Family Ties

Where does the time go?

Cedar town was a thriving town. It was a spring evening kids, were running around after school let out. One little girl in particular wasn't running around all hyper she was calm reading a book till she reached her destination and entered the store. "How was school?" The owner asked as he came out of the back whipping sweat off his brow. "It was fine just....." The little girl said as she sat at the counter and laid her head down. "Mishka. Whats wrong you never come here down in the dumps." Jackson said as he pulled up a chair across from Nashi. She just kept her head down on the counter. That's when Jackson lifted her head up to see a bruise on her cheek. "What happened?" Jackson asked as he went and got an ice pack. She just took it and sat their in silence. "You know your mother is going to ask you. You know I'm on your side no mater what right?" Jackson said as he started to shut down his equipment and put the closed sign on the door. "Yeah I know. But I don't want to talk about it." Nashi said as she helped clean up the shop. Max came into the room with the dustpan as Nashi swept up the extra sawdust and some metal shavings. "We both know that answer wont please your mother she's going to want the full story." Jackson said as he put up his smock and Nashi put away the broom and dust pan. "I know. I just don't want to tell the story twice." Nashi said as they left the shop heading for their home.

House

As the three walked up the path to the house they were both quiet. Jackson didn't pry into Nashi's bruise which she appreciated cause she was dreading what her mother would say. Nashi was so deep in thought that she didn't notice that they were at the front door. "Were home!" Jackson said as he came in and took off his boots. Nashi took off her shoes and tried to get into the living room before Lucy could see her still trying to delay the inevitable but to no success. "Hey you two. Supper is just about ready so get cleaned up. Nashi how was.. What happened?!" Lucy shouted as she ran towards her daughter. "Lucy why don't we let her explain while we eat." Jackson said as he walked to the kitchen to grab another ice pack for Nashi.

Dinner

As the three people sat at the table Lucy was still waiting for an explanation. Nashi gave in knowing she couldn't wait any longer. "So today at school we were doing a project about dad's and when I asked if I could do one about Uncle Jacks a couple of the other kids laughed. The teacher said it was fine but I was a little upset because of the other kids. Then at lunch..."

*School*

Nashi sat under a tree as she ate her sandwich when two other kids came up to her. "I bet you don't even have a dad. He probably took one look at you and just left cause your ugly." The first kid said. "Or her mom is one of 'those' people on the side of the road." The second kid said. "Or maybe it has something to do with her uncle. You know the freak with the metal foot." Another kid said. Nashi had enough of peoples insults towards her and her family.

"So I beat them up and after the teacher told us to stop I stopped but one of the other kids hit me one last time. That's what happened." Nashi said as she helped pick up dinner. Lucy was not happy to say the least while Jackson just sat there. "Nashi. Why didn't you just ignore them? All the stuff they said wasn't true so why let it bother you?" Lucy said as she brought out two cups of tea and coffee. She just sat there. "Did you start all of the fighting?" Jackson asked taking his coffee. "I didn't start it. You always taught me never to start fights but to be able to finish them. So I finished it." Nashi said as they moved to the living room. Jackson sat their for a few seconds and then smiled. "That a girl. Now tell me after the first punch was thrown did any of the kids who started this run away?" Jackson said as he looked at his niece she just shook her head yes. Which just caused him to laugh louder. "Nashi just don't do it again okay?" Lucy said as Nashi started to doze off. Lucy just shook her head and picked her up and carried her to her room and once she was in her bed Jethro crawled into bed, when Jethro plopped down Nashi wrapped her arms around his neck. When Lucy came back down she sat in one of the chairs across from Jackson. "Where does the time go? I still remember sitting in this chair watching her first steps and then losing her first tooth." Lucy reminisced about the past. "Yeah and watching her chase Max and Jethro around. Or when she saw me transform into my other form she wanted to brush me like a dog. Oh and the first time she wanted me to teacher her how to fire a gun and hand to hand combat. Still cant believe you actually let me do that." Jackson said as he read a book. "I still can't believe she's only seven!" Lucy said as she set down her tea cup.

Both of them sat in silence for awhile till Jackson heard snores and looked up to see Lucy fast asleep in the chair. "You two are so much alike. Except for her wanting to fight she definitely gets that from her father." Jackson said as he picked her up and carried her to her room. He went back down stairs to turn off the lights when something outside caught his attention.