Chapter 108: Jonathan VII
Jonathan woke up with his stomach growling violently. In fact it scared him a bit. He opened his eyes and wrinkled his nose. Tangers was snoring on the bed next to him, maybe that had woke him up too.
GROWL!
Jonathan sat up straight and he put his hand over his tummy, but nothing would quiet it. How could he be hungry after all that food he had devoured last night? That was insane! He felt like he was famished, like he hadn’t eaten in weeks!
Jonathan sighed as he slid out of the bed and scratching his head, he looked out of the window that overlooked the busy streets of Downtown Denver. It was noisy outside. Even with the window closed he could still hear the loud rush of traffic and the noise of people yapping and yelling. It felt really early though, he didn’t suppose that the sun had been up too long.
Jonathan sighed. At this time, Jana would be singing and spinning in the kitchen while Mom mixed her hot cereal and he knew he would probably be locking Freddy out of the bathroom or giving him wedgies. One of them would have to feed Gigi and Jonathan knew he would be twisting Freddy’s arm until he volunteered for the job. He missed that. With another sigh, Jonathan shook his head. It’s not like he was exiled and would never hear the tin whistle scream of his sister again or Freddy’s nervous giggle whenever they did something they weren’t supposed to.
It was as if he had never spent the night at someone else’s house before. He didn’t know why he missed home so badly. Was it cause it wasn’t his idea to spend the night here? More than likely and the circumstances stung at him too. That’s what it was. It was Danny’s fault.
But had Danny really done anything wrong? Jonathan squinted down, noticing a cat walking daintily down the fire escape; he could see a long, scaly tail hanging from its mouth. He remembered Danny sniffing Mom’s wrist and the goofy grins. He knew he hadn’t imagined any of that. Was that something to be angry at?
Jonathan sat down on the huge wooden chest that was propped underneath the window and he crossed his arms, wondering if the cat had kittens she was bringing the mouse to or if she would drop it as a gift for her owner. They used to have cats, Jonathan could barely remember them but Dad said that they used to drop dead mice for him. Or maybe the cat was just going to sit somewhere by herself and eat the mouse, with no one to share it with. Was a cat like that lonely? Or did it feel pleased pleasing itself.
Maybe it wasn’t something to be angry at, Jonathan thought as the cat’s tail disappeared from sight. Jonathan loved the perfumes Mom wore and sometimes he too would take an extra sniff of her as she passed by, and one of the first memories he had was of her smell when she hugged him tightly. Danny could just be liking the smell, just like he was. Jonathan knew that other women wore shitty scents sometimes. Especially women who thought they were being pretty and they just stank! Maybe Danny was used to those types of girls and a quality scent was new to him.
OK, Jonathan thought, I’ll let him have that.
And the grins? Well he knew Robbie Blake had a dumb-ass grin, why wouldn’t Danny? Its not like he had really ever-paid attention to the way Danny smiled on a regular basis, why would he? So it would stand to reason that he would notice it only when it was directed at someone he loved... like Mom. Maybe Danny smiled like an idiot all the time!
OK, Jonathan thought, so I’ll give him that... but then that would mean I overreacted.
"Aw shit," Jonathan muttered. "I hate being wrong."
Tangers had taken him out to breakfast that morning, to one of those fancy places that charged ten bucks for a dish that pretty much was just an Egg McMuffin. It made Jonathan feel a little special, what kid doesn’t feel special when he knows that money has just been blown on him. After that it was straight to the practice facility, which Jonathan was more than happy with. He loved being around the guys and without Freddy tugging at their shirts asking stupid questions and Jana flirting with all of them, he would finally be able to get their full and undivided attention. Then they would see how worthy a son he was of his father.
"Hey coach!" Tangers barked at Hartley as they were entering the practice facility. "Is OK if I bring in Jonathan? He’s pretty good kid, he won’t be in the way or anything."
Jonathan made sure to put on his very serious face when Hartley looked at him. This was a crucial moment now, the moment that would decide if he would slouch in the stands or actually be in the lockers, with the guys! A silly grin or a cheeky smile would do him no good at this point.
"Sure," Hartley said. "As long as it’s not a habit."
As the coach walked in front of them Tangers looked at Jonathan and Jonathan felt warm all over as he smiled back.
Jonathan flopped down on a stray chair in the locker room and tried to concentrate on digesting breakfast all the while grinning at surprised players as they walked in and jauntily joking with them. He loved being in the locker room on his team and he couldn’t wait until he was in a real locker room with real players for a living.
When Danny Hinote came in Jonathan didn’t feel the insane wraps of anger anymore and he did notice how Danny brightened up when he looked at him. "Hey," Jonathan said first, just to show Danny how good a person he was.
"Hey!" Danny said. "What’s up? How ya doing?"
"Fine," Jonathan said. "Considerin’ you got me tossed from my own house, thanks a lot Danny. Merci Beau Coup eh?"
Let’s just see how sorry you really are, Jonathan thought to himself making sure to look as cryptic as he could.
"Aw hell," Danny said, his face almost collapsing in shame. "Jesus kid I’m really sorry, I shoulda... I shouldn’t have been bugging ya when ya had such a bad day, and shit that was real stupid of me."
Well he looks sorry, Jonathan thought. I still don’t trust him... I can’t look like a total doormat either. I’ll just let him off... but not easy!
"Whatever," Jonathan said, rolling his eyes.
God I’m good! Jonathan thought as Danny gave him one last long mournful look before he began to change into his hockey gear. I’m still gonna have to keep an eye on him though.
"Hey boy!" A warm and familiar voice cut into the room. Jonathan looked up and smiled.
"Dad!" he cried and ran across the room, hugging Dad and giving him a quick kiss.
"Has Alex been feeding you?" Dad asked, narrowing his eyes but still smiling.
"Nah," Jonathan said rubbing his tummy. "Alex hasn’t fed me siiiiince..." he closed one eye.
"Hey!" Alex barked.
"Since an hour ago!" Jonathan finished, winking at Tangers. There were some scattered laughs from the guys nearest to them and that made Jonathan want to whoop with joy.
"Well," Dad said, "Alex called me and I brought your pads and gear, so as soon as we’re done here, I’ll work on some exercises with you on the ice. No reason not to practice eh?"
"Yeah," Jonathan said, "Sure!"
He hugged Dad again, he loved when he helped him out on the ice. As he broke from the hug and leaned against him wrapping his arm around his waist Jonathan made sure to give Danny a long, pointed look. Need a male figure my ASS! Jonathan thought. Take a good long look, Danny Hinote, take a good long look!
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