlie nodded, seeming only to want reassurance from his older brother.
They sat quietly for a few minutes.
“...So, you joining the newspaper club?” Charlie smirked. “With Davey?” he said, almost singing the word ‘Davey’, the younger boy wriggled his eyebrows around and Jack gave him a playful shove. Charlie only laughed and lay down, still looking at Jack.
“...You gonna tell Ms Medda about how reading is hard for you?” Charlie asked softly. 
“...If you tell her about the pain in your leg.” Jack mumbled.
“I was gonna do that anyways.” Charlie hummed, pulling up his blanket and grabbing hold of Jack’s arm so he wouldn't leave.
“Want me to tell you ‘bout Santa Fe?” Jack teased.
But Charlie just nodded. He did. So Jack told him. Then he stayed sitting beside Charlie until the younger boy was snoring softly.
Jack left the lamp on, in case either of them woke up in the night and needed to see where they were.
Then he climbed up to his top bunk and thought all about the day, about Charlie and their parents. He thought about Race and Medda, and Davey and the Newspaper club.  

Chapter 12: Hospital Notes

At the hospital, Jack winced as he watched Charlie pull up his shirt, showing his thin chest to the doctor.
Jack’s own T-shirt was scrunched up and he held it in tightly in his hand, he refused to wear a hospital gown “I ain’t sick!” he spat.
The first part of the morning had been taken up with talking to a social worker and Jack was frustrated, bored, tired and frightened. Not that he would admit it. Charlie was much the same way and was glaring at the doctor and making jokes to Jack, the two of them were seeming to try and ignore everything that was going on in a way. 
Medda sat quietly in the corner of the room and Jack glanced over at her then he looked away as though embarrassed, scars and bruises covered his body and when he turned to talk to Charlie Medda let out a small gasp of surprise when she saw that there were deep scars across his back.
“Is Charlie okay?” Jack demanded, frowning at the Doctor who was placing a stethoscope against Charlie’s chest and his little brother flinched slightly at how cold it was.
The doctor didn’t answer right away, she just continued to check over Charlie who was staring blankly at the wall.
Charlie had been given a teddy bear by a well meaning nurse when they arrived and despite his muttered protests that he was fourteen years old, he weakly held the bear in his hands.
Jack paced around the room like an animal trapped in a cage.
“I’d like both of you to have some tests and scans.” The doctor finally said gently, she looked over to Jack who stopped pacing and moved forward to help Charlie change into a hospital gown.
Charlie’s frail body was covered in bruises too, his ribs stuck out and his body leaned painfully to one side. The younger boy reluctantly told the doctor about his leg and the aching pain all over his body and Jack tried his best to give any medical history that he knew about his brother and himself.
Jack wasn’t willing to talk much about himself though he asked if the pain in his arm could be fixed; He explained that his arm had “probably been broke” at some point but he refused to give any more detail than that.
Both boys were weighed and measured and had blood tests, they were given shots and though Medda was with them and the doctors and nurses were very kind and gentle, both boys eventually seemed to shut down almost completely and sat quietly as the doctors worked around them.
More statements and photographs were taken, reports were filed and the entire day was a blur.
When they finally left the hospital, Medda was holding two files - one each for Jack and Charlie’s medical information, hospital notes and a bag of painkillers, vitamins and supplement drinks for them to have alongside their meals.
“I’m so proud of you both.” Medda told them softly.

As Medda drove the radio played quietly and the boys sat huddled together in the backseat of the car, clinging to each other.
Charlie clutched the new teddy bear tightly against his chest. He couldn't remember ever having a teddy before. 
Medda thought of Race when he was a little boy and how she wished she had found him sooner. She wished the same for Jack and Charlie. There was nothing that could make anything that had happened to them okay. But she would be there for them from now on and she made sure to tell them and show them that.
Plans to go straight to school as soon as the appointment was over had changed as they had been at hospital longer than expected.
“I’m going to pick up Race from school and then drive us all home.” Medda told them softly, knowing that although keeping quiet, Jack was looking out of the window keeping an eye on where they were going.
Jack nodded quietly, looking miserable.
Charlie had fallen asleep, snuggled in the safety of his brother's arms.

