Page 69 of You & Me: Part One

“Here, borrow mine,” I say handing him mine.

Out of habit when he starts to write he pushes up his sleeves on his jacket and cringes. I can just barely see the burn on his forearm but it’s enough to send a protective rage through me.

“Jesse, look at me,” I order and all the sweetness has left my tone.

Still refusing to look at me and sounding exhausted, he pleads with me once more. “No Miss Jacobs, just leave it alone.”

Standing from the table I announce, “Jesse is gonna help me run to get some supplies, Mrs. Colyer, We’ll be right back. Austin, have her look at your essay when you’re done if I’m not back in time.”

Jesse doesn’t move.

“Would you like me to cause a scene in front of the whole class or would you like to go sit in the Commons and talk to me?”

With that he abruptly gets up and the sliding sound of his chair gets everybody’s attention while he storms out of the classroom ahead of me. We don’t say anything until we reach the Commons. He throws himself into a chair at the nearest table and I sit across from him.

Because we’re out in the open and anybody that walks by can see and hear us he whispers, “Miss J, you don’t understand. I can’t let you get involved in this. I have to stay in my home with my brother and if they make me leave I won’t be there to protect him.”

He finally lifts his head to me and I can see that his left eye and temple are severely bruised. He lifts his jacket sleeve and shows me burn marks. I try my very best not to gasp out loud, but inside I am cursing and trying to catch my breath.

“Jesse, did your mom or dad do this to you?”

“My mom isn’t around.”

“So, it was your dad.”

No reply.

“Are those cigarette burns, sweetie?”

With tear filled eyes, this six-foot plus boy who scares most of the other kids in school away with just a look pleads with me. “Listen, you can’t take me away. Who will watch over William?”

“Jesse, let’s see what we can do to help you. Let’s go on up to the counselor’s office and talk to somebody. As an employee, I have to report any abuse that I see, but hopefully we can get both you and your brother somewhere safer.”

“Do you really think we could both get out?”

“I can’t make any promises, but I am sure there is always a chance, Jesse.”

I cannot believe I am headed to happy hour after the day I’ve had. After a couple of hours in the office with Jesse and the authorities, I was an emotional mess and Cami thinks happy hour is just what I need. I hope I did the right thing for Jesse and for William. I just want them to be safe. The social worker from the Department of Human Services says that they’ve reached out to their Grandmother, and she’s going to pick them both up and stay with them while things get figured out. They’re issuing a warrant for his dad’s arrest and hopefully, if Jesse continues to cooperate, his dad won’t be coming home anytime soon. Thank goodness he’s still 17 and not an adult yet or things may not be going as well as they are as far as getting the boys removed from the house together. I left him with our School Resource Officer, Officer Blackburn, and even though I knew he was in good hands, I hated to walk away from him.

After dropping Ireland off at my mom’s and meeting at Cami’s place, we hop in her car and head down to The Observatory to meet Alex. It’s our favorite little spot, with the best drinks, and oh my God the oregano fry bread is to die for! I’m really not in the mood for this but I appreciate Cami trying to help. To be honest, I miss my best friends. I’ve lived with Cami for the last eight years and not seeing her every day has been more of an adjustment than I anticipated. She really is my rock and I owe her so much. And I feel like I have years of catching up to do with Alex. I think I can manage a happy hour if it means time with the two of them.

I fill them in on the details of poor Jesse, and what a great friend Austin was. That he made sure that an adult saw what was happening, and got him help. reassures me that I made the right decision and that I deserve an adult beverage to celebrate.

Since I’m not much of a drinker, my plan is just to have one drink but Cami seems to have other plans. We manage to find three stools at the bar so we belly up and order our drinks. Our favorite adult beverage, here at The Observatory, is the Chelsey’s Bellini. It’s ridiculously sweet but sooo good. It’s made with pear vodka, peach puree and champagne. One is all that’s needed for this light-weight. My plan is to sip slow and fill my tummy with fry bread.

We order our drinks and bread as we talk about Cami’s new job in Real Estate, Alex and her job as an event planner, my Masters classes and job at the school. The bar is slowly getting louder and warmer. There is a group of guys that look like they just got off work and are looking to blow off some steam. As always, Cami zeroes right in on them.

“Hey chica, I bet I can get us some free drinks.”

“I don’t want any free drinks, but you go right ahead. I’m happy right here with my fry bread.”

“Oh no, you’re the one who had the shit day. You are drinking!”

“Cami, I have to go to work tomorrow and I have Ireland to take care of. I cannot get shitty.”

“One shot won’t kill you.”

“Have you met me? I barely drink, let alone do shots. You go right ahead though, and I’ll drive us home, but there is no way I am doing shots!”

---