Jason and Justin

Chapter 13 Jane

Two months ago....

                                                                                 Jason's POV

"I think its a horrible idea."   Jane said as she sat at the dinner table.  They had just told her about sending Justin to Pine Coast with Jason.  And predictably she was not taking the news very well.  "I can't believe you are thinking about doing this mother."  She shot a barrage of invisible daggers at her mother.

"We are just not thinking about dear."  My mother told her. "We've already paid for his room and board and have him enrolled in the high school."

"How can you do this to him."  Jane began tto tear up.  "How can you be so heartless." 

"We're not being heartless."  

"Yes you are daddy."  Jane said to him forcefully.  "You are both being heartless monsters."  She then looked at who was sitting at the table with his head down.  He had barely eaten his food and not spoken to anyone beyond saying hello.  "I'm sorry Justin."  She said to him and he looked up at her.  "I'm sorry that our parents are such horrible human beings Justin."

"They are not horrible human beings."  I said quickly coming to our parents defense. "They are doing the right thing for Justin."

Her eyes narrowed as she said "I can't believe you are going along with this Jason."

"Go along with it."  Justin smirked. "It was his idea."

"What."  She shouted and glared icily at her brother.  "This was your stupid idea."

"Yes."   I said as my cheeks went warm with anger.  "And it is not a stupid idea."

 Disgust filled her face.  "It is a  stupid idea.  Its stupid and sick  and twisted."

"Stop being so over dramatic Jane."  My mom said her patience wearing thin with her oldest child. "It is not sick and twisted."

"Yes it mother."  Jane then looked at her husband Reuben who had just been sitting there quietly not wanting to get into the middle of their fight. "Tell them Reuben."

Reuben shifted in his seat nervously as he tried to think of what to say.  He then coughed and said "I don't think its a good idea."  He began to sweat and I could tell that he was not happy with Jane for pulling him into the conversation.  "I think Jason is too young for such responsibility."

"No I'm not."  Jason said.

"Jason you are only eighteen."  My mom said.  "You are not ready to be a parent.  Especially a parent to a sixteen year old boy.""

I've been parenting him since I was fifteen I thought.

"Is this really how you want to spend your college days."  Reuben said.  "Looking after your sixteen old brother."'

"Yes."  I said without hesitation. "Because again it was my idea.  If I did not want to do it I would have not suggested it in the first place."

"There is something wrong with you."  Jane said shaking her head.  "There is something  very wrong with you." 

"There is nothing wrong with him."  Jan angrily said.  "He is just trying to be a good brother."

"Is that what you think Justin?"  Jane said to him.  "Is Jason  just trying to be a good brother?"

Justin looked at her and then at me and back to her as he debated with how to answer.  "I think he is."  He said to her displeasure.  "He is own way."

"He is only saying that because he afraid of getting in trouble with you."  Jan said.  "He doesn't really think you are being a brother.  He thinks you are being a cruel jerk and he hates you for it."  Her words were like a dagger to my heart but nothing compared to what she said next. "And I hate you for it."