Johnny's hope

Getting worse

Johnny went home, took out his phone with as much care as before and texted Ash to find out what time rehearsals were at. She texted back moments later to say they were on at that moment,"shit!" Johnny cursed before slipping his phone into pocket then grabbing his skateboard, riding to the theatre...Johnny made it in a manner of minutes, bursting through the door to find Ash and Meena talking on stage. "Oh hey Johnny what took you so long?" "I eh (cough) was eh seeing my dad. He's back in jail. Again" "Johnny are you okay?" "Yeah Meena I'm fine. Just haven't been feeling great after I seen my dad. Dunno why" "you sure you should be here Johnny?" "Yeah I'm (cough) fine" "who's the one coughing? Oh hi Johnny I was thinking you could play a song on your piano this week" "eh about that mr Moon em could I talk to you in your office please?" "Sure Johnny. Come with me"

(In the office)

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" "Eh it's just em first my dad's in jail again, second I kinda injured my arm during his last heist" "what?!" "Eh it's nothing. I can still perform. Just it hurts more than it would before I hurt my arm" "is there anything else you want to tell me?" "No (cough)" "so you were the one coughing!" "Yeah..just not feeling great lately. I'm gonna get my arm checked after rehearsals anyways. Might get my cough checked out too" "Johnny can I do something?" "Yeah go ahead mr Moon" Johnny then felt the coolness of mr Moon's furry paw against his forehead. He quietly sighed at the touch. "Johnny your burning up. Your sick!" "Oh great that's all I need with dad in jail" Johnny sighed before looking up and seen mr Moon looking concerned at him. "Are you gonna look after yourself then? You know while your sick" "gonna have to" "could your mum not look after you?" Johnny slumped in the chair at the thought of his mum. "No she..died..on my..ninth..birthday. They couldn't..save..her.. It's also the reason I stopped playing the piano. Because...she...taught me" With those last words Johnny felt he was going to burst into tears but then, he thought to himself, tears are for the weak and I am not weak. I am a mountain gorilla. Johnny just reached into his pocket for a minute, taking a glimpse at the picture he kept in there to keep him from tears when he thought about her, and then he asked mr Moon a question. "Can I..leave now?" "Alright Johnny but I want you not to practice. I want you to go home and rest until you are better. Okay?" "But mr Moon who will cover my performance?" "We will figure that out later" "okay bye mr Moon" "goodbye Johnny. Get well soon" with that Johnny left mr Moon's office, went downstairs, through the front door, into his car and drove down the street. He once again forgot about his arm...