After school, I texted Jake and Marlow again. Jake hollaed back, "Sumfin came up mu (met you) crib sus (see you soon)."

When I got home, I changed and headed to the Funk Too. Jake's car wasn't in the street out front. I looked at my phone. "They should be here by now," I thought. I removed the padlock and swung open the door.

"Surprise," a grinning Jake and Marlow hollered. The TV was on and a game of WOW was on the screen.

"How'd you get in?" I looked at the padlock I held in my hand.

"Jake pointed to the back window. "Piece of cake. We ditched school at eleven and headed over here. We knew your Momz would be gone. You couldn't bounce, but that didn't mean we had to stay. This way we didn't have to waste time setting things up. We can just dive right into the game."

"I'm surprised neighborhood watch didn't call the cops. We've got some pretty nosy neighbors."

"We came in the back way," Marlow said, waving towards the ally. "We're pretty good at sneaking around."

I wasn't sure I liked the idea of the B&E, even if it was Jake and Marlow. I didn't say anything, though.

Then I saw the Blue Ox was uncovered. "What've you been doing with the bike?" 

"You didn't tell us you had a Harley," Jake said. "That is cool, dude. I mean, like, it's older than me."

"It belonged to Popz." I walked over and ran my hand over the seat.

"Let's take it for a spin. I got a bike license," he said.

"I haven't found the key yet. I'm waiting for Popz to write and tell me where it is."

"I bet I could hot wire it," Jake said.

"No," I hollered. I know I sounded like a loon, but this was Popz bike.

"Chill," Marlow said. "He was just suggestin'."

I took a deep breath. "Let's just play."

My mad carried over into the game. I played with a tude.

"I thought your Momz didn't let you play this game," Marlow said. "You're sure kicking butt for a rookie."

"I said she wouldn't let me play it on my computer. She isn't hip to what I do on my phone."

"You mean the witch doesn't check your phone, too?"

"She looks at the apps, but I know how to hide them. She's not too savvy."

I went to the fridge to get a coke. When I opened the door, a six-pack of beer stared back at me.

"We went out and bought some brews," Jake said. "Coke didn't cut it."

Marlow saw my frown and caught on. "Look, don't worry about the wicked witch. We'll carry out the empties when we book at 10:30."

I shrugged. "Don't forget."

After that, we were so into the game I lost track of time. When my stomach grumbled, I looked at my phone. It was almost 8. "You guys want some pizza?" We ordered in and kept on playing. At 10:30, we shut down the game and boxed up the trash. "Beat it," I said, letting them out the back gate and into the ally.

I went back into F2 and shut and locked the windows. I locked the front and went into the kitchen. I found a Tupper container of leftovers with a note from Momz. I dumped it down the disposal and ran water in the container.

I was propped up in bed reading when she came in. I heard her moving around the kitchen. When she came up stairs, she knocked on my door.

"Yeah," I said.

"Everything okay?" she asked

"Sure."

"Did you do your homework?"

"Didn't have any," I lied. I only had a little math. I could do that in homeroom.

"Get some sleep."

"Night." 

I didn't have a bedtime. Momz had moved lights out by a half an hour every two years until I reached high school. She told me I didn't have a bedtime as long as I could get myself up in the morning. If she had to roust me out of bed, she would impose a bedtime. So far, I'd managed to drag my ass out of bed every morning, no matter how late I stayed up.

After she left, I turned out the light. I lay there trying to come up with a way to tell the guys that I didn't want them in F2 when I wasn't home. It was my crib, not a communal digs.

When I showed up under the tree the next morning, Marlow said. "So Wicked didn't even have a clue, huh?"

"No." I hesitated a bit. "But you guys can't be hanging out in F2 without me."

"F2?" Jake said.

"He shortened Funk Too, dork" Marlow said. "I like F2 better. But why can't we hang without you?"

"I told you the neighbors are nosy. The games we play aren't exactly quiet. Besides, Seth, that's Momz fiancé, sometimes stops by without giving a shout out first. You're sure to get busted."

"Okay." Jake said as the bell sounded, but I could tell by his tone that the subject was far from closed. We headed into the school.

The VP was standing just inside the front door. "Jake, Marlow," he said. "Come with me."

I watched them slouch off down the hall. As I pulled stuff out of my locker, my phone vibrated. There was a text from Marlow. All it said was, "Busted."

When first period was almost over, the intercom in our class came to life. "Mr. Freeman, please send Wayne Braisford to the office."

