My Best Friend

Chap 10 "Bad News"

Mike's POV
We got to Mia's house and the ambulance, fire truck, and police were there. "Is everything okay?" I asked.
"Most likely a false alarm since my brother couldn't get ahold of me," Mia sighed. "This always happens."
A police walked up to us. "I'm glad you're the one checking up on us, Officer James," Mia smiled.
"Mia," Officer James started.
"I know, I'm very sorry about this," Mia nodded. "I'm going to be home a lot more now."
The officer's facial expression was giving me a bad feeling. "Mia, let's hear what the officer has to say," I nodded.
"Can I speak with you alone, Mia?" Officer James asked.
"You can say anything in front of Mike," Mia nodded. "You know that. What's going on?"
"Mia, focus," I nodded.
"Mia, your mother just died," Officer James calmly stated.
"You can't be serious, right?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, I wish I was lying through my teeth," Officer James. "She had a mild seizure and that seizure had escalated to have a heart attack." Mia squeezed my hand as the paramedics rolled the gurney out of her home with the body bag on it. "I'm sorry for your loss Mia. I know she was the only one you had left."
"Officer James," Mia chocked, holding in her tears. "What's going to happen to my brother? What's going to happen to Terry?"
"With him only being 17 he will be put into foster care unless you have proof of income that you could take care of him," Officer James sighed. "So, if you can provide that information tomorrow morning at court, you and your brother will be able to live together. If you don't, he'll be in foster care until he's 18."
"We'll figure something out," I nodded. "Is it okay if we come by and get her things tomorrow?"
"You have two weeks to pack up if you wish to move," Officer James nodded and left.
Mia had turned her back to the scenes and hugged me. She started crying into my chest. "Mike, we can't let Terry spend his senior year in foster care," Mia said in between breaths. "We have to find a way to get him out."
"We will," I nodded as we let go of each other. I wiped her tears. "I think I know how we can get this done."
"How?" Mia asked, her eyes glistening. "I'm willing to do anything."
"Well, we're going to need Mentor's help now," I nodded. "We are Samurai Rangers and I'm sure Mentor Ji could give us a few days stay at the Shiba house and I'll talk to my parents and see what we could do."
"Really?" Mia asked. I nodded. "Okay." She calmed herself down a little bit. "We need to head back to the Shiba house then."
We walked back to the Shiba house. Mentor and Jayden were playing guitar at the table next to the outside pad. "Mia," Jayden said as he put his guitar down. "Everything okay?"
"Can you take her inside and get her resettled in?" I asked. "I need to talk to Mentor."
"Yeah," Jayden nodded taking Mia inside.
"Mike, what's wrong?" Mentor asked.
"Mia just lost her mom because of a heart attack," I sighed. "We were wondering if it was okay for us to use our Samurai salary to get Terry, Mia's little brother." I looked at Mentor Ji. "We just don't want him to spend his senior year in foster care and be out when he's 18. We only need a couple days here. I need to go and talk to my parents and see if they will house Mia and Terry with us until Mia and I could find a place of our own."
"Of course Mike," Mentor nodded. "You could stay here as long as you'll like."
"Thank you, Mentor," I nodded. I walked inside to find Mia sitting in the common room with Jayden in complete silence. "Mia?" She looked at me. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, just shaken up," Mia nodded. "What did Mentor say?"
"We can stay here for as long as we like," I nodded. "But I was going to go and see if my parents will let us stay with them until we can find a place of our own."
"Anything you guys need, I'm here for you," Jayden nodded. "We're family."
"Thanks Jayden," Mia smiled.
"I'm going to make you some chamomile or jasmine tea to calm your nerves," Jayden smiled. "Or coffee?"
"Tea," Mia and I sternly stated.
"Tea it is," Jayden nodded walking into the kitchen.
"So, all the information is with Mentor," I sighed. "If my parents won't go along with it, we have to take Mentor with us because he's going to be housing us."
"I know, Mike," Mia nodded. "I know." She looked at me. "Why don't you go talk to your parents and see what they say."
"Are you going to be okay here, alone?" I asked.
"Mike, it's the Shiba house," Mia replied. "Go, I'll be fine."
"I'll be back," I nodded. I put my bags down next to Mia's and went to my parents house. I walked through the front door. "Mom? Dad?"
"Mike," Mom smiled hugging me. Dad walked in and hugged me. "You're home. Where are your bags?"
"About that, something has come up," I nodded. "Mia's mom just passed and I was wondering if you could give my old room to Terry?" I looked at my parents. "His hearing is tomorrow and Mia doesn't want him in foster care."
"What about you and Mia?" Mom asked.
"Mia and I are still at the Shiba house," I nodded. "We need you to take Terry in. Mom, you don't know what could happen in foster care. Please?"
"We'll be at the hearing tomorrow," Dad nodded. "Mrs. Watanabe actually gave us a second copy to something that will hold up in court."
"Thank you," I nodded. "This means a lot to both Mia and I."