Innocence Lost

Dinner Time

I greeted him at the door as well and led him to the kitchen to his seat next to me. All of my siblings sat across from us on a bench and my parents sat at each end of the table. The table had been set so we sat there awkwardly as my mom was finishing the last of the meal preparation. He pulled out of his pocket a gift and told us it was for the invite. My brother of course snagged it and started unwrapping it.

"Cards!!!" he yelled.

We all smiled and said our gratitude as I turned and asked him how he knew that we loved cards. He told me that, with me being his crush, he learned a few things threw the years and I left it at that.

"Dinner is ready everyone." my mom chirped.

"Yay!" the kids squealed.

"Honey, this looks delicious," my father complimented as as kissed her on the forehead, helping her bring food to the table.

"Yes it does, Mrs. Jensen." James agreed.

My older sister and I both said thank you as my mom sat down.

"Shall I pray?" my mom asked.

We all held hands and bowed our heads as she blessed the food and our dinner guest. We all took turns passing the fehttuchini, salad, fruit and the water until everyone's plates were full. The table was silent for a couple moments as everyone enjoyed my mom's food, then my father decided to ask James some questions.

"Are you THE James Jaxon?" he asked.

"Ummm, yes, sir I believe I am." James replied.

"We've heard a lot about you.." he glanced at my mom.

"Daaaadddd." I said embarrassed.

"Oh sweetie, don't embarrass her," my mom defended me.

"It's too late for that," I replied.

"So anyways, do you like sports dude?" my brother interrupted.

"Haha, yes I do. I actually play football, I wrestle and play baseball." James replied.

My brother's eyes lit up, "No way! That's sooo cool! I play football and baseball too. Wrestling seems kind of... gay..."

"Peter! Language!" my mom scolded.

James laughed, "Yes, a lot of people think that and it does look that way at times; however, wrestling is one of the oldest sports. It really tests the physical and mental strength of someone and teaches you discipline. You should try it out sometime bud. I could show you some moves later."

"Really? That'd be dope!" my brother gawked.

My older sister rolled her eyes, "I bet you're the stereotypical jock right? You have all of the girls chasing you and you party all of the time. You get with a girl just until you get bored of her, and then break her heart? I know your type. You're just with my sister because she would do anything for anyone she cares about and you need good grades for a sports scholarship." She took a drink of water. "Oh, and no offense or anything."

"Pam!!!" I shrieked.

He was taken aback but quickly gathered himself, "It's okay Piper," he assured me, "Absolutely none taken Pam, but if I may, I'd like to tell you a little about me before you get any preconceived ideas of my type."

"Go ahead.." she said unconvinced.

"I am a child of five kids. I am the oldest child, and the only boy. I grew up with nails, hair and barbies, while my father only cared about us when he was sober. Typical, I know. It was fine until I was going into middle school. I learned how to braid hair and take care of my sisters because my mom struggled to get four girls ready in the morning. I was shy and never really talked to anyone because I was weird to them. I wasn't into Spiderman or getting dirty. I didn't know about any of it. So one day, my father came home more drunk than he had ever been before and he stumbled into my room. He pulled me out of bed and threw me against the wall. He said, 'Son, you are the biggest disappointment in my life. You are just another girl like your sisters. You will never become anything. The problem with you is you don't know how to be a man and so you will never, ever be anything great. You will always be a pansy, just like the rest of the people in this family.' My mom ran into the room, yelling at him to stop. He yelled at her to be quiet and she ran to grab me. He punched her and knocked her out and I ran to her crying. He came up behind me and said, 'See James, these tears rolling down your face are nothing but weakness.' then he went into the bedroom, packed all of his clothes and left us." After that, I signed up to play sports because I knew I needed to be a man in the house. I knew that I needed to toughen up. I knew that I could get money to go to college if I got money for playing sports. My mom had to pick up another job and so she taught me how to drive so that I could drive my sisters and I around. My coaches took me under their wings but I always had to hide what was going on in my life. I haven't told anyone. To this day, I help my mom support the family as much as I can, but I have goals. I know that I will never be anything like my father, which is why I want to go to college." he took a couple breaths and looked down.

"Why haven't you ever told anyone?" my mother asked.

"There are two reasons, Mrs. Jensen. For one, I know that CPS would take us away and split us apart; and the second is because I never wanted pity. I never wanted people to look at me the way you are looking at me now."

Unconvinced my sister said, "So why tell us?"

He looked at her, "Because, Pam, your sister is different than all of the other girls. I could go on and on about her. Look, I know we just started dating, but we have known each other since grade school. I have crushed on her my whole life. If I have to sell an arm or a leg to get you to like me, then I will. I just want you to know where I come from and give me a chance."

"C'mon Pam, you haven't even met him!" my little sister defended him.

"Alright, you have me convinced James. But you have to understand, she's my little sister. I am her protecter, just like you are for your sisters."

"I totally understand that." James said with a smile.

"Well, to lighten the mood, I have some great news!" my father exclaimed.

"What is it love?" my mom asked.

"I got a promotion! I am now Chief of cardio at the hospital." he said boastfully.

We all cheered and congratulated him. We made small talk for another thirty minutes as everyone finished their food. We talked about my father's promotion, my mother's job and school for us kids. Once everyone was finished, my mom brought out dessert. My favorite dessert in fact. It was a cookies and cream mint Oreo ice-cream cake. We all chowed down on it and made some more small talk.

"Well kiddos, it's ten o'clock. This old man is headed to bed," my father said. He came around and kissed all of us on the forehead and shook Jame's hand. As he walked towards his bedroom, James jumped up and ran to him.

"Sir, wait." He grabbed his arm.

"What is it?" my father asked alarmed.

"I know that I hadn't asked permission before, but it's important to me. May I please date your daughter. I will always be faithful to her and I will treat her just as I would want my daughter treated." James begged.

"Yes, you can." my father said and walked away.

As James came back to the table, we all were staring at him. His face flushed as I suggested we play a game before he head home to break the awkwardness. Everyone of course wanted to play so we pulled out the deck of cards he brought and started playing BS. We called it BS because, well, we weren't allowed to cuss. We soon learned that James was a terrible liar and my sister won, like always. It was eleven o'clock by then and James said he needed to head out. I told him I would walk him out to the car.

"James, that was a heartbreaking story, but if it's true, then whose house were we at the other night?" I inquired. 

"That was my stepmom. She is like another mom to me. She reached out to me at the beginning of high school and has let me work at her business to help bring in income. My father doesn't know about it and she knows our story so it's our little secret. She lets me come by whenever I need to but my siblings and mom refuse to talk to her."

I turned my head, "Oh, that makes sense, but why doesn't she just give you money?"

He turned towards me, "Because my father is controlling. He takes care of all of the money and he would know. Trust me. That's why I work for her instead. I know it sounds crazy, but I kind of feel bad for the lady. She seems so lonely because my father is gone all of the time. Can we talk about this later Piper? I want to end tonight on a high note."

I could see he felt embarrassed. "Of course, babe. I said, pulling him into a hug. I really like you and I'd love to meet your sisters and mom one day though." I whispered into his ear.

"Of course, gorgeous." 

We kissed for a little bit and then I watched him drive away. I blissfully went back into the house and all of my family had gone to bed. I went to my bedroom, undressed and plopped down on my bed. I sent James a goodnight text and to text me when he got home. I put my phone down and closed my eyes, falling asleep in just seconds.