"Uh oh," I thought. "What was up? I haven't done anything. Maybe I was going to be found guilty by association with Jake and Marlow."

When I got to the office, I was directed into the VP's space. Jake and Marlow were sitting in front of his desk with heads down.

"Come in, Wayne," he said. "These guys tell me you've been trying to help them with their grades."

"I've been, um, tutoring them some," I mumbled.

"Speak up, son."

I cleared my throat. "I've been tutoring them some." 

"Aren't you just a freshman?"

"Yes, sir. But I passed the practice End of Course tests in history and English that they gave us. I even did pretty good in Algebra," I bragged.

The Veep waved at his computer screen. "I see that."

"Jake and Marlow didn't show up for classes yesterday. They tell me they were celebrating passing a couple of tests." He held up some papers. "They got D plusses instead of Fs. That's not as good as their homework grades, though. They've been making Cs and even an occasional B." He looked me in the eye. "You haven't been doing their homework, have you, son?"

"No sir," I lied. "They get test anxiety, at least that's what Momz boyfriend calls it. He's a shrink."

"Here's the deal. These guys were slated to be shipped over to the alternative school if they screwed up again. If you're willing to come sit with them in detention after school and tutor them until the English test is given on January 20th, we'll put off the transfer. If they pass that test, they get to stay and take the Algebra and US History tests in February and March. If they fail or screw up in any other way, they're gone."

I looked at Jake and Marlow. "Are you guys game?" 

"Yeah," Jake said. "You know we been tryin, CW."

I knew they hadn't done anything much, but they evidently weren't ready to be bounced into the real world.

"It's a deal," I told the Veep. "I can tutor them just as well here as I can at home."

I wasn't ate up with the dumb ass. This way, I could keep Jake and Marlow out of F2 unless I was there, and maybe I could even help them graduate. The hour of detention meant we had less time in F2, but it was that or kiss my homies goodbye.

Jake and Marlow actually brought their English books to detention, but they didn't have a clue as to what was going on. They were taking something called Business English. It was for seniors who weren't planning on going to college. They got to take it even though they were technically juniors. They hadn't passed enough classes to be classified as seniors. Somehow, though, they'd managed to squeak by English I, II and III with Ds. They didn't know the parts of speech or anything. My brown nose years up until now paid off. I had made good grades for years. I decided to start with the parts of speech and try to actually teach them some grammar. While they tried to figure out nouns and verbs, I did my own homework. This detention thing might be just what the doctor ordered. I could keep Momz happy by doing my homework, the guys could stay in school, and F2 was safe. I also would have a reason to hang with Jake and Marlow that wouldn't get Momz hackles up.

As soon as the hour was up, though, schoolwork was forgotten. Jake had his old beater, so we drove home. He dropped us at F2 and continued to the 7-11 to pick up a couple of six packs and some chips. Marlow hooked up to the TV. When Jake got back, it was game on.

When Momz came to my room that night, she asked," Who did you bring home today?"

"Just a couple of guys I'm tutoring," I said. "Who ratted me out? The Sue Sue Maya next door?" Sue Sue Maya was supposed to be Finnish for busy body. My aunt had a miniature Yorkie she'd named Sue Sue Maya.

"Mrs. Johnson, yes," she said a slight smile on her lips at my use of the nickname. "She called me at work to report that there was a strange car in the driveway and some boys were hanging out in Paul's shed. I told her that as long as you were one of the boys, she didn't need to worry about it."

"Jake and Marlow aren't doing so hot in English," I offered the understatement. "I've been trying to help them out with some tutoring, but things came to a head today. They were called into the office and offered a chance to move to the alternative school where they can get more individualized help and maybe work on a GED. They told the Veep that I've been helping them study. They even showed him some tests that they managed to pass. He agreed to let them stay and take the End of Course English test in January if I would agree to tutor them every afternoon for an hour."

"Sounds fishy. Veeps don't just 'offer' the opportunity to move to an alternative school."

"Well, they did ditch school yesterday at lunch. It probably wasn't the first time. Anyway, the Veep was impressed with my grades on the Practice End of Course Tests we took at the beginning of the year. He was willing to give them a chance. It just means I'll have to stay after school every day until they test. I don't mind."

"Just how old are these guys? If they're already taking the End of Course tests, they must not be freshman. And you can't even take a GED test until you're 16."

