The Safe Place (Bridge To Terabithia) || ✓

Ch. 4 - Announcement

Jess's relationship with his father, Jack, had developed into a better understanding between the father and son. He had became more open with his father, and when Jack would return home from work, he would always try to make small talk with Jess and listen to him. And sure enough, Jack was sure that his son was anything but gay, from the stories Jess told him about his Music teacher– Miss Edmunds. There was something in the way he would always talk about her.

     "Mary, have you seen this Miss Julia Edmunds in school?" Jack asked Mary after Jess and May Belle had left for school.

     Mary continued washing the plates. "Brenda and Ellie once whined about her. Something about her wearing too much make up on her eyes and too little on her lips."

     "When's the next parents conference?"

     "Wait a second," Mary said and dried her hands before going to the fridge and looking at the little notes. There was one note from Jess that indicated the important events for class. She looked at the dates and saw one that said 'Parents meeting'. "February 23rd. Why?"

     Jack came up and hugged her from behind, pressing his head down on her shoulder and gave a heavy sigh. "I feel like we should thank that Miss Edmunds for appreciating Jess's talents."

     "You wanna go together?" Mary asked, slightly surprised at the suggestion. For every school event, it was only her who would go to school for matters that involved her children. Jack would rarely have time to attend his children's events or anything.

"I want to be a good father, Mary."

As soon as Jess bolted out of the house after hearing the school bus, he looked ahead and found Leslie about to go up. She glanced at him and smiled, gesturing him to hurry up before going in herself and settling in her regular seat. Jess came a few seconds after her and plopped himself next to her, showing a smile as May Belle trailed and sat herself next to her best friend since 1st grade, Alexandra.

     The bus then started and it became the usual noisy supermarket as usual with the 8th graders spewing cusses sometimes with Janice behind trying not to join in.

Over the past few days, Jess's visits to the Burkes had decreased from spending the days with Jack instead. Leslie didn't mind and was happy that Jess and his father's relationship had vastly improved from last year. While Jess was with his father, Leslie was enjoying herself with reading her parents's works. It was only until a few days ago did the thought come to her that she should read up their books, although she was always curious about what they wrote about. She obviously wouldn't tell them, but between them both, Judy was a greater writer whereas Bill had more interesting stories. In short, Leslie enjoyed Bill's stories more because she could relate to them since he wrote fantasies while Judy wrote more of romance.

     She brought a book out from her bag and showed it to Jess. "Here," she said and he took it, showing a puzzled expression. "This one's from my dad. It's really interesting."

Jess looked at the book as if it was something alienated. The only book in his house was pretty much basic books about home appliances, the Bible and a some small amount of used books. There wasn't really a 'story book' in there.

"I can understand it though, right?" He asked Leslie with a snort.

Most books that Leslie lent him, he could barely understand any. The only story that he probably understood was The Chronicles Of Narnia that was Leslie's personal favorite and the only whole book series she owned. Even right now at the moment he was still on the fourth book.

     "Goofball." Leslie laughed and jokingly punched his shoulder.

     The ride to school took 30 minutes, so Leslie pretty much had more than enough time to explain the summary of the book in her own words to Jess. It was a very interesting story, the book that Bill wrote. By far, it was actually the most interesting story that she read from him, and he had a lot of good stories. But of course, her favorite would still be The Chronicles Of Narnia. Even her parents can't write a classic like that, for sure. No offense, of course. She'd never say that in front of her parents.