Different

Rock Bottom

    I opened my eyes sat up and watched my dad as he got more depressed about what was playing on the news. That's when we heard a knocking on the door. "Eddie? There's someone at the door." Dad said, stretching. Eddie didn't wake up, so dad turned off the TV and looked to see the shadows of Miss Crawly and the others. "Oh no," dad mumbled and I got up, walking up behind him and sniffling. "Mr. Moon? Jennifer?" Miss Crawly called out, and it made me want to cry more. I had always considered Miss Crawly a grandmother figure, since I never had a real mother figure in my life.

"Come on Moon, Jennifer, you guys can't just hide out in your buddy's pool house." Ash said. "Yeah were just trying to make sure that you guys are alright. that's all." Rosita assured. Finally my dad opened the door to see everyone standing there, except Mike of course. "Hey guys," Rosita greeted softly. "Are you two ok?" Johnny asked, looking up to me with a worried look on his face. I looked down at the ground, remembering at the yelling and the look on Johnny's face when he realized I had known about the lie. "Guys, look, I'm sorry about what happened, and about the prize money--" dad said rubbing his face as everyone started to say that it was ok and no one blamed us. My dad disagreed and I wiped my eyes and the rubbing them on my grey bottoms and black flowy top, forcing the tears to stop in their tracks and that's when I heard everyone starting to talk about still putting on the show. "The show? Guys I'm done." My dad said, only making me want to cry harder. I've never seen my dad give up before, only making me realize that this was it. "--Look it says I'm a danger to society." my dad said as he held up a newspaper and everyone started to disagree. "Jennifer, are you ok?" Johnny whispered to me as everyone else was talking to my dad. I looked up at him and wiped my eyes, my face blotchy red and my eyes puffy, shaking my head and stepping back. "I'm not mad at you, I'm sorry all this happened but I understand, please talk to me." Johnny pleaded, looking as if he was about to cry himself. I wrapped my arms around myself and started shaking, I couldn't take the fact that I had lied to them and that not only was my home gone but my friends. Just then my dad shut the door and held my hand as we saw the shadows of everyone leaving. That's when I lost it and sunk to my knees and burst into tears, my dad holding me tightly. "I'm sorry Jennifer, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have dragged you into this." He said as Eddie woke up and walked to us, rubbing our backs. I unraveled from the hug and sulked to my "bed" and laid down, never wanting to really get up. I fell asleep as there was another knock at the door.

*~*TIME SKIP*~*

I stood by my dad as he called Eddie to meet up with us. I was making the bubbly substance as we noticed a line of cars coming towards us. Eddie came a few minutes later, speedo in hand and a confused look on his face. My dad quickly changed behind a bush and a car honked, waiting for his cleaning. "Wait, what're you guys doing?" Eddie asked. "The only other job I know," my dad answered, the guy honked his horn again, my dad added as he put on his goggles, "Just glad my dad's not here to see this." He stood tall and I helped him get the soapy water on him and he said to Eddie "Well, we gotta work. Uh... I'll see you around, Eddie." He got on the car and started on the top while I started on the sides. The man speed off when he made the comment about us being to slow. I rolled my eyes and sighed, watching the determination on my dads face as another car pulled up. "One moment, please sir." Eddie said as he came up to us, "Well, you know the good thing about hitting rock bottom? There's only one way left to go, and that's up. Come on. You guys wash, I'll dry." We smiled and all four of us got to work on the cars.

After a few hours and many cars later, my dad got this look on his face and hopped off the car. That's when I heard it too, one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. My dad walked away and I shrugged my shoulders and helped Eddie and Miss crawly finish the last car. When we were done, I sat on the sidewalk and wiped my face and looked at my phone, noticing missed calls from Johnny and worried text messages saying how he was sorry and he wanted to make sure I was ok. I felt tears prickle my eyes as I knew I couldn't take back my lying and the fluttering in my stomach made me hate myself more and more. When my dad came back he had a huge smile on his face. "Guys, were staring up the singing contest again!" He said as Eddie and I exclaimed in confusion. "No money, just for the fun of it! Now if you'll excuse I have some calls to make!" He said, grabbing his phone and started calling all the old contestants. I smiled as I heard Johnny's name and when he was done calling everyone he made our way to the crumbled theater to see what we could do.