A Boy Named Jasper {Wattpad Featured Novel}

<Jasper> A Boy Who Can't Give Him a Chance

Chapter 25

<Jasper Coven>

It's Christmas morning, which should be the happiest morning of the year, but after Charlie's death, it kind of lost its magic. Before he died, we'd come down early in the morning and check for gifts that we thought Santa had left for us. My mom took extra special care to make it look Santa came and she did all she could to make every Christmas one to remember. It was also the only day of the year my dad was sober and even he'd make an extra effort to be somewhat kind to us that one morning every year.

After Charlie died, there were no more presents under the tree. No more decorations around the house; no more smells of baking pies or cooling cookies that my mom loved so dearly. My dad spends every day drunk and hasn't made any more efforts to be nice to us. Since Christmas was so close to Charlie's death, no one in my house really feels much like celebrating come December 25th. My mom usually spends every Christmas morning staring at pictures of Charlie or cradling some of his old kid's things. I usually hang out in his room or comfort her. My dad, on the other hand, usually spends Christmas cutting into his old whiskey reserves.

This Christmas is going to be different, though, because my dad's gone and that's something to celebrate. I'm currently standing in line at the only grocery store that's actually open on Christmas day. My arms are laden with food for Christmas dinner and flowers for my mom to help brighten up the house. The cashier calls me up and I place the food and flowers on the counter. The cashier smiles and rings them up.

"What're you gonna make with these things?" The cashier smiles brightly as I hand her my credit card.

"A nice dinner for my mama."

"Well, aren't you the sweetest." The cashier says politely and hands me the receipt to sign. "Merry Christmas."

"Thank you." I reply and take the bags in my hands. "Same to you."

With that I walk out of the automatic doors of the grocery store and make my way back to my truck. Rain dots the black pavement of the parking lot and the gray clouds above me make it hard to be cheery. I put a smile on my face anyway and unlock my truck, placing the groceries in the passenger's seat. I'm about to start driving when my phone rings loudly in my pocket. Mrs. Arthurs number pops up on the screen and I answer it almost immediately, wondering why she'd be calling me on Christmas of all days.

"Jasper, baby, are you there?" Mrs. Arthurs asks in a rushed voice from the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, what do you need?" I say politely, running my fingers through my hair.

"Sweetheart, I know this isn't the news you want to hear on Christmas, but your daddy was released this morning." Mrs. Arthurs lets out a deep breath and I feel my heart skip a few beats.

"You can't be serious..." I mutter venomously.

"I wish I wasn't. baby, but I can't stop it; a police car is driving back to your house from Odessa with your father in it."

"No, he's not allowed anywhere near my mom and me." I choke out, tears clouding my vision and anger coursing through my veins.

"My hands are tied; he served his time and as much as I wish I could keep him in prison longer, he could only be charged for that one offence that broke your mama's arm." Mrs. Arthurs says in a strained voice, as if she's trying to contain her own sadness.

"He can't come back." I shout and bang my fist on the dashboard.

"Jasper, I'm going to meet you at the house; you grab your mama and you guys are gonna come stay with me until we figure out some more permanent living arrangements. I'll be there in ten minutes."