4.5

'The sun is out already, why did my mother not wake me, MOTHER!, where are my clothes, MOTHER!, I cannot believe she let this happen, my own MOTHER!'

'Yes, Jack what happened, did you have a bad dream?', his mother asked while she was rushing towards him.

'What is wrong with you boy!, screaming as if you are being killed.' his father barked, holding a slipper in one hand, properly hoping to give the intruder a good hiding if he had found one.

'I cannot find my clothes and you did not wake me up either, I am going to be late for school!'

'Jane, I think your son has finally lost his marbles, I should have listened to Phil when he said that there was something odd about this boy, walking around town talking to himself, I am going to bed I have enough to worry about, I cannot afford to still think about a loony son.'

He and Jack exchanged looks of disgust, before to his father returned room, walking as if he was carrying the whole world on his shoulders.

'Do not mind him Jack, he is just a sour puss, because he is struggling to find work, and your not going to school today because it is Saturday, your seeming to like school more and more these days, is there someone I should know about?'

Jack could feel the blood rush to his face, and decided to keep his head down while he answered, 'No, just got confused a little.'

'So, since it is Saturday today and you are already up, I was wondering if you could help me, with a few things I have to do in town, that is if you are not busy with some school work or anything?'

He looked at his mother, he knew that he could never refuse to help her, he loved her way too much, his mother and Elizabeth, is only two people that could read him, and play along with whatever scene he is imagining in his head at that very moment.

'Uhm let me see.', He placed his index finger on his bottom lip and stared at the ceiling, 'Why not ask Julia or Father?'

'You know why, they are both air heads, they can never do something without supervision.'

'Since you have no other option, other than your perfect son, I might have some space in my busy day to offer my services to you.'

'Thank you sir, you are really my number one son, where would I be without you?', She quickly wrapped her arms around him and repeatedly kissed him on his cheeks.

'Mother, Stop!, I thought we discussed this already, I am getting too old for this kind of treatment.'

'Really!, his mother placed both her hands on her hips, well let me tell you something young man, even if you old and wrinkled, and your face looks like a rotten apple, you will still be my little poopy pants.'

'I honestly cannot believe you went there, it only happened once.'

'Enough talking now, and let us begin with the first task of the day which is preparing breakfast, now get a move on make your bed then come and help me.'

'I have a feeling I am going to regret this.'

'Oh, hush'

'I knew that I was going to regret this, just look at me, standing here, holding women's undergarments, worst of it is that, my mother is still asking my input on finding something for my sister and herself, but hey, what can you do, it is my mother after all, I wonder if I could talk her into buying me an ice-cream as a reward for slaving away for her, and bearing this utter humiliation, I just hope that someone from my school does not see me here, or even worse C.J, he will make sure that I never hear the end of this.'

'Jack are you alright, your head seems to be somewhere else, I promise you this is the last task of the day, maybe after this, we could get some ice cream.'

' I forgot she can read my mind, amazing, but I should play it cool and not act like a child.', 'Really,!, I would love to, Yes!', he little Jump after that, smiling from ear to ear.

'Well, that did not go the way I wanted it to, but at least I was able to keep the screams in.'

Upon hearing the good news of the reward he was about to receive after the done shopping he suddenly become very helpful, all the shame and embarrassment of potentially being seen by one of his school members faded away, he even started to provide his expert opinion, on some of his mother's choices.

'No, mother, I do not think that those are for someone as young as you, look at these one over here, and leave those granny ones alone, you can buy them for Jill.'

'Mind yourself Jack.'

'No need to be so serious mother, I am fooling around a little I do not think there is anything wrong in that, look at these night gowns over here, I think these ones will accentuate your curves nicely.'

'I do not think that is for someone my age.'

'Nonsense, you do not look a day over nineteen, you know, one of my young school teachers thought that you were my older sister at one point, he even asked me if I could give you a letter, but I threw it away, because you will not believe the things that was written in there, utterly immoral, these children of today cannot keep themselves together.' He then lowered his head and shook it in disappointment.

'Great if I keep this up, I might get not one, not two but three scoops of ice-cream, and even a toffee apple with that.'

'Maybe your right Jack, I guess it would not hurt if I spoil myself a little.'

