Hero

Chapter 6

"Oh my GOD!  What is wrong with this fu . . . stupid vacuum!!!????!!!" Jesy screamed the next day after school as she struggled to vacuum Johnny's room.

Johnny laughed loudly.  He was sitting on his bed  being thoroughly entertained. "It's bigger than you Jes."

"Shut up!" Jesy yelled.  She groaned and got back to trying to maneuver the heavy vacuum.  She paused and swiped sweat from her brow.  She frowned then ended up pouting. "I can't do it!!" She cried.  She sat on the floor and whimpered.

"Whoa there Jes relax." Johnny got to his feet.  "Mum vacuumed in here yesterday.  It's not dusty.  Your little friend'll be fine." He stooped next to Jesy.

"But it's not clean enough." Jesy whined.  "She . . . she likes things clean."

"Okay, okay little sister.  I'll help."  Johnny got up and started vacuuming. "See.  You don't have to cry Jes. Jeesh. You're acting like she's the love of your life. It's just a little friend from school."

Jesy wiped away tears from her eyes. "I'm not crying doofus.  And she's not just a little friend from school, she's . . ."

"She's what?" Johnny asked with a chuckle as he moved the cleaning instrument under the bed.

"She's my friend . . . stop asking dumb questions Johnny." She got to her feet. "I'm gonna shower."

"Wow you're even taking extra baths.  She really is special isn't she?" Johnny said with a laugh.

Jesy gave him the evil finger as she left his room.

"Oy don't make me have to tell mum on you Jes!"

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"Jesy relax.  You're not about to meet the queen." Jesy's mother said shaking her head as they went to open the door. It was a little after four.

"I'm relaxed." Jesy murmured nervously.  "I know she's not the queen . . . I just want her to have fun."

"And she is going to darling.  No need to fret."

Jesy's mother opened the door with a smile. "Hello there." She greeted the woman and child at their front door.

"Hi I'm Ms. Thornhill or you can call me Debbie." Leigh-Anne's mother said with an eager smile. 

"And I'm Janice." Jesy's mother said politely.  She shook hands with the woman. "This must be the famous Leigh-Anne who likes things clean and has a pretty smile." She grinned down at Jesy who looked humiliated.

"Mum!" Jesy hissed with a completely red face.

Debbie laughed. "Aww Leigh she's been talking about you." She said tugging Leigh-Anne who looked shy into the house.  "Jesy sounds so sweet." She looked down and waved at Jesy.

Jesy blushed more. I've literally never been called sweet before. "Hi."  She looked to Leigh-Anne who was studying the floor. "Hey Leigh-Anne."

Leigh looked at Jesy. "Hey." She said still clutching her mother tightly.

"Aren't they the best of friends?" Leigh's mother cooed.

"Hopefully they'll be soon.  Jesy seems to really want that." Janice said showing Leigh's mother to the kitchen.

"Mum could you not make me sound desperate?" Jesy snarked.

Her mother laughed. "You girls go on upstairs and play your games.  We mums have got to discuss some things."

Jesy rolled her eyes.  She looked at Leigh-Anne who was just forced to let go of her mum.  The woman pointed her in Jesy's direction and made a shooing motion.