"They're more like 18." I had to force myself not to grind my teeth and squint as I said it.

"Wayne, what you're doing is commendable, but you need to be hanging out with guys your own age."

"I still have friends my own age. BJ, Dave and Nick will be here on Saturday. This is the only chance Jake and Marlow have to graduate. I figured you'd want me to help them out. Isn't it the Christian thing to do?" I knew that last line would get her. She couldn't very easily tell me not to do something that she thought was godly.

She sighed. She didn't call my bluff, though. "When do I get to meet these guys?"

I could tell she was still suspicious. "They're going to come to Laser Tag on Saturday, but I can invite them over Friday if you want."

I could almost see the debate going on inside of her. Finally she said, "Saturday will be fine." She liked having peace and quiet on her days off.

I was relieved. I thought it was best that Momz meet them when there was a gang around. I wasn't sure I wanted Jake and Marlow thinking they could hang every day, anyway. They might think that if I invited them over to meet Mom sooner.

The next day when I got home from school, there was a letter from Popz. Momz had left it on the table in the foyer, propped up so I would see it. I grabbed it and retreated to my room. I tore open the envelope. No picture this time, just a letter.

Yo, CW:

Love the selfie. Wish I could see you. It'll happen at some point. I'm sure of it. Maybe Uncle Clarence can convince your Mom. If not, we may have to wait until you're 16. Your Mom was right about no unaccompanied visitors under 16.

You need to cut your Mom some slack. She's only doing what she thinks is best for you, even if she's confused. She doesn't know me, like I am now. She only knows the destructive, addicted me. I'm sober. Have been for years. When I first was jailed, I found ways to get weed in here. I was still a doper. After getting busted and placed on lockdown for dirty urine a few times, I decide to try going straight. I got into AANA and took some classes on how to break addiction. I still relapsed a few times until I found a higher power to lean on. Your Mom was right all along about God. Turns out she was right about a lot of things. I know that's not what you want to hear. I sure didn't want to hear it for a long time, even though I loved her. I still do, but I burned all my bridges. You're right about one thing, though. Addiction is a disease. It's one that can be genetic so don't do the stupid things I did. I don't want you to end up like me.

I don't know who told you Mom was in on my arrest. It wasn't like that. The cops were on to me and just waiting to make a good bust. They tried to get me to rat out my hookup and cop a plea, but I refused. My loyalties were in the wrong place, though. Your Mom and I were already divorced. I knew your Mom wouldn't take me back no matter what I did, so I didn't think it mattered how long they put me away for. I didn't know she'd go ballistic and keep me from seeing you or talking to you while I was in prison. If I had, I probably would have ratted out my supplier, but who knows, really. I mean I was pretty messed up back then.

Cutting classes and sneaking around behind your Mom's back are bad ideas. I know that sounds hypocritical cause I used to encourage your Mom to do those things. Still, I've finally matured a bit and understand the importance of an education and listening to your parents. Maybe if I'd been less of a rebel I wouldn't be here now, and we wouldn't be getting to know each other through letters. Anyway, go to school and learn stuff. You got your Mom's brains, use them. I'm going to start taking college classes here. I can get an Associate Degree in business. I should have tried college a long time ago before I fried so many brain cells with drugs, but they tell me it's never too late. I guess I'll find out.

It won't do you any good to search for the key to the Blue Ox. It's in a safe place. When you're old enough, I'll let you in on the secret. Right now it would only be bait for rebellion.

I doubt this is the letter you expected when you wrote to me, but for once I'm trying to be your Dad.

I made something for you. I'll give it to Clarence next time he comes to visit. He came to Grant Parish once a month, but now that I'm closer, I'm sure he'll come more often. Until I can hug you myself, he'll have to bring you hugs from me.

Love, Dad

I read the letter through twice. I couldn't believe Popz was defending Momz. She showed me the pictures that were used to convict him. I knew. Someone leaked some of them to the paper during the trial. I'd seen them in the papers my friends had at school. After Momz showed me her scrapbook, I'd even looked up Popz trial and found the pictures just to be sure. They were the same ones. He was delusional. I guess love is blind.

I threw the letter in a drawer in disgust. I wasn't up to writing him back. He defended Momz, told me to go to school, and refused to tell me where the key to the Blue Ox was. Maybe I didn't want to get to know him after all. When I got his first letter, I was sure he'd be in my corner. Now I had the reds but no one who understood. I thought Popz would understand. Fat chance, that.