'Of course not!' He gave his mother a little tap on her shoulder, and forcing a hard pressed smile, so much so, that he could feel his face muscles started to burn.

'I think this enough for today, let us go pay, I still need to get home in time to make dinner.'

'Good afternoon, how are we doing today Mrs Peterson, I see you brought a little helper today.'

'Good afternoon to you too Dave and this is my son Jack, he was kind enough to help me today.'

'Would you look at Dave, all smiles working in an undergarment store, I think he planned this but I can see right through a pervert, he properly sniffs the panties, after work before he goes home, just look at him, his mouth is literally watering right now, disgusting.'

'Are you not going to say hello, Jack?'

'Do not worry, he is properly shy, it is pretty rare to see a boy of his age in the store, usually they stand outside or completely avoid the store.'

'O, I bet your pretty glad that it is rare for a man to come in here because you know that they will see right through your dirty scheme, but I am not so naïve Dave, I wonder if that is even his real name, just know you cannot fool me DAVE!, because I see you, I see you.'

'Jack!', his mother nudged him with her elbow, 'Is there something wrong, you have been lost in your thought since we left the house?'

'No, it is nothing.'

'Or maybe he is just thinking about someone special, since he is at that curious age.' the man raised both his eyebrows as if he was trying to confirm something.

'Well, well, you finally decided to show your true colours, I bet your quite curios to know who I am thinking about, since age clearly does not matter to you at all, what a shame.'

'What do you mean?'

'Yes, what are you talking about Jack?'

'Crap!'

'What, I did, I say that line out loud, I was just thinking about that Shakespeare play we are currently studying at school.'

'What play may that be, I love all William Shakespeare's plays'

'I bet you love anything in a dress.'

'Excuse me?'

'Uhm, what I meant to say I love Shakespeare to, the plays name is 'The tempest'.'

'Oh, what an exciting one, well thank you for your purchases, I hope you have a nice day.'

'Thank you Dave, have a nice day too.'

'Have a nice day, I bet your eyes had a nice time, but this is not over Dave not by a long shot.'

Jack stared him until they both exited the store, popped his head in quickly again, and slowly left again.

'Jack what was that about back there?'

'He thinks that he could fool me, but I see right through his unholy savage acts.'

'His what?'

'Let us not worry about that now, and get that ice cream you had promised me.' he grabbed his mother's hand and lead her to the ice-cream stand.

'Good afternoon madam, what can I get for you today?' said the man wearing a slightly stained shirt, and whose teeth looked too big to fit in his mouth.

'He must properly be related to Elizabeth.' Jack thought to himself.

'Good afternoon, to you too Sir, what would you like Jack, his mother turned to look at him.

'I would like three scoops of chocolate ice-cream please, my mother is paying, quiet a beautiful women is she not?'

'Indeed she is, quite a little charmer you have on your hands there.'

'Uhm, it seems to me that we have another Dave on our hands, what is with this town and all its psychotic perverts, and would you just look at him, being selfish with the ice cream, just scrapping the top, everyone knows that the goodness lies deep down at the center of the tub, all he is giving me now, is the ice on top.'

'Here you go, my good sir, anything for the pretty young lady?'

'She is married!, pay him please and let's go, before he gets any ideas?', after his mother had paid he lead her away in a fit of rage.

'What is wrong with you today?'

'Nothing much just feeling a little dramatic, how come you do not want ice cream are you feeling sick?'

'No, I am fine, I just feel don't like eating ice cream today, besides if you are happy, then I am happy and that is all that matters to me.'

Jack knew his mother was lying, she could never resist an ice cream, since the time he could remember, he and his mother would always go for an odd stroll, and she would always buy two ice creams one for her and one for himself, he always knew that things were not so well at home, but not this bad that they are unable to afford two ice creams, if only his father would stop feeling sorry for himself and at least try to clean himself up and go look for a job, instead of wondering around the house all day, hoping that maybe someone would see him and pity his so much that he would offer him a job?'

'To be honest, I do not think I would be able to finish this ice cream by myself, Mother, do you mind finishing it for me.' He said offering the ice-cream to his mother.

His mother stopped dead in her track, then looked at her stomach.

'Let me first consult with my belly, to see if it would like some ice cream., They both stood still for a while as if they were waiting for a grand announcement.

'Mother, the ice cream is melting.'

