Rebel Yell

Chapter 27: The Mercer Family Reunion

"-To go from foster house to foster house... given hardly anything to eat... you learned to take what you can get. When Evelyn took me in.. it was no different for me. Until she caught me with my pockets all full.. and she tried to explain to me what it meant to be adopted." Jack spoke loudly, telling everyone at the funeral his story.

I remained silent and just listened, watching as Jack began to choke back tears. I could see the pain in both his expression and his eyes. My heart ached for him as I didn't know what else I could do for him right now, besides just being here for him.

"-Explaining to me what it meant to have a family... what it meant to have a last name. And she would say: 'Jackie... there's no reason to steal your own toothbrush anymore." Jack continued as his voice began to crack, a couple of tears escaping his eyes.

"Because I- I- would take it and put it in my sock drawer..." Jack tried to finish but his tears prevented him from doing so.

His oldest brother Bobby walked up to him and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, "It's okay Jackie.. go sit down.. Thank you all for coming, Ma would have appreciated it." Bobby announced to the crowd.

After the funeral everyone that attended Evelyn's funeral - and there was A LOT of people, gathered at Jack's second oldest brother, Jeremiah's house. Unlike the rest of the brothers, Jeremiah had done quite well for himself financially. Him and his wife and two daughters lived in a richer suburb of the city. There was nothing wrong with Evelyn's home by no means, it was just in a poorer "hood" like neighborhood.

The two police officers who came and banged on the door the other night, informing Jack and I about Evelyn being shot, were sitting outside of Jerry's house in their police cruiser, watching as we all stood outside of Jerry's house. The block was packed with people dressed in black from Evelyn's funeral, coming and going to Jerry's house.

"Wow... Been a long time since anyone has seen that face around here" Lt. Green stated dully as Bobby pulled up across the street. "That's Bobby Mercer, heavy weight champion fuck up of the family. He defends that title well too... would have made his daddy proud if he ever had one." Lt. Green told his partner, Detective Fowler. "I use to know him a little. Played hockey with him when we were younger. He must have got thrown out of 60 odd games before our league got sick of him. They called him the Michigan Mauler."

Both of the men laughed, "Who's the kid?" Fowler asked nodding straight ahead.

Lt. Green chuckled, "That's Jack. He's the youngest. First class fuck up, third class rock star."

"And the girl?" Fowler asked, pointing over to where I was standing.

"That's Jack's girl. Amber Smith, her daddy owns a couple restaurants around here." Green replied.

"How'd she end up here then?" Fowler asked confused.

"Her mom and dad split up when she was a young kid, that's when she met Jack. She's been running with him since they were kids." Green replied with a shrug.

"He doesn't look like trouble." Fowler stated dully, staring back over at Jack.

"He's a Mercer, don't let him fool you." Green retorted.

Jack was staring up at the sky as he slowly exhaled smoke out of his mouth. I was staring down at my feet as Bobby walked over to us, wrapping his arm around Jack's shoulder, "Hey, You alright?" He asked. Jack nodded slowly as he took a deep breathe. "I love ya man.." Bobby told Jack as he roughed up the top of Jack's hair, "Come on you two... let's go see Jerry."

Without saying a word, I followed behind Bobby and Jack as we walked up the driveway of Jerry's house and over to the front door where Jerry was standing, thanking people who were leaving for coming and attending his mothers funeral.