Taboo

Keywords: Final, Mysterywriter's, Spring,

You are not allowed out until your mother comes home," their grandmother ordered.

"Yes Grandma," Becca said. Jay didn't even say anything; he just went to their room.

As soon as they got to the room Becca flopped on her bed, laid her head in her arms, and started crying. Jay came over and sat on the bed and put his hand on her back. "Come on Becca, it will be all right."

"It's just not fair!" Becca bemoaned. "We didn't do nothing wrong. You were protecting me!"

"We'll explain that to Aunt Kim and she'll set Mrs. Wicker straight," Jay said.

"She won't believe us, they never do, we'll be punished," Becca said.

"Whatever happens, we are in this together, even if we are punished, who cares? As long as you know and I know we didn't do anything wrong," Jay said.

Becca lifted her head up and looked at her cousin. "Why did you do it? Come and save me?" she asked.

"Becca, I couldn't stand by and watch those jerks hurt you. I had to do something," Jay said.

"You're different now," Becca stated.

"I know. Today was the first day I really felt anything since...since my mommy and daddy died. When I saw you getting bullied I felt angry and afraid for you. I didn't want anything to happen to you. After the fight it was like all these feelings came shooting back into me and I...I just couldn't handle it. That's why I started crying. I'm just glad you were there," Jay said.

"Why me?" Becca asked.

"Because out of everyone here, you are the one that's treated me best," Jay answered. "If anyone had to see me break down and cry, I'm glad it was you because you have always been nice to me."

"I haven't been that nice," Becca said.

"And I haven't either," Jay replied. "You've had to put up with me and you've been nicer than most people would have been. You tried to be my friend but when you saw I just wanted to be left alone, that's what you did. I'm sorry about how I've been to you."

"That's okay," Becca said.

"I really would like to be your friend," Jay said.

Becca smiled, "Me too."

* * *

When Kimberly came home from work she was assaulted by a mother, a daughter, and a nephew all trying to talk at once. What was most surprising was Jay. He was just as animated as her mother and Becca. She had never seen him this lively and responsive.

After she got everyone to cool down she asked Becca to tell her what happened slowly. Becca related the whole story and when Kimberly saw the cuts on her daughter's hands and the bruise on her leg, she was ready to strangle those Wicker boys herself. She was also furious with her mother for punishing the children for only sticking up for themselves. Kimberly remembered how her mother treated her the same way as a child. Whenever Kimberly got involved in a confrontation it was always her fault, if not for causing the incident, then causing there to be commotion about it.

Kimberly picked up the telephone and got the Wicker's number through information. Then she called the number and a woman answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Yes is this Mrs. Wicker?" Kimberly asked.

"Yes it is," the voice replied.

"Well this is Kimberly Fresco and I understand our children got into a scrape today."

"A scrape?!!" Mrs. Wicker said indignantly. "My son Christopher has a broken nose and two black eyes! My other son's stomach hurts so bad he doesn't want to eat anything. I have half a mind to call the police and press charges!"

"Well I'm sorry your children got hurt but they assaulted my little girl and my nephew saw this and went to protect her," Kimberly explained.

"That's not what my boys say," Mrs. Wicker said.

"Well I can have pictures taken of the huge bruise on my daughter's leg and the cuts on her hands. If you want to press charges, who do you think the police will believe? That a little waif of a girl started a fight with two boys or she was being picked on and her cousin came to the rescue?" Kimberly put forward.

"How do you know that psychotic nephew of yours isn't the one who hurt your daughter?" Mrs. Wicker asked.

"I admit, it will be my word against yours, but whose children have had a reputation for bullying other kids and whose children have never been in so much as a skirmish with anyone?" Kimberly retorted. Mrs. Wicker was silent on the other end. "I suggest we drop this whole thing, you tend to your children and I'll tend to mine and we'll make sure our kids know not to associate with one another from now on."

Mrs. Wicker remained silent for another moment then said, "Well, I suppose getting the authorities involved this time would be too much. I'll tell my kids to keep away from yours if you do the same."

"I will do that," Kimberly said.

"Fine, goodbye then," and there was a click on the phone as the call was disconnected.

Kimberly looked at Becca and Jay. "Everything is fine now. You don't have to worry about a thing."

"Yay Mommy!" Becca said.

"Thank you Aunt Kim," Jay said.

"I want to thank you Jay for looking out for Becca today," Kimberly said.

"You're welcome," Jay said as he smiled at Becca. The boy was actually smiling. That was something.

