CHAPTER NINE: LEO

I got up early today to make breakfast and get everything ready before leaving. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to look for work because, even if we had savings, we couldn't rely on it forever.

Another thing on my mind was our parents' death anniversary, which was approaching, and I was wondering if Shane would like to go to their grave and see them; it's been a tradition since they died, but we weren't able to go last year, so I maybe we can go but I would've to ask him first.

Due to the fact that I couldn't leave Shane alone at home during his suspension, I decided to skip school for the next three days; it's not like I'll miss anything

"Wake up little man, you need breakfast, I'm going out early today to find a job," I told Shane as I tried to coax him out of bed.

But instead of getting up he turned to the other side, attempting to fall back asleep. "Dude, get up or I'll wake you up the hard way," I said but got no response so i walked into the bathroom to get a bowl of water before returning to Shane's room and pouring the contents of the bowl on him; he was out of bed before I could even return the bowl to the bathroom.

"Seriously man not cool," he signed while glaring at me.

"I warned you didn't I, but you didn't get up so go brush your teeth and come into the kitchen, wanted to ask you something before I go out"

"Where are you going anyway?" he signed, taking off his wet clothes and replacing it with a dry one.

"I want to see if I can get a job around here that pays well," I replied, but stopped at the door and faced him. "If you don't get your butt out here in 30 minutes, the water won't be warm this time," I said, and he stuck his tongue out at me.

"You could never hate me Shane, I'm your favorite person in the world," Shane sighed, throwing the wet shirt at me,

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that old man."

"Why you little brat, I'm not old at all, come over here and say that to my face, this old man can whoop your ass any day" I took steps towards him, but he ran into the bathroom laughing as he locked the door behind him. Then I heard my phone ping, it was a text message from Shane, I opened it and it said "you snooze, you lose old man".

"You can't hide in the bathroom all day, Shane," I yelled. I exited his room and went into the kitchen to prepare our breakfast. "Let's call a truce, I'm really hungry," Shane said as he emerged from his bathroom, raising his hands in surrender.

"Just sit down and eat your food, brat," I said as he took his seat, watching my every move; I won't strike back now; I'll get my revenge when he least expects it.

"So, about what I wanted to ask you, mum and dad's death anniversary is coming up, and I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go see them," I explained, and he stopped eating, his face expressionless, so I continued talking, "we weren't able to go last year, so I was thinking that it would be nice if we went, but that's if you want too."

"I'll think about it, Leo, and I'll get back to you, I just don't know what to say right now." Shane signed and I simply nodded, not wanting to push him any further.

We returned to our meal in silence, and I won't hold it against him if he doesn't want to go; he had been through a lot in the previous few years, and they were the cause of his pain.

After breakfast, we washed up, and Shane went to his room while I prepared to leave. When I was finished, I went to the sitting room to gather my belongings before leaving for the job search.

"Hey Shane, come out for a minute," I yelled from the living room as I slipped my black hood over my basketball jersey. He emerged from his room, his headphones slung around his neck. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, so if I'm not back before lunch, I'll text you so you can order pizza."

"All right, Grandpa."

"Funny, and don't open the door for anyone other than the delivery guy."

"Stop being a wuss, Leo" he smiled, waving me off with his hands

"Jokes aside Shane, I'm being serious, don't open the door for anyone except the delivery man or me,"

"I understand Leo, you can go, also if you find something send me a text". He texted me.

"No problem, little man; see you later." I walked out the door, waited on the other side for him to lock the door, and when I heard the locks, I went down the stairs, out of the apartment complex, and into my truck, hoping to find work.

I was about to give up and go home after driving around the neighborhood with no luck when I noticed a wanted sign pasted on the garage door of an auto shop called Rusty. I parked my car on the side of the road and walked to the shop.

I knocked on the garage door to get the attention of a man dressed in overalls who had his head under the hood of the car. He looked up at me and appeared to be in his late thirties.

"My name is Rusty, and how can I help you." Rusty said as he wiped the grease from his hands so he could shake my hand. I accepted his handshake and smiled at him.

"I'm here for the wanted poster over there, I need a job, I'll do anything you ask, I don't know much about cars but I'm a quick learner," I rushed out, hoping he'd give me a chance.

"That poster has been up for four years now, and you are the first person to come here asking for the job; you are new to town, right?" Rusty inquired.

"Yes, Sir, my younger brother and I just moved here a few weeks ago, and I desperately need this job."

"I wasn't going to turn you down, I need the help around here, so you are hired, when can you come to work, you look like you're still in high school, so tell me when it's convenient," Rusty asked.

"I am free from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening and I can also work during summer break too." I replied,

"Hmm, I can work with that, there are some old overalls in the back, change and so you can get started, oh before I forget the pay isn't much but it is reasonable its $200 dollars per week"

It wasn't much, but it will do for now, I then walked to the back to change into the overalls, sending a text Shane before heading back outside to meet Rusty, who taught me the major skills I needed to have before asking me to change the tires of a car that had just arrived

Up until 8:00 p.m, we were busy. After closing we both cleaned up the shop and then parted ways after saying our goodbyes. He spoke little, but he got the job done, as I had noticed.

I stopped at the grocery store on my way to the apartment to pick up some groceries for dinner. I parked the car in its usual spot before entering the apartment building.

I was knocking on our apartment door a few minutes later when I texted Shane that I would be up soon. Then Shane came over to open the door for me, smiling as he did so.

"Welcome back," he wrote.

"Thank you," I said as I walked into the apartment with one grocery bag in my hand; Shane had taken the other one from me; we placed the groceries on the kitchen table, and Shane went to his room after assisting with putting them away.

When I was done in the kitchen, I went into my room to take a shower, and when I got out, I changed into a blue top and a pair of black shorts.

I returned to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner, and Shane joined me."So, what is your boss and job like?" Shane signed.

"He doesn't talk much, but he seems cool from what I saw today; the pay isn't much, but it'll do; we still have some money saved up, so we'll be fine,"

"About what you asked me this morning, I'd like to go see them if you don't mind." Shane muttered as he played with his half-eaten popsicle

"All right, then, we'll drive over, but we'll have to leave early, which means you'll have to get up early."

"All right," he groaned as he finished his popsicle, "what are we having for dinner?" Shane signed.

"Mac and cheese," I replied, and we ended up talking about his day until dinner was ready. We watched a few movies after dinner before going to bed. I lay in my bed, pondering how I would tell Shane that this would be the last time we visited their grave; going every year just makes it harder for us to let go of all the bad memories.