by Rani Clark
Jaska hung up the phone and stood on the lawn, pacing and thinking over what to ask. With Ty half asleep he had a better chance at this than when he was wide awake and able to dodge things while using his entire brain. Ty stepped out of the front door in a jacket that was a size too large for him. He was in his pajamas and his hair was a mess.
“You know, we have a test tomorrow. That’s what you said by the way.”
“I am very aware. Ty, is something going on with your parents?”
Ty stared at him, bleary eyed, “Yeah, they’re getting a divorce.”
“Is that why you’ve been acting so strange lately?”
Ty blinked again; he seemed surprised that he had admitted something. Jaska was finding this easier than he thought it would be. “Ty?”
“Kind of. I don’t want to stay with my dad, but I don’t think my mom wants me. My dad . . . all he does is work. I don’t remember the last time we really talked or he didn’t touch me without being a bit rough.”
“A bit? What do you-?”
“Nothing, I just don’t want to stay with my dad.” Ty shrugged, “Your parents are divorced and you’re fine.”
“Ty-”
“I don’t want to talk about this.” He rubbed his eyes, “I’m tired and I want to maybe get a B on the test. I’ll-I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Ty, hang on.” Jaska pulled him into a hug, “It’s going to be alright. Divorce doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes it’s what needs to happen. Things will get better.”
They stood for a moment. Jaska was sure this was making Ty feel better, he had been told hugs made people feel better. He heard a shout as he was about to ask another question. He let go of his friend and looked to see a man standing on the porch. The man looked angry. Jaska wasn’t sure why as he watched the man march over. He was a thicker version of Ty with graying hair and muscular arms.
“What in the hell is going on?” he demanded.
“Oh, uh, dad this is my tutor Jaska. He’s the one who-”
“Why was he hugging you?”
Jaska stared at him, “He seemed upset during our study session so I thought that I would come over and talk to him to see if I could make him feel better.” He wasn’t expecting to be grabbed and shoved into the grass. His heart pounded in his chest and his breathing came in gasps as he was pressed down hard by the angry adult. “I-I’m sorry it’s late,” he choked out.
“Dad! Stop!” Ty tried to pull him off, “What are you doing?”
“Stay away from my son you little faggot,” he growled, pressing him hard before standing up. “Ty, get in the house. Now!”
Jaska leapt up and ran as fast as he could away from the house. His throat burned and his chest throbbed where he had been hit. He was confused and felt like crying, his breath was coming in gasps. He had never been attacked by an adult like that before and it was terrifying. His body shook, tears threatened to overwhelm him as he continued running until he reached his apartment. Forgetting that he had sneaked out he burst through the front door, hitting his knees painfully. His mother, who had fallen asleep on the couch, leapt up.
“What-? Jaska?” She turned on the light, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
Jaska looked up at his mom and sniffled, “I-I snuck out to see Ty. He was upset so I thought I would see if I could . . . help. I fell on the way home.”
The lie came out automatically and he didn’t know why. He stood and wiped his nose from the cold. His mother shook her head, “Why did you go out now? Honey, go to bed. You have school in the morning.”
He nodded and went to his room before his mother realized he was lying. He fell into his bed and began to cry, his eyes hurting with the force of it.
2
Ty didn’t look at him all day. He barely saw him until after school when he was getting things from his locker. Ty walked up to him and looked at him in silence for a few moments before speaking. “I can’t-”
“Did he hit you?” he looked at his friend’s face. It didn’t look bruised.
“Jaska, what he said, what he called you, I can’t apologize enough.”
He shut the locker and twisted the lock, “I have bruises on my chest from where he shoved me.”
Ty leaned against the lockers and folded his arms across his chest, “He shouldn’t have hurt you, you made me feel better.” He waited to speak until two students had passed them, “Is that why you did that?”
“Yes. I was worried. You’ve been acting strange. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.” He slung his bag over his shoulder, “If you want to kiss me you can. I know that it makes you feel better. I don’t really want you too, but under the circumstances I think it would be alright.”
Ty blushed and followed him as he began to walk. “Uh, no, I-I think I’m fine.”
Jaska nodded, “How did you do on your test?”
Talk switched to school. Ty walked home with him, discussing their exams. It wasn’t one of their scheduled study nights, but he came to the apartment anyway. His mother wasn’t home, neither was Margo since this was her karate night, so they sat on the couch and began their homework. Jaska tapped his pencil on the book.
“Ty, perhaps you should come to Germany with me?”
Ty looked up from his homework, “What?”
“I don’t like it that you’re miserable or that your father is the way he is. Come to Germany with me. It will be fun. My grandparents are nice and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. I mean, I have to ask, but-”
“My parents won’t let me. Not after what my dad did to you.”
“Does your mom know about any of this?”
“No.”
