Freaks: Year Two

Death Stairs Or The Caretaker And His Evil Cat

"I just realised something really bad," Jasper said.

As soon as it was breakfast the next morning, Jasper had rushed down to the Great Hall and asked Christopher to follow him which he had (in his mind, he had hoped that it was something about Toby) and once they were out in the corridor, Jasper had started to explain his dilemma.

"My little brothers are all alone. Alone! Who is going to take care of them–"

"I'd say your parents, but we all know–"

"Shut up!" Jasper snapped. "This is serious. Toby is already upset enough that I told you...just...this is really bad, they can't take care of themselves, Ethan...he isn't...he is not ready for that type of responsibility, I don't know if he ever will be and...and...and mum, well she doesn't exactly...she isn't fond of magic...and if Edgar has an accident or...or...oh, god, I need to go back, don't I? I shouldn't have left, this is horrible, I can't–"

"Odair, what you need to do is sort things out with your brother first," Christopher said. "Write your brothers, see how they are, and talk to the brother who has been in the kitchens...and if you aren't ready for that, go to class at least."

"My brothers–"

"Look, it is a shitty situation and the only way we will fix it is if you both talk to each other, but...honestly...do you want my honest opinion?"

"Well...I don't kn–"

"Too bad, I'm giving it to you," Christopher said, cutting Jasper off. "The only way you two will ever make up is if you both are calm and ready...I have good experience with that...you know...yelling isn't the way to go about things and right now, I am very sorry to say this, but I don't think you're ready."

"Why...why not?"

"You need to calm down,'" Christopher urged. "You have been in this frenzy for...a while. Not even just in the past couple of days, but for a while, can you tell me why?

"I haven't been in a frenzy–"

"You have and until you can tell me why and until you have calmed down about it, I want you to go do what a normal kid would do."

"My brothers are–"

"Yes, I know, so write them," Christopher ordered. "But after that I need you to go eat breakfast, go to you fucking classes and then...just play, I don't know, gobblestones or something. Have a normal day, I know it sounds stupid, but hopefully it will calm you down just a little bit...think about what you want to say to your brother in a calm way, if you yell, he yells, and you both get angry your stress...it will just get worse."

"You know what has been stressing me out," said Jasper in disbelief. "What has always been stressing me out every single day of my bloody life, going to classes isn't going to fix that."

"So...going to your Defence Against The Dark Arts class, which you know, teaches you how to defend yourself from harm and danger, won't help your life...at all?" Christopher asked, an eyebrow raised. "Really?"

Jasper gave him a look. "Oh screw you."

"You know I am right," said Christopher. "There is nothing you can do right now except that and taking care of yourself so off to the Great Hall you go so you can EAT!"

"Sometimes I regret telling you."

"I figured it out."

"Okay, fine, but...but I figured you so...whatever."

"It is not a competition," Christopher said. "Stop standing here and go eat some actual food. What I hope is that you will be ready to talk to your brother tonight, do you think so?" Jasper was about to open his mouth to answer, but Christopher added, "In a calm manner?"