Hope on the Rocks

Catching And Helping A Young Lad

Jason's pov

I went to the doctors but they were no help. They wanted to run experiments on me. I was outta there pretty dang fast. Tomorrow I have a gig at a rooftop bar with Luke. It's gonna be a blast. "Are you sure they weren't saying they were going to run tests?" My worried wife asks. "They used the word experiment which is what sent me packing." The kids walk into the kitchen, tired from just waking up. "Well I gotta jet. Check on everything down at the station." "Jase you don't work for them anymore." I blush. "Yeah. I know. I just... You know I like to check in from time to time. See how things are going." She smiles. "Honey ya can't knock that blue blood outta me." "I know. I love you, crazy." I hug her and wave to the kids then head down to the station. "How's it going, chief?" "Oh good to see ya, rookie." He joked making me laugh. "You know I ain't no rookie. I've got more skills in my left pinkie." He laughs. "We sure miss ya on the force, Jason. How's the music business treating you?" "Great. I've got a gig tonight at the Bowling Inn." "If I get off in time, I'll come by. And ya know you're always welcome back if it doesn't work out." "Thanks man." I say my goodbyes and head to the bar we're playing at tonight. Get a feel for what I'm doing. I guess that's the cop in me. Scope out the scene. I laugh to myself. "Oh it's him!" A girl cries pointing at me. "Who? Me?" I gape surprised. "You're the security guard for Luke's shows. The one who sometimes got onstage with him right?" "Oh uh yeah. I... I'm a little caught off guard. I didn't know anyone knew of me." "Of course. We're so excited for tonight." She says. Wow. I'm shocked. "Can we get a picture?" "Uh sure. I guess." I take a picture with them and head inside. Well that certainly was a doozy. I walk upstairs to the rooftop and good God the view is breathtaking. "I'm coming and I'm taking Nashville by storm." I say excited to rock out. "Hey! Stop thief!" I hear shouted behind me then someone slams into me. We fall to the ground and he quickly gets up. I see him jump buildings. "Ha! Nice try!" I whisper, yanking my gun out and taking off running. I make the jump and he's caught off guard. "What the? You a parkour dude or something?" "Just your average retired police officer." "Shit." He says. "Shit is right. You're under arrest." "You'll have to catch me first copper!" He shouts, taking off running. I smirk. "It's more fun when they run!" I chase after him. He jumps and skids down the wall! Holy shit. This guy is a parkour enthusiast. I pull off my belt and use it to slide down the rain gutter. I may not be as agile. But I know my way around. He ducks down an alleyway and I run after him. "Dead end, kid. Come quietly and I'll talk to the chief about going easy on ya." He turns around and smiles. "You really think a wall will stop me?" He jumps on one side to the other til he gets to the rooftop. "Crimity!" I growl pissed. I run down the sidewalk watching him run along the rooftop. Then I run inside and get to the rooftop. "We're safe! I got away." I hear him say. I sneak along the edge of the wall. "But... This is dangerous! We can't risk you going to jail." "But mom we can't afford anything else and nobody will hire me because I'm too young!" Huh? I shrug it off and jump around the side. "Freeze! Put your damned hands in the air boy!" I hear a feminine scream. The boy scowls and stands in front of a woman sitting on the ground. She's not in the best shape. Then I notice a little girl, maybe 5. "What the heck is going on here?" "We're just trying to survive. I had no other choice. I had to feed my family!" That's when I notice for the first time he's barefoot. "Honey give back what you stole. I can't take care of Angela myself." "B-But mom We're going to starve!" I lower my gun, figuring out the situation. They're homeless. I start o walk very but he yells, "Stay back!" "Calm down kid. You don't gotta run anymore. I can help you." "If it involves going into foster care, you can kiss my grits." "No it ain't foster care. Now calm down." He sure has a lot of pent up anger. No telling what from. "Tell me what's going on so I can help." "There ain't much to tell. We've lived on the streets since my Mama's accident. She can't work no more so I do what I can to keep them alive." "Accident?" Some rich jerk smashed into her car. Left her paralyzed. He got off scotch free cause of a big fancy lawyer. I'm only 12 nobody'll hire me and I ran outta options." Damn. "It's very brave you trying to take care of your family like that. I know a place where you can stay. They'll help you." "We won't be separated? Cause I'll run away before I let you separate us!" "Don't worry you won't be separated." I help the woman downstairs. The little boy carrying the girl. The poor woman is crying. I think of my wonderful wife who was on the streets when I met her. She had lost everything. Everything but her darling daughter. That quickly became our darling daughter. I take them to a family shelter. They'll be taken care of. I was about to leave when the young lad called, "Hey mister?" I turned back around and he pulled cash out of his pocket and gave it to me. "F-From the register I stole. I... I'm sorry.... I just... I didn't know what else to do." "It's alright, kiddo. You aren't in trouble." I take it back to the bar and head home.