Keeping the Tarnished by Bradon Nave

eyes, but the tears kept coming relentlessly.
    “I’m, I’m sor—” The boy attempted to apologize but was unable to speak.
    Jackson was beginning to choke up as well, witnessing the level of appreciation the boy had toward the gesture. He instantly knew they had made the right call.
    “No worries at all, bud. How about you sneak up to the bathroom and get washed up for supper,” Jackson suggested in a friendly tone. He didn’t want Johnny feeling embarrassed for crying.
    Johnny offered one more appreciative smile before retreating into the house.
    By this time, Jared had begun his trek to the porch. Jackson watched his smiling son approach.
    “Daddy!” Bryce yelled as she came flying through the screen door. “Daddy, what is wrong with Johnny? Why is he crying?” the girl asked hysterically, looking up at her father.
    As Jared got to the porch, he became concerned.
    “He was crying, Pops?” the boy asked.
    “What did you do to him, Jared?” Bryce asked, placing her hands on her hips.
    Jackson put his hands up as if to silence everyone. “Kids. Johnny is just really happy right now. Sometimes people cry when they get really good news,” Jackson said as reached down and picked his daughter up and watched his son walking up the porch.
    Jared was giving his father a look of approval as he walked up and started tickling his captive sister.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Fifteen
     
     
    Country
     
    Johnny
     
    It had been two days since the Everetts asked Johnny to settle in. It had also been two more nightmare free nights of slumber. Johnny felt as though he had gained a small piece of his mental clarity back.
    Jackson and Graye had begun the conversations with him regarding the upcoming school year, obtaining school records, medical records, learning more about his father’s eviction of Johnny, and addressing the possibility of locating his mother and brother.
    For now, Johnny was comfortable with the Everetts’ approach to slowly building a mutual trust. Johnny felt the small things like telling him how happy they were to have him, and evening meals around the table, were doing wonders for his psychology. Johnny was told he wasn’t the only person benefiting from the arrangement. Jared had basically planned their entire senior year.
    Perhaps once the new wore off, the family would remember that every relationship can be taxing at times, and requires patience and understanding. For now, however, there was a great deal of laughter and happiness throughout the house.
    Johnny’s uncontrollable urge to urinate woke him from yet another nightmare free night. His bladder was so full that his lower abdomen was rock hard. He reluctantly wiped the sleep from both eyes, flung his blue comforter back, and sat up. One leg at a time, he lowered his feet to the cold hardwood floor. Finally, he stood and hastily he made his way to the bedroom door. As he entered the hallway, he could tell there was a light on downstairs as the light was cascading on the wall directly in front of the top of the staircase.
    Washing his hands, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d peed for that long. He looked at himself in the mirror. He had finally shaved off the scruff. He had what many people would call a baby face. Jared often made envious comments regarding Johnny’s ability to grow facial hair. Jared would frequently shave his face in an effort to promote hair growth—to no avail. Johnny thought shaving his facial hair off would be a nice gesture.
    He dried his hands on the dark brown washcloth hanging from the circular towel holder next to the mirror and made his way to the hallway. He wondered who was up so early, so he happily made his way down the stairs. For whatever reason, he was wide awake this morning. He and Jared had played Call of Duty until well after midnight, so he should have been tired, but a short, restful night’s sleep is always better than eight hours of interrupted rest due to vivid