“Hey!” Race smiled, climbing into the front seat of the car and throwing his bag down, “I missed you guys! I thought you were coming to school for lunch.”
“Things got busy, Darlin’. Were you okay?” Medda said softly, waiting for Race to buckle up his seat belt before she started driving.
Race nodded and glanced back at Jack, who was pretending to look out of the window and Charlie who was still asleep.
“How’d it go?” Race asked.
“Fine.” Jack nodded, not wanting to talk about it.
“Hey guess what!” Race smiled. “I joined the Newspaper club!”
“You did?” Medda chuckled.
Jack glanced over “Newspaper club?” he mumbled.
“That’s right!” Race grinned now, happy to have Jack’s attention “It’s nowhere near as boring as I thought it would be.” he announced happily “We missed you and Charlie though. I’m gonna write an article reviewing a Broadway musical. What do you think of that, Mama?”
“That’s fantastic Antonio!” Medda praised and Race beamed. He looked back at Jack and passed him a note.
“Dave asked me to give you this. I wrote on it too and so did Katherine and Sarah. We wrote one for Charlie too” he said, passing another note over. “I think they’re recruiting you to the Newspaper Club.”
Jack smiled and nodded in thanks, looking at the folded up note but not opening it.
Back at Medda’s apartment Jack stood close by Charlie as his brother walked inside. Race rushed in shouting that he was taking a shower and Medda went to the kitchen.
“What do you boys fancy for dinner?” she asked.
When neither boy answered she hummed thoughtfully “Mac and cheese?” she suggested, thinking back to the day in the restaurant when Charlie had mentioned that he liked it.
“...Yes please.” Charlie answered.
“You two go and watch the TV or something and I’ll bring it through when it’s done.”
“Thank you, Ms Medda.” Jack smiled, he didn’t want to admit it but he liked it here and he was beginning to feel safe. Together he and Charlie went through to the living room and sat down on the couch. Jack passed his younger brother the remote; Charlie seemed to like looking through the channels more than actually watching anything.
Race skipped into the living room a short while later wearing an I LOVE NEW YORK T-shirt and his pyjama shorts patterned with unicorns, he jumped onto the couch beside Charlie who grinned at him and passed him the remote.
“Thanks!” Race smiled, quickly going through the options and putting on the Disney movie CARS. “You’re gonna love this.” he announced to the room.
Soon Medda walked in with bowls of mac and cheese for them all.
They all ate quietly while watching the movie; Race was quietly whispering the entire script.
When they were done eating, Medda fetched a plate of cookies and placed them on the coffee table and she made hot chocolates again.
“Do we have to go to school tomorrow?” Charlie asked tiredly through a mouthful of chocolate chip.
“If you’re feeling up to it then yes, I’d like you to go into school. If you feel tired or like it’s all too much, you can come and find me in my classroom.” Medda said gently.
“That’s what I do.” Race said brightly.
They watched the rest of the movie and then part of Cars 2 before Jack took the remote and chose an old Cowboy film. It had some musical numbers in it though so Race didn't complain, he just copied some of the moves. 
They spent the evening just hanging out together. It was nice. 
Later in the evening Medda announced it was time for them all to bed and Jack didn't even feel like staying up to spite her or to prove that he could stay awake.
Race hugged Medda goodnight and then Charlie and Jack did the same. 
"Goodnight!" Race yelled out as he ran to his bedroom once the living room light had been turned out. 

“Hey Charlie?” Jack mumbled when they were  ready for bed.
“Yeah?” Charlie yawned, already tucked up in his bunk. The new teddy bear beside him.
Jack smiled slightly and handed him both notes that Race had given to him earlier.
“From Race.” he explained, sitting beside Charlie who had grabbed Jack’s hand to sit himself up.
“Want me to read ‘em?” Charlie asked, already opening the notes. Charlie grinned as he read;
  

Dear Jack, I’m sorry you’re not at school today. Hopefully see you soon.
-David
Looking forward to meeting you and you being a part of our club - Sarah 

PLEASE SAVE US FROM RACE - K.P
THe NeWsPAPER is going to make us FAMOUS !!! -  love from Race 

Jack and Charlie both laughed together and Jack squinted at the paper, tracing the words with his fingers. If only he could write by drawing. Pictures made so much more sense to him than words. If he were smart, like David he would be able to do that.
He folded up the note and put it away with the first note in a pencil case that Medda had given to him for school.
“Hey, what does your say?” Jack asked Charlie.
Charlie unfolded his own note and started laughing -
“It’s just from Race.” Charlie explained, “It says; Alas we must abandon the track team. We are needed in the newspaper business.”
Jack grinned and ruffled Charlie’s hair and then gently pushed him.
“Get some sleep.”
“Yep!” Charlie smiled, laying back down and closing his eyes.
“Hey crutch?” Jack asked as he climbed the ladder to his own bunk.
“Yeah Jack?”
“Tomorrow can you help me write a note back? For Davey?” 

