Spring Breakdown

A Past Life?

*3 years later*

Luke's pov

We were babysitting Jack while Jason had interviews and Miranda was visiting her parents back in Georgia. The autism wasn't as severe as the doctor said. He's got a few ticks but other than that he's like any normal kid. "Can we play tag uncle Luke?" He gasps, pulling my hand. I laugh softly. "Sure Jack. Let's roll." He runs outside in his camo pants and cowboy boots. "Just like his daddy." I say, smiling. We were playing hide and seek when Jay got here. He smiles seeing us playing. "DAD!" The little boy cries excitedly running over. "Hey kiddo!" He says, picking him up. He steals Jason's cowboy hat. "What have you and uncle Luke been up to, little man?" "Playin' tag and hide and seek." The three year old says, fiddling with Jason's Aldean Army cuff. We walk inside and he sets him at the dining table. "Hey Jason, how was the interview?" "Annoying. Guess who it was!" "Bobby Bones?" I guess laughing. "Bingo. That boy is nuts." He says, sitting beside Jack.

Jason's pov

Jack was coloring something while me and Luke were talking. "When's Miranda coming back?" "Monday. I pick her up at the airport tomorrow." "I hate the airport." Jack mumbles, intent on his coloring, a quirk of autism. He's absorbed in it. "Why do you hate the airport buddy?" I ask. "Cause bad people were there." Me and Luke glance at each other. "What's he talking about?" "I dunno." Luke says, shrugging. "What do you mean, Jack?" He was coloring so hard the crayon snapped. He looked angry too. "Jack, what's goin' on?" "Bad people hide there. They killed me." Killed him?! "What the hell is going on here?!" "Don't get mad. He's probably just talking nonsense." Caroline gasps. "Nonsense? He's talking about someone killing him?! That's my son!" He started crying and rocking back and forth. Crud. From me yelling. "Come on Jack. Let's head home, buddy."

*a few days later*

I pick Miranda up from the airport. Luke's got Jack since he doesn't like airports and I need to talk to her about it.

Luke's pov

Jack was coloring again. "Hey Jack what were you talking about the other day?" I ask, sitting beside him. "I was on a plane. I was a business man with a suit and lots of papers in a briefcase. We were going to go to New York." What's this kid talking about? "What are you talking about?" "People took over the plane and crashed it into a building. It was hot and my papers burned up. I fell all the way to the ground. Me and Caroline stare at each other shocked. We leave the kitchen to talk. "He's describing detailed events of 9/11." I shakily gasp. "How would he know about that?" She gasps shocked. "Did Jason or Miranda maybe tell him?" "I doubt it!"

Jason's pov

"That is bizarre." She says, biting her lip. "I know. And I don't think it's nonsense like Carol says!" I say, driving to Luke's. "Carol?" "Caroline. I nicknamed her that in high school." "Oh. I hope everything is okay with my little boy!" "Maybe he had a bad dream." I doubt it's that though. I nervously park in Luke's driveway. "Whatever is wrong with him, we'll figure it out." I say, holding her hand. "Man, Jason you sure keep my head above water." She whispers, trying not to cry.

Luke's pov

Thank God they're here. "Jason, dude, you've gotta hear this!" He looks worried. "Please tell me Jack wasn't saying more crazy stuff." "He was but listen. He gave exact descriptions and details of 9/11." "What the?" He gapes, staring at me. "How? I've never told him anything about that stuff." "No you didn't tell me. I saw it. I was there." Jack says, walking in. "What.... Do you mean you were there?" Miranda asks. Caroline holds my hand, looking worried. "I was on the plane... My suitcase burned up and I fell to the ground from up high in the building. Before you named me Jack, my name was Steven Stuback."

Jason's pov

I don't know where this is all coming from but it's really starting to get to me. Luke gives me that look. We go to the living room. "Jason, I think Jack had a past life." "A what?" I gape confused. "A past life. If this Steven Stuback is real." I scratch my head. "I'm not followin' Luke." "Follow me." He pulls up a laptop and shows me a video of kids talking the same way Jack was. "Now let's look up Steven." He types it into the search bar.

Caroline's pov

"CAROLINE MIRANDA COME CHECK THIS OUT!" Jason shouts. We quickly go into the living room. The screen shows the same details that Jack gave us! "Steven was a real person? This wasn't just gibberish?" I gasp. The boys shake their heads. "Hey Jack, can you come in here a sec?" The little boy walks in the living room. "Are you guys mad at me?" "No of course not, Jack Jack. We're just confused about everything." Miranda says, picking him up. Jason turns the computer around. "Buddy, do you know who this is?" Jack's eyes go wide. "That's me daddy!" He says, pointing. "Wow Jason, your son has a past life. Of a 9/11 victim." He sets the laptop down. "He's still my boy not some Steven guy from New York!" He gasps, freaked out. "Of course he is." Luke says quickly. "This stuff is too weird." Miranda whispers, hugging Jack tight. "Mom you're crushing me." He squelches. Jason sighs and pulls him free of the mother's tight grip. "It don't matter. You're still my boy." He says, smiling and kissing his forehead. "Let's go home son." "Don't take me to the airport." He says, smiling innocently. He smiles. "Of course not, Jack. Come on babe." They head home. Me and Caroline sit on the couch together. "Well that sure was a bizarre couple days." She says. "Ain't that the truth." I say. A past life. Man I never knew that stuff even existed!