We Are Free

Tv Show Ups

The next morning around ten Emily is dropped off. I tell her about Ellen while we unpack her bag.
      "So we are going to be on tv?" Emily asks me.
      "Yes we are."
      "Are you scared?"
      "No not really."
      "Oh,I am."
     "It's okay baby. I will be right next to you. You can sit on my lap if you want to."
      "Okay." She puts her dirty clothes in her laundry hamper. I put her bag in her closet and we leave her room.
      "So?" Halo asks.
      "So?"
      "What she think?"
     "She is a little scared."
     "Well, she is only 6."
     "Yeah, she will be seven next month."
      "I know I can't believe it and Andrew will be 4."
      "Yeah they are getting big."
      "Time goes by."
      "That it does." The week goes by and we work. Monday we pack. We are staying the night at a hotel tomorrow. Andrew still has his finger splint. Tuesday we get on the road. When we get to Ellen it is 3:00. We have a hour before the show.
     Everyone is getting ready we see Ellen. She comes to us and gives us a hug. Emily and Andrew kinda hide behind me. They eventually come out and say hi. We get ready and people start filling up.
      "Are you nervous?" Ellen asks us.
      "Just a little bit." It has all hit me now. We are going on tv.    
      "I'm good." Halo says.
       "No your not."
      "How do you know?"
      "Your biting your nails."
      "Yeah, okay." I hand her a piece of gum.
      "Here."
"Thanks."
"You are welcome."
"Well, I will call you guys out here soon." Ellen says.
"Okay." I nod my head. She goes out on stage and starts talking. When the introduction is done she sits down.
"Well today I have something very special and some very special people with me. You may have seen his interview on the internet somewhere. He is taking the world by storm with his courage and bravery.
     He is seventeen and he is selflessly raising his little brother and sister with his girlfriend on his own. So with out further ado I wanna welcome Jace Parks, Emily Parks, Andrew Parks, and Halo Arthur!" They all start clapping and we walk out on stage I have Andrew in my arm on my hip. Emily was holding Halo's hand. We walk to Ellen and we get another hug then sit down. Emily sits inbetween Halo and I. Andrew sits on my lap.
"Well the world wants to know how do you feel?"
"Good, I feel good." I answer her.
"What about you Halo?"
"I'm good." Halo responds.
"That's good." Emily plays with the hem on her dress.
"So what's it like raising these two kids and I wanna hear from both of you?" Ellen asks us.
"It's hard, it's definitely not easy but I have to do it. If I didn't have the people I have around me I would be lost I don't know what I would do. I'm definitely thankful for what I have and I'm thankful that even though this is my life I have all the love I could ever imagine and all the support I could ever need. "
"I um new what I was getting into when we became a couple because I had known him before his mom died, I was there for all of it I was the one he opened up to. So getting into this relationship I knew what I was doing. I didn't care though.
     I loved him and I love the kids and even though it is hard, it's worth it. Being able to see that smile on their faces at night and being able to be there to see their big accomplishments it's worth it.
     I can't imagine what Jace went through doing it alone and he is greatful that every day he has me there to help him out. It's the little things and I can't imagine having it any other way." They all clap and so does Ellen.
"Do you think they knew what was going on?"
"Emily she saw it and understood that it was wrong. She didn't know why he did what he did or why he hated us. All she knew was that it was wrong. Andrew he didn't know and he didn't care he still don't.
     If one good thing comes out of all this I hope that it is they don't remember what happened. I will, I always will. I just hope they don't because that can ruin their childhood and I don't want that for them."
"Do you ever have night mares or flash backs of it?"
"Yes all the time. I will wake up in the middle of the night screaming. Halo is the only one that can calm me down. It's hard, I will hear or see something and I will wanna cry and shut down because it reminds me of something.
      The hardest thing to do it put on a mask and continue what you are doing because you have to that is your only choice. I can't count how many times I left my brother and sister with Halo or her mom or another friend and I spent all weekend in my room crying and not doing any thing else.
     I wouldn't eat and wouldn't sleep. My dad didn't care, he wasn't home. I did it because I couldn't take it any more. I didn't want them to see me like that. I still do it to. There are times I leave the kids with Halo for a little bit to go break down. It's hard but I do it."
I see a couple people wipe their eyes.
"When we come back we will talk about juggling a relationship, two kids, and a full time job." The lights dim out a bit and the audience claps. We take a break and play some games. We dance with the audience. We get back to the show.
