Fighting For Ava

*12*

"Seven dollars for just a round of laundry! Isn't that so cool? We've got to give the best first impression ever. She could offer more next time!"

Jethro shook his head in frustration as Mother T babbled and grinned. The woman had kept to her words. She had woken him this morning and told him about a woman her friend, Pearly had introduced her to. She had been so thrilled about the woman offering good pay for just a round of laundry.

Jethro had grunted and struggled up from his bed. He grasped a bottle from his desk and wiped his face with water before frowning at the woman, "Doesn't she have kids that can do the laundry?" He asked or yelled.

Mother T just put her arms akimbo and shot him a disdainful glare, "And I wonder how people like you will feed if her kids do the laundry." She spat and Jethro could only groan at her back as she stumped out.

That was how badly the morning had started for him and Rose had made it worse by giving him some mocking laughter and tongue out before she left for school.

Now, here he was, sitting in a bus with Mother T as they headed to wherever they would do the laundry. He cried mentally at the reality of him doing that while his mates were in school. He caused it anyways.

He brought out his cellphone and searched for a song to soothe himself, and yeah, he found a perfect one.

' I will overcome ' by Welshly Arms.

He would certainly overcome all these he had put himself into. He closed his eyes to fully suck in the lyrics of the song, and once in a minute, he would open them to corner a look at Mother T. The woman had also understood his sullen mood and had stopped talking to him. She rather tapped her fingers excitedly on the little bag on her lap and grinned at everyone that locked eyes with her on the bus. Jethro snorted when he saw that.

"You'll get down now, won't you!" Mother T sneered at him as an electronic voice announced that they had reached Gresham park. He shuffled down the aisle and trudged behind the woman until she got to a red villa and rang the bell, "A smile Monkey! Your teeth showing." Mother T bellowed at him and gave a demonstration of a wide grin.

"We aren't here for a dental campaign, Mum," Jethro said tiredly and before Mother T could fire a word back, the door yanked open and Jethro went dead on a spot.

Finn!

His lips parted in a mix of shock and disbelief. He stared back at Mother T in horror and Finn gave a smile that could never be misinterpreted.

"The laundry woman, right?" Finn asked Mother T.

"Yes, yes." The woman grinned.

"And he's the laundry boy?" Finn smirked, motioning to the breathless Jethro.

"Yes. He's..my..son." Mother T stuttered in embarrassment as she noticed the cold smile on Finn, "Is ma'am around?" She asked, trying to dissolve the awkward moment that was quickly developing between Finn and her son.

"Yes, she is," Finn replied with an insincere smile and pushed the door wide for them to come in. He purposely lurked within the door as they moved in and whispered some scornful words into Jethro's ears, "Laundry boy." He laughed and then swiftly straightened his face as he looked at Mother T, "You can sit, I'll go call ma'am now." He said politely.

"Okay. Thank you son" Mother T nodded and eased into a nearby chair.

Jethro locked eyes with Finn again and the boy gave him an annoying wink before walking triumphantly down an adjacent hall.

"Sit and stop frowning, you jerk!" Mother rumbled at him and he crashed senselessly into a sofa, causing the woman to stare disgustingly at him.

Jethro rubbed his palms furiously over his face, still trying to fathom what was happening. He would be doing the laundry at Finn's house? No-- he shook his head-- he would be doing the laundry for Finn, that's it. Heck! His head screamed and he wished he could just sink into the chair and be seen no more.