'Oh my, we do not want that to happen, it seemed like a little room has been made available, look at you Jack, you say you are not a child but you eat like one.'

His mother physically remove the cone from his hand, took out her hankie chief, and start wiping all the chocolate stained areas.

'Mother, if you keep rubbing like that, you might start wiping my skin off.'

'I know, I will stop and thank you for the ice cream.'

Jack watched his mother as she took a bite to out of the ice cream, her expression on her face was as if she was a little girl tasting a piece of chocolate for the very first time, then she turned towards him and smiled, seeing his mother smile was worth more to him, then any amount of ice cream any one could ever offer him.

'Opsie daisy, I messed a little on myself.'

'And you say, I eat like a little child.'

'Oh, hush, your old mouth.' the two then carried on their journey, smiling and laughing all the way, putting a perfect end to what he thought was going to be horrible day.

Sunday, church day, Jack loved this day, not because he was very religious but it was the only day where he could get a nice peaceful hour's sleep, without the being disturbed by the sound of his father's snoring, which echoes through the house.

As always his mother has prepared everything for him before hand, his clothes were picked out and ironed, shoes already polished up and ready to wear but there was a problem, he had one problem, with the suite itself but that thing, that makes it very uncomfortable to sleep in, the tie and the high collar restricted his airways with results in him snoring, which always got him busted.

'Jack, are you almost done, we only have a few minutes for breakfast before we have to go.'

'Almost mother!', indeed Jack was already finished but he had one more enemy to deal with before he could leave his room, it was a time consuming and ruthless enemy, which required a strategic and calculated approach, this enemy proves, whether a man is ready for manhood, and if he goes out the room without having defeated it, his father was going to make sure that he was not going to forget it for the next three weeks, this enemy was the dreaded ty.

'So we meet again my old foe, you seem to look and feel exactly the same as last time, but not me I have practiced long hours, just for this day and still I have not manage to master you yet, I do not know, why mother takes you out every time, she knows that I cannot beat you, but today may be my day.' he gripped the tie so hard that his knuckles became white, and started his feeble and pathetic attempt to tie the dreaded ty.'

'Look left, then right, then left again, no, wait that does not sound right, I think that is for when you crossing the train tracks.'

Attempt number one: Failed!

'Up, down, and over, then through the bunny hole, wait, I think this is for tying one's shoes.'

Attempt number two: Failed!

'Stop, drop and roll, no I do not think this is it too.'

Attempt number three: Failed!

'I am hopeless, who invented this thing anyway, properly some guy who tried to commit suicide with a piece of cloth but failed miserably, and managed to make it trend.'

Feeling the pressure of his constant failure, his eyes started to turn red and they began to fill up with tears.

'Jack, you still not done yet?' His mother asked standing in the doorway.

'How can I, when I cannot tie this ridiculous thing.'

His mother smirked at him then placed both her hands on the tie, and before he knew it she was done.

'Sometimes you just need to calm down and try again, come now let's grab something to eat quickly then leave.'

Church always started the same, all he man gathered together to talk about sport, work and how great and easy life was before they got married, laughing at each others, pathetic and extremely, boring work jokes, as for the women, they gathered together to talk about the gossip, they were able to gain over the past six days but mostly to complain about how, useless and messy their husbands are.

They church bell rang and Jack, managed to go in first, giving him the opportunity to find the perfect spot, where he could sleep, without being seen by the pastor.

'Mother, I think that this corner seat is perfect for us, I can really feel a strong spiritual connection over here, right here in this nice and cozy corner.'

'Well, if you say so, come let us all sit here then.'

He then darted towards the corner as if someone was going to steal his spot. He then sat himself down, took off the blazer and folded it in to a neat pillow, stretched his arms over head and place his head on his self-made pillow, but like everything in his life nothing ever works out for him as he wanted, just as he was about to drift off into a nice, peaceful sleep, a husky and scratchy voice called him from behind, he open his eyes immediately, and sat up straight, a cold chill ran down his spine.

'Is this, God?, I am honestly done for now, although I was expecting the voice to be much more soothing then this.'

