No one spoke as Kenji drove to where Joel said he was staying. Each of them was wondering what was going to happen next and each of them afraid for different reasons. Joel was afraid for himself, it had been lucky thing that Andrew had broken his left hand as opposed to his right, he wouldn't be able to take notes or do class work otherwise. Patricia as worried about Kenji, she knew that although he was at heart a gentle spirit that he wouldn't hesitate to come to her defense no matter the cost. She said her prayers that nothing happened that he would need to defend her. They weren't worried about the name-calling, but if Andrew Kelley or anyone else touched her ..... Kenji was afraid not for himself but for Patricia and Joel, he didn't know how he could protect both of them but Patricia was the priority. Joel had to learn how to stand up for himself; he had to learn how to defend himself against the likes of Andrew Kelley.
"You can let me out here." Joel said after telling Kenji to make a right hand turn.
Kenji and Patricia looked around and then at each other.
"Where is your home?" Kenji asked.
"Not far from here." Joel replied, "I can walk from here."
"We can take you to your home." Kenji said, "It is no trouble."
"No thank you." Joel replied softly as he picked up his bag grimacing when he bumped his left hand. "Thank you for helping me."
Kenji watched Joel as he got out of the car and walked away, he was struck at how lonely Joel looked and at the defeated set of his shoulders. He wondered who had beaten him down so badly.
*******
"What is it kirei?" Kenji asked after they were back on the road.
"I want you to promise me something." Patricia replied.
"If it is a promise that I can keep." Kenji replied already knowing what the promise was.
"Promise me that you won't get into a physical fight with Andrew Kelley no matter what he does."
"I cannot and will not promise you that." Kenji replied. "I can and will promise you that I will try to avoid altercations with him of any kind."
"Kenji...."
"I know what you are thinking but if he harms or physically threatens you in any way then I will address the issue."
"What about Joel?" she asked.
"I will help him as much as I can but you are my priority."
"I understand that but I don't want our chances of graduating blown to bits because of Andrew and his friends."
"Understood but Kirei, what kind of man and husband would I be if I allowed something to happen to you just so that I could meet my goals?" Kenji asked, "I would rather work as a servant than have you harmed in any way. You and the children will always come before anything else."
Patricia didn't argue any further, she heard the resolve in his voice and knew that it was pointless.
*******
Joel waited until he was sure that Kenji had pulled away before beginning his walk home. He had lied when he told them that he lived close to where they dropped him off, he actually lived more than ten city blocks away. He bit back a groan as he tried to put his bag into his left hand, tears of shame ran down his face as he remembered crying and begging like a baby not to be hurt. Why did he think that once he became an adult that things would change?
He began walking and ended up in front of an abandoned store. After looking around, Joel slipped to the back of the building and into the back door. He had to get moving, it would soon be too dark for him to read. He took the lunch leftovers from his bag and divided it into thirds, he had enough for three meals only and if he had to he would spend a little of his money to supplement his meager rations.
The store had belonged to his parents and now belonged to him. He knew that if he sold it his life would be so much easier but this was the one place where he had always felt safe and loved. When his parents died, they left him enough money that it paid for school and books but little else hence no electricity. He only left the water on out of necessity... he had to bathe and wash his clothes.
After dividing the food up Joel decided that he couldn't study, his hand throbbed so badly that he wouldn't have been able to concentrate anyway. He put the food away and went to his "room" where he undressed being careful not to bump his hand. He lay on the mattress and closed his eyes trying to rest but Kenji and Patricia kept coming to mind. Tears started again as he thought about his humiliation and the thought that he would never find the kind of love and respect that Kenji and Patricia clearly had for each other.
******
They were late and Niko was almost beside himself with panic as he gripped the handkerchief that he was keeping safe for his papa. Uncle Ralph told him that they would be home soon but that seemed like such a long time ago and the sun had already gone down.
"Come on Niko and eat." Abby encouraged, "They'll be here soon."
He wasn't convinced; he could tell that Aunt Abby and Uncle Ralph were getting worried although they were trying not to show it. The only one who seemed oblivious to the worry was Marie who happily ate her dinner as she chattered about whatever came to mind.
As soon as he heard the car pull into the garage Niko took off at a run and ran right into Patricia. He couldn't help it; he started to cry as she wrapped his arms around her legs.
Patricia picked him up and hugged him, "It's alright, we're home now." she soothed grateful that it was the weekend.
Kenji left their bags in the car and went to them, "Niko, all is well, and we are here now."
Niko reached for Kenji and hugged him. Kenji returned the hug and wondered why Niko was still so fearful of their leaving. It was something that he planned to find out and address over the weekend but not now, Niko was much too upset.