Chapter 13: Newspaper Club Headquarters

They left for school early the next morning so that Medda could set up her classroom for the day.
Charlie was surprised and happy that Medda offered them a lift and practically skipped to the car.
They had started the day with a breakfast of oatmeal with a little honey as well as the supplement milkshake drinks that all three of the boys drank.
Race, seemingly an expert, talked them through all of the different flavours- Chocolate, vanilla, banana and strawberry- and how they tasted better cold from the fridge or the chocolate one tasted good mixed into hot chocolate.
As usual Race sat in the front passenger seat of the car and Jack and Charlie sat together in the back seat.
Jack actually felt good about going into school; he was wearing his new clothes and he had been able to take a shower. Medda had even brushed his hair for him and so for the first time in a long time, Jack Kelly looked in the mirror and didn’t mind what he saw. 
Charlie had overdone it with the deodorant but he looked smart too and Jack smiled at his little brother who was excitedly chatting with Race about the phones that Medda had promised to get for them.

The school was calm at this time in the morning - they had almost an hour before the morning bell rang.
“What do we do until classes start?” Jack asked as they all walked with Medda to her classroom.
“You going to go to classes?” Race asked hopefully.
Jack shrugged and Charlie laughed.
“Well,” Race explained, “I’ll usually help Mama or hang out in her classroom or office. Dance or finish any homework…Sometimes I’ll go to the library for that. Homework, not dance,” he quickly clarified "Or I'll meet one of my friends somewhere around, the Newspaper club usually gets in early and meets in Mr Denton’s classroom.”
“Are they gonna be in early today?” Jack asked. The note he had written for Davey was folded up in his pocket. 
They were in Medda’s classroom now and Jack liked it because it didn’t seem like a classroom at all, it was more like a mixture of a dance and art studio.
“We can go find out if the Newspaper club is here early” Race said, raising his eyebrows.
“You boys go ahead and find something to do. Charlie you have class with me first period. Race and Jack, you have a double lesson with me at the end of the day.” Medda told them all.
Race cheered and gave Medda a hug before starting to lead the way out of her classroom.
“See you in a bit.” Charlie nodded to Medda before starting to follow Race - A new crutch had been ordered for him and Jack watched Charlie move and was excited that his younger brother would soon be able to move more comfortably. 
“Will I see you in class later?” Medda asked Jack.
Jack nodded slightly then followed after Race and Charlie.

“You haven’t met Mr Denton yet, have you? He teaches English” Race chatted as they walked along the empty corridors.
“No.” Jack admitted. He’d been skipping English classes. In fact, Jack had been skipping most of his classes apart from Drama, art, P.E and sometimes math.
“You’ll like him. You should come to class.” Race encouraged, stopping outside the door that had Mr Denton’s name on it and a large hand-made poster;
“Newspaper Club Headquarters" Charlie read out loud.
Race opened the door and the three boys walked in.
Jack couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief when he noticed that there wasn’t a teacher sitting at the desk. Though near the front of the room there were two girls;
One of them was sitting crossed legged on a desk, glaring at her laptop as if it had done something to offend her. Her hair was red and tied up in a messy ponytail, she had a pencil balanced behind her ear and a notebook in her hand. She was wearing a striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up and purple dungarees, her converse style shoes were purple too and were covered in writing and little drawings.
The other girl was sitting on the chair of the desk focusing on some sort of crochet blanket that she was making; She was wearing a loose fitting button up shirt and dark green trousers held up with a belt. She wore her hair down and it was long with a slight wave to it, her hair was the same colour as Davey’s.
“Hiya Kathy! Sarah!” Race grinned, rushing forward and then pulling out a chair from under a desk so that Crutchie could sit down.
Jack stood back, not sure if he should approach or leave the classroom.
“Charlie, Jack. This is Katherine” Race continued excitedly, pointing to the girl in purple dungarees, “and Sarah.” he pointed to her;
“Hello.” Sarah nodded and smiled slightly at Jack as if she knew something. The same look that Crutchie gave Jack sometimes when he mentioned David.
Katherine didn’t say anything, just wrote something down in her notebook.