"So Jace how do you do it. How do you balance everything?"
"It's just all balance give and take. Sometimes I have to sacrifice some time with Andrew because of Emily so Halo takes Andrew. Sometimes Halo and I don't get any time together. Most times we wait until night time in bed after the kids are in bed. So really it's just all about balance."
"Well I would hope you are balanced." The crowd laughs a little bit.
"Anyway people around you say you make it look easy do you view it as easy or as something different?"
"Well it's not easy having all the responsibility being so young but I could get everything done in one day that needs to be done and be in bed by 9-9:30. Even though I work til 5." The crowd starts clapping.
"You are like superman!"
"Maybe." I smile and Ellen laughs a little.
"So what do you do when you have down time?"
"Usually everyone gets together and we just goof off and have fun. We like to go out and go swimming, go to a fair, or just have a cook out. We aren't really picky as long as we are together and we are having fun."
"Well, that's good. Was there ever a time where Halo or Zac tried to step in to help?"
"Yeah they did and I went off on them."
"Why?"
"It wasn't their battle to fight and I wasn't going to let them get hurt. I would rather see myself get hurt then see them get hurt. Halo she is more proned to it because of her role in my life.
     She knew what she was doing and what she was getting her self into. Even though she did what she did and she is what she is in my life it's still not her battle. If my dad were to ever come back I wouldn't let her help me fend him off.
     Same with Zac. I ask for their help not their lives and that's what could be at stake if they jump in and I won't let that happen." The crowd starts clapping and cheering. I smile I feel like I have done something right. I feel proud.
"Halo what do you think of this?"
"Well he can be as hard headed and stubborn as I can. I was mad at him at first for telling us we couldn't help but to be honest now I see why he did it. He wasn't doing it so he could get hurt.
     He was doing it because he didn't want anyone going through what he went through. Once I understood that then I was fine. Just knowing he was okay and knowing the kids were okay was all I needed.
     He kept in touch often even if it was a simple one letter text so I knew he was okay. I just want the best for him and for the kids. Jace is strong and I know that if I were to leave tomorrow he could do it.
     He has done it before and as long as I know he's okay and they are okay I am okay with him fighting his own battles."
"That is a good answer." The crowd claps again.
"What did Zac think of this?"
"He was mad at first to because he is stubborn to. Now he's fine once he knew why I was doing what I was doing he was okay. Now since he's a dad he understands why I did what I did even more.
     I'm not Emily's or Andrew's dad but I play that role in their life. I'm grateful that they would risk their lives to save me but I don't want that. I just want to know that if I need them they are there and they are, to me that's all that matters. "
"Why didn't anyone think of calling the cops or helping you?"
"Everyone around me said they would call the cops and help me. I didn't want them to. If they did that we would have been separated and put into foster care.
     I couldn't imagine being in a house where I could be taken out of at any moment and not know where I was going to be next. I couldn't imagine them growing up like that. Yes, it was a little harder but my family is all I have and I'm it going to lose them.
     My dad however he wasn't as dumb as most think. He knew better then to hit me anywhere. He would hurt me and hit me where it wouldn't be shown. If he did hurt me outside of those zones it appeared accidental.
     He didn't hurt them as much as he did me. He might have pushed them every once and a while and hit them in the head. He wasn't stupid and he made sure they kept their mouths shut.
     Plus they knew if they told we would be separated and they didn't want that so Emily and Andrew just kept their mouths shut."
"Wow, that is truly heartbreaking. You are a very strong young man. Um, now I wanna talk to Emily and Andrew. So Andrew what is Jace to you?"
"A superhero." He say with a smile on his face.
"Why is he a superhero?"
"Because he does all these things in a day and still manages to get them done. He is there when we need him and he is a hero."
"Okay what is Halo to you?"
"She is my big sister." The crowd goes "awwww".
"Why is that?"
"She is always there for us and she helps us a lot. She acts like a big sister to us and she loves us."
"Do you love her?"
"Yeah forever and ever." Ellen smiles and so do we all.
"I know you are only 3 but what do you like to do?"
"I like to play with Legos and color. I like playing with my sister and helping Jace cook dinner."
      "What do you do if you help Jace cook?"
      "I put juice mix in a pitcher. I mix things and I put eggs in bowls."
      "That's cool do you like cooking?"
      "Yeah."
      "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
      "I don't know yet."
