Jack clung to Crutchie, "What happened!?"
Crutchie was shaking, it took almost ten minutes of Jack trying to calm him down before he could talk, "It-it was a bad dream," his voice was a whisper.
The other boys were staring at Crutchie, their eyes wide. He could faintly hear Mandy ask, "mommy is uncle Crutchie okay?"
Crutchie pulled away from Jacks embrace and moved as close to the wall as he could trying to conceal himself in the shadows, he was still sobbing. Jack moved towards him. "Crutchie please talk to me?" He held the younger boy in his arms.
Crutchie sniffed, his voice was barely audible, "it... it was about Mandy," he shifted his gaze to his feet. "She... she was going through the stuff I delt with... cause... cause of polio," the tears were falling fast. "The bullying... the... the beating... the... pain"
Jack pulled Crutchie as close as he could, "Im gonna make sure she doesnt have to deal with that... Ill... Ill make sure you dont either..."
Crutchies breathing was starting to return to normal. "J-Jack... Thanks... it means alot," he wrapped his arms around Jack and slowly drifted off into sleep.
Jack stayed by Crutchies side all night. Not a single person slept peacfully that night... especially Mandy.
Cliff hanger?
