"So, just wait here. Do not touch anything and if somebody comes in, just tell them we're on our way out, ok? Don't annoy anyone, please!" Street pleaded as he guided the boy to the room.
"C'mon, pops, you know I'ma angel!" the kid said with a smile as he dumped himself into one of the chairs
"Yeah, well, that's tough to believe!" he said as he opened the fridge and took out a water bottle. He placed it on the table in front of Rubio, then continued "Do not open the fridge...coz if you touch something of Hondo's or Hicks', both of us are ending in a shelter tonight! I'm not kidding!" he said sternly, pointing at the boy
"Those are nice." Rubio snapped
"You wanna go back?" Street stopped halfway, placing both hands on his hips
"If you don't clean, ma is gonna kick us out anyway, pops!" he answered shaking his head
"Hey! That" he paused as he took some seconds to think, "has nothing to do with this conversation, boy!"
A loud giggle was heard from the young man, as Street approached him and lightly wrestled.
"Hey, everything's gonna be ok. We'll be ok." he said placing a gentle hand on the teen's shoulder
"I know pops. I'm sorry about freaking out."
"I told you, you don't need to apologize. I do. I'm sorry for scaring you like that." he said stepping back and taking a seat across from the boy, "Listen, the therapies and sessions are going to help you, ok? I'll help you through it, just...trust me. I'll never do anything to hurt you."
The teenager hung his head low, then raised his gaze up to Street. "Ok." he said nodding slowly
"Just...when you feel scared, say so. I can't help you if you don't talk to me. I know what it's like, ok? Having to defend yourself from bigger dudes, guys that wanna beat you to a pulp, break every single bone in your body for fun. I know. I also felt the stares from men and their hands getting to close to me in the train or the bus or stuff like that." he paused, "I don't ever, ever, ever want you to feel or even think I could get those thoughts coz I'll never do anything to hurt you. I'll never want you to live in fear like I lived. And your mom? She also knows a thing or two of the same fear you live with every day and it's a struggle for her too, buddy. You heard her. She understands you."
"Yeah." the kid said. Suddenly a smile appeared in his face, as he giggled softly.
Street was confused. "What's so funny?"
Rubio placed both arms of the table and leaned forward. "When we finish the last session and the doctor tell me to go home, I feel better. Ma told me she knew what it was like to be assault victim but that it wasn't my fault because the creepy one is the man that come after me. Then, when the doctor was talking to you she say something that make me laugh." the boy paused to giggle softly again, "¡Ma está pasá!" (Mom, is the best!) he whispered
"What does that mean? What she say?"
"Means, she the goat!" he said with a wide grin
"Are you gonna tell me what she told you or not?"
The boy wiped his lips, gazed out, then returned his stare to him. "She said not to tell you because she gonna say it to you."
Street took a deep breath and even though curiosity was killing him, his stench was mortifying him even more. So, he decided to let it go and ask Chris later. For now, he had to think of the big meeting they were about to have.
He departed, repeating the instructions to the teenage boy. Some minutes went by and the boy sat quietly with his cellphone, giggling to himself.
"So, I told Nichelle she better not give my baby girl no weird hood name, you know?"Hondo said coming in through the far side door, follow by Deacon who shook his head slowly
YOU ARE READING
Unexpected 8: Stand Proud
FanfictionStory #8 An attack has the force divided between ranks as Chris must make a decision that could cost her everything she's worked so hard to achieve, professionally and personally. SWAT witnesses as one of their own grows and takes charge, against al...