      "Okay." We start laughing then she goes to Emily. "Emily do you like having Halo?"
      "Yes."
      "Why?"
      "She is awesome." The crowd giggles a little.
     "Okay do you guys paint nails and do hair?"
     "Yeah and she dresses my dolls up to."
     "That's so sweet. So Jace we have something for you." I have a confused look. The door slides open and out comes a table it had a bunch of stuff on it. We stand up Halo puts Andrew on her hip. Emily takes my hand. Ellen grabs a big card.
      "So we want to give you 50,000 dollars to help with household things, clothes, food and all that good stuff." Ellen says. The crowd starts cheering.
      "No way!" I put my hand over my mouth she hands me the card.
      "Yes way." She says and the crowd starts laughing. "Plus box tops for education herd about you and that Emily is in school. They wanted to supply you guys with a bunch of school supplies.
     Then we didn't want Andrew going empty handed so we got him somethings as well. There is more to."
On the table was some clothes for the kids, shoes, toys, hair things for Emily. There was some things for me and Halo, school supplies, plus the card. I start crying. Halo does to.
      "Why are you crying."
      "I don't know."
      "Me either."
      "Well stop your make up is going to run." We all laugh a little and she gives us tissues. The kids give her a hug she grabs my shoulder and Halo's shoulder.
      "Okay, guys you deserve it. Take these things and help make a good life you are such an inspiration to everyone. Keep doing what you guys are doing. You are amazing people keep it up." The audience stands up and claps. They holler and cheer. Halo wipes her face trying to keep her mascara where it belongs. We go back stage and the kids sit on are laps.
      "I like Ellen." Emily says.
      "Yeah she is something." I tell her.
      "She is funny." Andrew says giggling .
      "Yeah she is." A half hour later she comes back.
     "Well I guess this is goodbye." She says.
     "Yeah thanks for having us just thank you for everything."
      "Your welcome things will be shipped to you in boxes. So expect that. I mean this when I say it. You are an inspiration to everyone. Now I want you to go home and take the money pay your bills, put food on the table, take a few days off of work, be as normal as possible. You deserve it." We hug them Halo gives her a hug.
     "Thank you so much."
      "Thank you."
      "Your welcome." We leave the studio we go to the hotel. I check the bank account she put it in mine.
      "Well ladies and gentlemen what should we do?" I ask.
     "I don't know." Emily says.
      "I want to go bowling." Andrew says.
     "How does that sound?"
     "Sounds fun, we could have dinner there to."
     "Yeah that sounds great." She looks up a place to go to. The kids get ready to go. I put my shoes on and she gets hers on. We get in the car and go to the bowling alley. We all get bowling shoes and go to the lanes.
     We go to a table and help with kids put their shoes on. We put ares on. We got them a ramp for the the balls. We also put the rails up. Halo and I don't have any rails up. The kids take turns pushing a ball down the ramp. Halo and I take turns putting a ball on the ramp for them. I roll the ball down the alley and get a strike.
      "Yeah, I'm good!" I say.
      "Okay, what ever you say." Halo rolls her eyes.
      "Jace, I'm hungry." Emily says.
      "Me to." Andrew says.
      "Okay, how about you Halo? I ask her.
      "I could eat." She says.
      "Okay, let's go get some food." We go to the concession stand and order the food we want. We get drinks with it to. We sit down at the table and pass out the food. We start eating.
      "I had fun today." Halo says.
     "I did to but damn Ellen has no chill."
      "No she don't. She is fun to be around though."
     "Yeah true. I could see people in the audience crying."
     "That's because your story is sad. It's everything, heartbreaking, funny, and seems like a dream. You were in hell and you were able to pull yourself out. That brings hope to so many people.
     You never gave up and I know you never will. One day when we are older and have are own kids and have to tell them this story, I am sure they will cry to. They will look at you and say my daddy is so strong and I wanna be just like him.
     If he can do that then he can do anything. You have proven you can do anything. Some of those tears were sadness and pity they feel for you. Most though were hope they were tears of hope.
     They look at you and see that one day it will be okay. You know you can't have a rainbow without a little rain and you have definitely earned your rainbow." I smile I feel happy. Words really can't describe how I feel. I'm so thankful and I have everything.
      "You really think so?" I ask her.
      "I know so and I also know that no matter what you do those kids will look at you and see a hero someone they can look up to and say they are proud to have you in their lives."