"I suppose I better get dinner started," Kimberly said and she headed into the kitchen.

* * *

Dinnertime was another shock. Kimberly and her mother stared at Jay mouths agape as he not only finished his dinner but asked for a second helping of macaroni and cheese. However, he didn't ask for a second helping of the mixed vegetables that Becca's mother had made to go along with the meal, but he finished all of his first helping.

Becca just smiled inwardly to herself because she knew that she had something to do with the reason Jay was acting...well...normal. She mostly felt warm inside thinking about that special moment they shared crying together out in the street, it was a private moment that they would keep only between the two of them, something that would connect them together for the rest of their lives.

* * *

Jay had just finished his shower and was in his pajamas sitting on his cot watching the same ritual he had seen almost every night since he had been there. Becca was sitting on her bed with her mother, Kimberly had a brush in her hand and Becca was squirming and would occasionally scream as Kimberly ran the brush through Becca's hair. "Honestly Becca, I don't know how you can get so many knots in your hair in just one day!" Kimberly said. It was something Jay heard her say often. "You've got to stop playing with your hair and chewing it," another staple of their pre lights-out conversations.

Kimberly had a piece of gum in her mouth like she always did and Jay idly wondered if she had ever dropped any into Becca's hair. Since Becca didn't have any patches cut out of her long hair Jay assumed they had been lucky so far, unless it happened a long time ago. Kimberly ran the brush roughly through Becca's hair once again and Becca screamed. "Becca, will you stop that, it's not that bad!"

"But it hurts!" Becca said crying.

Jay was struck by a sudden urge to help. "Do you mind if I try to get the knots out?" He asked.

Becca looked over at Jay and then to her mother and said, "Oh yes, Mommy, can he try it? Please?"

Kimberly looked at Jay with an amused grin. Jay felt a momentary shock go through him but he instantly recovered. Kimberly was silent for a moment then said, "Be my guest," and she indicated Jay could come over and relieve her of the brush.

Jay went and took Kimberly's place sitting behind Becca on her bed. Kimberly stood in the doorway with her arms folded, watching the two of them. Jay held the brush up to Becca's hair which was still damp from her bath and had a fruity clean smell from the shampoo. Her hair was also full of knots. Jay sighed and said, "Tell me if I hurt you."

"Okay," Becca said.

Jay placed the brush at the top of Becca's head then gently started to move it down. He immediately encountered a knot. Jay tried forcing the brush through, but without using much strength so as not to hurt her, that didn't work. Next Jay tried spreading the hair out where the knot was to see where the worst of the tangle was. He saw it and took the brush through it. The knot gave way. "Did that hurt?" Jay asked.

"Uh-uh," Becca said.

Jay continued brushing Becca's hair and used the same method each time he encountered a knot. It took him about ten minutes but he was finally able to smoothly run the brush through her blonde hair at any point. "That's it, no more knots," Jay proudly proclaimed. Becca gasped and turned around with a huge smile on her face. She hugged Jay tightly, which made him feel nice and warm inside.

"Well, I think you've got a new hairstylist," Kimberly said with a smile.

Becca smiled and said, "Yup."

"Thank God!" Kimberly said. "One less hassle I have to go through! Okay you guys, time for lights out! Jay, get back into your bed." Jay scooted off Becca's bed and hopped into his cot.

"Goodnight you two," Kimberly said.

"Goodnight," Becca and Jay chorused. Kimberly turned out the lamp leaving the room in the dim pink glow of the night light.

Jay was laying on his cot going over the day's events in his mind and was almost asleep when he felt a presence close to him. He opened his eyes and saw Becca standing in front of him.

"Jay?" Becca said.

"Yeah?" Jay responded.

"I'm scared," she said.

"Why?"

"Cause...my leg and hands still hurt and it makes me keep thinking about the Wickers."

"There's nothing to be scared about Becca, they won't bother you anymore," Jay said with confidence.

"But what if they do?" she asked.

"Then I'll be there," Jay said.

"Okay," she said quietly. Jay closed his eyes again but he still felt Becca beside the cot. "Jay?"

Jay opened his eyes and looked at her, "Yeah?"

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She asked.

Jay thought about it for a moment. "You don't wet the bed do you?" He asked.

"No!" Becca said indignantly.

"All right then," Jay said and he pulled back the covers. Becca smiled broadly and climbed into the cot. She snuggled her back up against Jay's front and he put his arm around her.

Keywords: Final, Mysterywriter's, Spring,