“Tell her. They’re getting a divorce and I am sure it wouldn’t matter either way.”
Ty chewed the inside of his cheek before speaking, “I guess.”
Jaska didn’t know what to do or say. He wanted Ty to be alright; he was worried about him. “Ask when you get home. I’ll call my grandparents.” If there was someone who would understand any of this it would be his grandparents and his mother. The two worked on their homework until six when Lilly Ann came home. She greeted the two happily.
“Are you staying for dinner, Ty?” she asked.
“Oh, um, not tonight.” He looked at his watch, “I actually have to get going.” He stood and began packing his bag, “I’ll call you later, Jaska.”
Jaska nodded as his friend left. “Mom, I want him to come to Germany with me. He needs this. Please.”
Lilly Ann stared at her son, “Mind if I ask why?”
“His parents are getting a divorce, his dad is really mean, and . . . and his mother doesn’t care.” Jaska sighed, “I know that they might not want him there, but I do.”
His mother didn’t speak for a moment. She set her bag down and took him in her arms, “Oh honey, you are the most caring person I have ever known.” She kissed his cheek, “I’ll call your grandparents.”
“Thank you, mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jaska took his backpack into his room and flopped down on the bed. He stared up at the ceiling. As he sat in his room he heard his mother talking to one of his grandparents. She was trying to explain him to them, they might not want anyone except their grandchildren with them. He tuned out for the conversation until he heard a knock on his door. “Come in,” he muttered.
Lilly Ann poked her head in, “Your grandparents are fine with him coming along. They said the more the merrier. I told them that Ty has to find out first if he can come.”
Jaska smiled, “Thank you. I appreciate you asking.”
“No problem. Pizza ok for dinner?”
“Yeah. Sounds good.”
Jaska went back out to the living room to watch television until the pizza guy showed up. He found himself drifting off until the doorbell rang. “That was fast, mind grabbing that?” she asked, handing him some cash before she stepped into the kitchen.
When he opened the door, he was met with a man he didn’t wan
t to see again. Ty’s father looked angrier than he had been when he had shoved Jaska to the ground. Ty stood behind him, his head down. “Mom!” he shouted, though he didn’t need to shout loudly. Their apartment wasn’t large.
Lilly Ann stepped out of the kitchen, “Mr. Montgomery, right? Your Ty’s father. How can I help you?”
“Your son had the nerve to invite Ty to go on a trip with him.”
“The nerve? Is there something wrong, Mr. Montgomery?”
“Yes! First he comes over in the middle of the night and now this? I told him to stay the hell away from Ty!” he roared.
Lilly Ann narrowed her eyes, “Don’t raise your voice at me. I don’t understand the problem. Yes, he shouldn’t have gone to your house in the middle of the night, but it was an honest mistake and I don’t understand why it’s so wrong that he invited his friend on a trip.”
“Oh, so he hasn’t told you what he did? Your little fairy of a son-”
Jaska put his hands over his ears. He didn’t want to hear this. He saw his mother begin to shout, Ty looked about to cry. What was so wrong with wanting to help his friend? He thought he was doing a good thing and now it was biting him in the ass. His mother slammed the door in Ty’s father’s face. She turned to her son and gripped his wrists gently. She pulled his hands away from his ears, tears in her eyes, and a frown on her face.
“Honey, you didn’t tell me what he said to you. What is going on?”
“Ty kissed me! I told him not to, I told him I didn’t want to. He only did it twice and then . . . when I went to his house his dad saw us hugging. He’s my friend, I feel bad for him. He’s confused and . . . I just wanted to help.”
“Oh sweetheart.” She hugged him, “You’re a very good person, I hope you know that. Go sit on the couch, I’ll get you a drink.”
The door opened and Margo stepped in still dressed in her karate outfit. “What was with the shouting? I heard it all the way down the block.”
“Ty’s father hates me.” He put his head in his hands, “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.”
As his mother handed him a mug of hot chocolate they heard another knock on the door. Jaska hoped and prayed it was the pizza man, but it wasn’t. Ty was at the door with a black eye and tears. “Ms. Byrne, I-I’m sorry about my father. I shouldn’t have asked if I could visit Germany. I didn’t mean to make everything worse.”
“Honey, what happened to your eye?” She reached out and gripped his chin, moving his face gently to better see the damage, “Did your father do this to you? Come inside so I can see that.” She stepped aside to allow him in.
Ty shook his head, “I . . . I deserved it. I-”
“Don’t you ever think that. Ever. Hang on, I’ll get you some ice.” She disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a blue ice pack. She put it gently on his eye, “Hold that there.”
“I’m sorry that I ruined your night. I didn’t mean to, I begged him not to come over here.”
Lilly Ann sighed, “Sit down, take a breath.” She sat on the arm of the couch, “I’ll call the police and we can go from there.”