'Jack!', the voice called again

'Yes', he said in a soft, timid voice, his heart started to race, he could feel the sweat droplet's form on his fore head

'Look behind you'

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and turned his head slowly, ready to face his fate, when he opened his eyes, he saw the most horrendous, unsettling thing, he had ever seen, his heart literally stopped in disgust, what he saw was Julia Gibson's face a few, inches away from him, he immediately turned to face the front, and fell to his knees.

'Oh, dear God, why did it have to be her, I know that I was a little bad in the past but I am trying to find myself by repenting with sleep, see when I am a sleep I am unable to do any sin, so I beg of you, please give me one more chance man.'

Jack rose to his feet, and sat down again, he did not even notice that his whole family was staring at him in utter amazement.

'Jack, are you alright my son?'

He turned towards his mother with a monk like expression on his face, 'I have never been better, mother I have seen the light and decided to change my ways.'

'I think that your son has finally and completely lost it, or he actually had a spiritual conniption.' his father whispered in his mother's ear'

'Brilliant, I always have been trying to get my children to pray more, but my efforts always seems go in vain, how do you do it?', this time, it was a soothing, soft calm and warm, mellow voice coming from behind them.

'Excuse me, I apologise for talking out of turn, my name is Elaina Gibson, and it is a pleasure meeting you all.'

Everyone turned their head simultaneously, and stared in amazement at the beauty from which the voice came from, as for Jack, he did not understand why everyone was in awe of Mrs Gibson, because to him she just looked like an older version of Susan, which was also a confirmation that Julia had to be adopted or someone let her in front of the Gibson door, and they had no choice by but to bare with her all this time.

'Uhm, Yes, Mrs Gibson, I recite a verse every night before I go to sleep.', his answer was so down right shocking that it also resulted in his sister fainting and brought everyone else back to earth(mostly the men.)

'Close your mouth John, have you never seen a woman before'. He heard his mother say to his father..

'That is great, and what is your favourite story in the holy bible?' the soft melodious voice spoke again, forcing any man to lean forward so that they could hear her speak some more.

'Well, I do not have a favourite one, since every single one of them have some enormous moral value and a lesson behind them, but if I were to choose, I suppose I would pick the one, where the man give three of his students, a talent and to see what they would do with it, but then one of them was smart enough to plant them and from it grew a giant tree, which touched the sky, and the student then climbed it to see what was on top, and what he found was a silver flamingo which laid golden eggs, which he took to his mother, which she used to buy herself a big mansion, it really speaks to me in a spiritual sense.'

Looking at everyone's expression Jack could not feel anymore proud of his self, thinking that what he just said was so profound, that it left them all speechless, but in actually fact they all were just mind raped.

'Jack, I am unable to recall or understand this story you speak of.' replied Julia, still struggling to process the story.

' I do not expect you to understand anything, since you do not even understand proper manners.' He mumbled to himself.

'What was that?'

'No, nothing I just coughed in Japanese.' He replied in a sarcastic tone.

The service was almost at its end and Jack and Julia did not even notice that they have been going at each other the entire time, the collection boy were passing the bags around and Jack had received money from his mother to donate to the church but he had other plans for that money, if he could pull of one of his brilliant acts, he could end up saving himself enough money to buy himself, not one but two toffee apples.

'Jack are you not going to put the money in?'

'Yes, mother I am going to, I am just getting the money out of my pocket.'

'Well, how deep is your pocket?'

'Mother please, I did not manufacture these clothes, please tell him, that I would give the money at the end, when we go out, then I will give him the money at the end of the service, once I get this bloody money out of my pocket.'

'Jack how dare you use such words in the church?'

'What words mother, I do not recall saying anything that would offend these respectful people in the house of our father and if I had, may he forgive me for my transgressions.'

Not wanting to indulge further in her son's mental condition, she turned to face straight forward.

As they were heading out of the church his mother turned to him once again.

'Jack did you give the money to the collector.'

He look straight into his mother's eyes and said, 'Of course I did mother, did not see me go to the front and put in the money, it was while you were talking to Mrs Morris.'

His mother stopped dead in her tracks and tried to remember if she had seen her son walked up to the front, after a while she gave up, 'Fine, if you say so.' after deceiving his mother, he got an insidious smirk on his face.

'Guess, who is getting toffee apples?, I am, the greatest actor of all time, God, it feels good to be bad sometimes, I guess this is why, people, gather around tragic events and death, because the darkness is intrinsically rewarding.'