“Hiya!” Charlie smiled lopsidedly. “I’m Charlie but my pals call me Crutchie.” he explained.
Sarah and Katherine glanced at the crutch that Crutchie had placed down on the floor.
“We didn’t make the track team so I guess we’ll sign up for the Newspaper Club.” Charlie giggled.
Race burst out laughing and ruffled Charlie’s hair. Any tension that had been in the room was gone now. 
“That’s wonderful news!” Sarah chuckled and Katherine wrote something down again and smiled.
"We practically have a proper team now. We're like a real club." Katherine told them all. 
“Jack!” Charlie said, pointing to a chair and Jack moved to sit beside his brother.
“Hi Jack, I’m Katherine.” Katherine smiled. “We’re excited for you to join our club. I’m sorry you couldn’t get to school yesterday, is everything okay?”
“We’re good.” Charlie answered for his brother, steering the conversation away from the day at hospital that neither of them wanted to talk about; "We just had a really busy day. Hey! Did you know Ms Medda is getting us new cell phones soon? So we can all have a group chat.”
“That’s a great idea!” Katherine nodded.
“...I’m Jack.” Jack mumbled awkwardly, feeling like he had already missed his chance to introduce himself. But Sarah and Katheine smiled and introduced themselves.
“I’m Katherine Plumber.” Katherine reached out her hand and shook Jack’s. "Well. That's my byline. It'll be the name I publish under" she explained quickly.
Jack smiled.
“”Hi Jack, I’m Sarah.” Sarah said gently.
“You Davey’s sister?” Jack asked, looking around for any sign of David.
“That’s right.” Sarah nodded “David isn’t here right now, he’s walking our little brother to school but he should be here soon.”
Jack nodded, putting his hand in his pocket as if to check the note was still there.
“Hey Kath,” Race smiled, sitting beside her on the small desk and she put her arm around him so that neither of them would fall. “I started writing some ideas last night for an article reviewing some Broadway shows, wanna see?” he asked, taking an ipad out of his schoolbag.
Katherine nodded enthusiastically and Sarah went back to the crochet project she was working on.
“What you making?!” Crutchie asked, leaning forward and grabbing the blanket clumsily. Accidentally gripping it harder than he intended then in his haste to let go he only succeeded in dragging it towards himself. 
Sarah jumped slightly and Jack grabbed Charlie’s arm to stop him moving.
“Careful, Crutch! You’ll break it.” Jack scolded, moving his hand over Charlie’s and then the younger boy let go.
“I’m sorry!” Charlie yelped, looking away. Jack frowned and then looked at Sarah worriedly.
“It was an accident.” Jack told Sarah as he put his arm around Charlie to comfort him. The younger boy was shaking, mostly with frustration. They were both tired from the previous day. But when Charlie was tired his movements became more rigid and difficult. 
Sarah just laughed and smiled. Like how Davey laughed; a kind laugh and Charlie and Jack knew that she wasn't laughing at them.   
“It’s alright.” Sarah smiled kindly, moving her head to catch Charlie’s eye “It’s no big deal. In fact, can you help me?”
Charlie was intrigued and looked at what she was doing uncertainly but then nodded.
“Great!” Sarah grabbed a tote bag that was filled with colourful yarn. “I need to decide what colour I’m doing next and then it would really help if you could hold the blanket for me while I work on it.”
Charlie nodded and this time carefully grabbed the blanket.
“I don’t know what colour you should do next.” Charlie hummed worriedly.
“Well. I’ve done my Mama and Papa’s favourite colours. Mine and David’s and our little brother, Les’s. Then this purple is for Kathrine. How about we add your favourite colour and then Race and Jack’s? Maybe even Mr Denton’s. It’s gonna be a big blanket so I need to use lots of colours.”
Charlie grinned that lopsided grin that Jack loved so much that he couldn’t help but smile himself.
“This blanket for your Dad?” Jack asked.
Sarah nodded, her smile fading but only for a moment. “He’s tall. Like David…So it needs to be big.” she laughed gently, “I hope it can be a welcome home present for him…or I can give it to him while he’s in the hospital.”
“That’s real nice.” Jack complimented.
“My favourite colour is yellow.” Crutchie smiled.
“Okay. I’ll do yellow next. Great choice, Charlie. It will go well with the purple.” 