Ty shook his head, “Please don’t. I know my dad is . . . please don’t call the police.”
“He hit you.”
“Just this once, I promise. Please don’t call the police.”
Lilly Ann glanced at Jaska, “I’m going to call your mother,” she told him as the doorbell rang. The pizza guy had finally showed up.
Jaska sighed heavily as his mother went to the kitchen with her black address book. “My grandparents said it was alright if you came to Germany,” was the only thing he could think of to say. He looked at his friend, “Does your mom know what happened?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think she really cares either way.” Ty shook his head, “I’m so sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault. Please stop apologizing.” Jaska stood and walked over. He gave Ty a hug, “It’ll be ok.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be.” He sniffled, “Thank you for everything. I probably won’t get to see you again after this.”
Lilly Ann came into the living room again, “Your mother will be here shortly and then you’ll be going to Germany with my children.”
“Really?”
“She said it would be best while she and your father talk about some things. I hope that’s alright.”
“It’s more than alright. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hope you like pizza.”
Jaska’s stomach was in knots. He picked at his pizza and couldn’t stop thinking about the awful things Ty’s father must have said. Margo tried to alleviate some of the pressure by talking about her karate class and their upcoming trip. The doorbell rang forty-five minutes later. Lilly Ann stood to get it, already looking on edge. Ty’s mother Alyssa was at the door. She was in tight jeans and a silk shirt, her blond hair done up in an attractive bun. Her nails were perfectly colored and her make-up expertly done.
“Ms. Byrne,” she said in a small voice, “I’m sorry to involve you in this mess. I didn’t know my husband-”
“I’m sorry, involve me?”
“I didn’t know he would bring Tyler over here.”
Lilly Ann stared for a moment, “Are you apologizing for him coming over or for your husband attacking your son?”
Alyssa stared at her, obviously not sure what to say. “I’m not sure-”
“Has he done this before to Ty? Right now, I don’t give a shit about you. What I want to know is if he has ever put his hands on Ty before.”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Alyssa Montgomery replied, standing up straighter with indignation in her voice. “This is a family issue.” She set a rolling suitcase and a backpack on the floor in the entryway, “I would rather him stay here while we work things out, but it’s really none of your business what his father does.”
Jaska could see his mother trying to keep her cool. She had had that look before when dealing with people. “It is my business if Ty is getting beaten by that asshole you call a husband. I’m not going to let that happen! If I have to go to the police than I will even though Ty’s asked me not to.”
Alyssa stared at her, obviously not sure what to say, “You work for a law office, right?”
“I do, Mrs. Montgomery. As we discussed Ty’s staying here so I would appreciate if you left. Now.”
Alyssa nodded and left, not saying anything to Ty before she did so. Lilly Ann slammed the door and took a deep breath.
“Wait to go mom,” Margo said with a smile. “I thought you were going to punch her.”
“I almost did.” She turned, “Well, I’ll get you a sleeping bag and you can sleep in Jaska’s room.”
Jaska leaned back as his mother dug into the hall closet for a sleeping bag and a mat. “Are you ok, Ty?”
“My mom wouldn’t ever do that kind of thing for me,” he muttered. “You’re lucky.”
Jaska reached over and took his hand as his mother set up the sleeping bag. He couldn’t deny he was lucky. His mother had risked a lot to protect them from their father, he had seen his father hit her for it. Every time he came home he knew he was lucky to have someone in his life who would protect him like she did.
3
Jaska didn’t like his father. Emotions weren’t his forte, but he was sure he didn’t love him. These visits made him sick and nervous; his mother had picked a place he enjoyed to try to make him comfortable and it didn’t work. They were waiting for their father outside of the entrance to the small zoo. Lilly Ann was beside them, she had already bought the tickets, and a social worker was with them. Jaska watched as a large, expensive truck parked in one of the close spaces. The man that got out filled Jaska with the kind of fear that he only felt when he saw his father.
Evan Powers was tall with brown hair cut short. He wore jeans and a flannel shirt. When he saw them he waved and walked over, giving Margo a big hug. Jaska was never given a hug. A handshake was all he got tha
nkfully.
“Sorry I’m late,” Evan said.
Jaska was thankful every day that their mother had wanted to keep her last name. The last name of an abusive asshole was the last thing he wanted.
Lilly Ann nodded, “Hello, Evan. How have you been?”
“Fine, I guess. Just working and the usual.” They walked through the entrance, the social worker following a few steps behind. “How have you guys been?” he directed the question at his children.
Margo began to tell her father about school and her friends. She didn’t have the awful memories of their father that her brother had. Jaska remembered being shouted at when he didn’t make the baseball team. He remembered being called names when he had cried after breaking his arm and he remembered hiding to try to avoid the physical punishments his father had been so very fond of.
