Carnival✔

32

Lately tyler has been slacking in school, which hasn't happened before. Tyler's Mark's were always kept up even tho he was a bit slower then the other kids he was always able to keep his grades at least above an eighty. His grades recently have been more like fifties or sometimes even lower.

He was downstairs in his bedroom watching netflix on his tv when Sam and Jackie knocked on the door. He had the door open so he just looked over at them. "Can we come in and talk for a minute?" Jackie asked. He glanced at his tv but nodded and reached for the remote to pause it.

"What's going on?" He asked as his moms sat down on the edge of his bed. "Well I just got off the phone with your principal... she had some concerns regarding your grades.." sam started. Tyler broke eye contact and swallowed nervously. "What about them?" He asked.

"She said that you're one bad mark away from failing." Sam said. Tyler was quiet. "Whats going on bud? Something bugging you? Is the work getting to difficult? Do you need them to take a step back?" Jackie asked. Tyler shook his head. "Well what's going on?" Jackie asked.

"Nothing." Tyler said. "Something is. You've never gotten grades like this... I'm not saying were the type of parents to press for good grades but.. lately it seems like youre not even trying. Its just not like you." Sam said, jackie nodding in agreement.

"If the works too hard that's okay. We can get them to slow down and take a step back. That's nothing to be ashamed of hunny." Jackie said. Tyler shook his head. "I understand the work." He said. "So then why are you failing your classes?" Jackie asked.

He shrugged for a response. Sam sighed. "Tyler. Were not going to get mad, no matter what the reason is. We just need to know how we can help." She said. "Yeah.. so what's going on?... it's not just your school work sweetheart.. you've been really distant and stuff at home too. You havent cleaned your room in a month you're usually always on top of that. You haven't been as social with us and you're always down here by yourself. I could go on and on." Jackie said.

"Promise you wonr freak out or get upset with me?" Tyler asked, tears filling his eyes. "Promise." Borh his mkms replied. He opened his mouth to tell them but his voice got caught in his throat. A few tears fell and Jackie was grabbing his hand. "Iys okay you can say it." She said.

Tyler shook his head, he didnt trust his voice so instead he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed his phone. He opened his notes app and typed out what he wanted to say and handed the device to his moms.

My parents get out of jail soon.

His mothers read the message before looking at each other then to Tyler. "What does that have to do with anything?" Sam asked. "What if they come looking for me?" Tyler asked through a small sob. "They're not going to." Jackie said. "What if they do? And-and what if they find me and take me away from you and hurt me again?" Tyler asked.

"Hunny calm down that's not going to happen." Sam said, gently grabbing his hands. "You dont know that!" He screeched. "Hey hey dont yell. Calm down, breathe. You're okay. You're safe. I promise sweetheart. You're safe. No ones going to hurt you. Especially not them. Were so far away from them. They dont even know where you are. I promise they arent going to find you." Sam said, holding his hands tightly do he would be able to run or fight the comfort they were trying to give him.

"What if they go after Josh?" Tyler asked. It was quiet for a minute. "They're not going to go after Josh." Sam said. "They know where he lives." Tyler sniffled. "Why would they want to go after Josh?" Jackie asked. "Cause hes the reason why I got taken from them and why they got arrested. What if they're mad at him and wanna hurt him like they hurt me because he did that?" Tyler asked.

"Tyler that's not going to happen. The police are going to have a high watch on them once they're let out. They wont even be able to get near Josh's neighborhood. Okay?" Sam asked. Tyler sniffled and crawled the little distance across the bed and buried his face in Sam's neck.

She hugged him back and Jackie rubbed his back gently. "I'm so scared. I-im so scared of them mom." He sobbed brokenly into sams shoulder. "Shhh shhh I know. I know. They cant hurt you anymore though." Same replied, kissing the side of his head.

"I still have nightmares about them. I'm still so scared. I dont wanna bw scared." He sniffled. "..you didnt tell us you were still having nightmares." Jackie said. "I didnt want you to worry.... and I'm too old to be crying to my moms because oof bad dreams" He croaked. "From now on you come to us. It doesnt matter how old you are, you're still our baby and we still want to protect you." Jackie said.

Tyler nodded. It was quiet for a moment as his moms tried to calm him down. "Can I move my room back upstairs? I'm scared my parents are gonna come in the window and take me." Tyler whispered. "Of course. We can start moving your stuff back up right away Alright?" Sam asked. Tyler sniffled softly and nodded.