Jack smiled and watched as Charlie chatted with Sarah.
The classroom door opened and David walked in looking tired but he smiled when he saw everyone waiting for him.
“Hey.” David greeted, sitting at the desk beside Jack.
“Hey.” Jack nodded.
“Hi David!” Race sang.
“How was Les?” Sarah asked, not looking up from the blanket.
David groaned and lay his head down on the desk.
“What did he do?” Katherine asked, trying to hide her amused look.
“He didn’t want me to take him to school. He wanted you.” David told Katherine.
“Not me?” Sarah asked. 
“We’ve been replaced.” David shrugged, laughing a little and sitting up again. “How are you?” he asked, looking at Jack again.
“Oh, we’re good. Thanks. Yesterday was a long day.” Jack shrugged.
“...Did Race give you the note we sent?”
“Oh yeah! Thanks.” Jack smiled.
Charlie and Sarah were watching their siblings with grins on their faces.
“You’re WELCOME.” Race said loudly from his place next to Katherine. “I should get paid if you’re havin’ me delivering notes back and forth all the time.”
“It was one note.” David rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, we won’t always need you to be deliverin’ them.” Jack smiled, subtly passing David the thank you note that Charlie had helped him to write.
Before anyone else could say anything the door opened and a teacher walked in.
Jack’s smile faded slightly and he seemed to get smaller in his chair. David looked at Jack uncertainly; unknowingly. He wondered why Jack acted like that around people, adults especially. 
“Might want to think about getting ready for class now.” The teacher told them “The bell will ring soon.”
“Thank you.” Sarah nodded. With Charlie’s help she began to fold up the blanket and put it all into the tote bag.
Katherine had rushed over to the teachers desk, taking several sheets of paper out of her school bag and slamming them down. “Please let me know what you think about these articles?” she asked.
“Of course.” The teacher nodded with a proud look as he picked up the papers and started to read. 
“I got things to show you too.” Race said, jumping from the desk and going over to the desk with his iPad. "I can email them but look here! Mr Denton. I think we should put our paper online as well as printing it like Katherine says." 
“Jack. You’ve not met Mr Denton yet, have you?” Katherine asked, glancing over at Jack who was standing up, ready to leave the classroom with Crutchie.
“...Err, no. As it happens. Not yet.” Jack mumbled awkwardly - Jack had skipped every one of this teachers' classes so far so he already knew that he hadn’t made the best first impression.
Charlie gave Jack a gentle smile and allowed his brother to put his arm around him to help him walk, knowing that Jack always felt better if he was able to help him.
“Hello…Jack is it?” Mr Denton asked, looking at what Jack assumed was the class register.
“Jack Kelly.” Jack said confidently, “Though it won’t be written on your papers. But that’s my name.”  he told him, as though ready to fight anyone that disagreed with him.
“Jack Kelly.” Mr Denton repeated, making a note on the paper.
Jack stood up, ready to leave the classroom with Charlie before the bell rang.
“Mr Kelly, your first class is with me.” Mr Denton told him.
“Same class as all of us.” Race cheered. Kathrine nodded and sat at her desk at the front, next to Sarah’s desk. David was already in his place and Race moved to the seat beside him;
“The other desk next to David’s is free, Jack.You can sit with us.” Race hummed.
Jack felt trapped.
“I gotta help Charlie get to his class.” Jack told them all.
“I’ve got Ms Medda, Jacky.” Crutchie looked at Jack, “I can get there on my own.”
“...You sure?” Jack asked quietly, helping Charlie walk towards the door.
“Yeah, I’ll be there real quick.”
“I should come with..”
“I can ask Ms Medda to send Race a text. When I get to her classroom.”
Jack looked uncertain but Charlie took a few steps out into the corridor on his own, “You stay with Mr Denton and the others…Jack. His classes are good and I really think he could help you. And remember like Ms Medda said, if it all gets too much you can come and find her in her classroom.”
“You sure you’ll be okay?” Jack asked again.
“Sure I’ll be!” Charlie grinned, he moved forward and gave Jack a quick one armed hug before starting off in his skipping sort of run. “I’ll see ya later!” Charlie laughed.
Jack watched him down the corridor and then stepped back into the classroom for his first English lesson.