Temporary Home
Jack
We got into Austin later
on in the afternoon.
The radio was on, and
Glad You Came was
blaring inside the truck.
Justin and I were
laughing and enjoying
ourselves while we
slowly made our way to
his home. We pulled
into a simple brick
apartment complex.
We got out of his truck;
he brought me up
five floors before brining
me down the hallway
to the apartment where
he lived at. He told me,
before we went in, that
he unfortunately didn't
have enough money yet
to get a place to himself,
so he lived there with his
dad. I told him that was
fine with me. I didn't mind.
His job must not have
paid a lot.
Justin opened the door
once he unlocked it.
Dad, I'm home. I
found a new friend.
Do you mind if he
stays here until he
can find his relatives
that live here in the
city?
A man of maybe 40
walked into the living
room area. He had the
same eyes as Justin,
except they seemed a
little more guarded.
I guess so, so long
as he isn't mooching.
He won't be, Justin
said, looking at his
dad. He shouldn't
be here too long.
Well, good. The old
man turned to me.
What's your name,
kid?
"Jack," I said quietly,
kind of nervous around
this man. He seemed
like the generally angry
type of person. It scared
me just a little bit.
That's a good name.
I will give you a week
before I will start to
charge you rent for
living at this place,
alright?
I started to nod, but
Justin stepped in.
Dad, I'll pay for him
to stay here. He won't
be able to get a job
that fast, not with this
kind of economy.
I realized he was
willing to make this my
temporary home.
His father sighed.
Whatever, son.
You can barely
even take care of
yourself. Justin's
old man turned his
back.
That was the first
time I'd seen Justin's
face get so red.
YOU ARE READING
Dwindling Light
Teen FictionAce and Jack Sterling, twins, lead very different lives. Ace stayed home with their mother and her terrible lovers; Jack ran away, finding himself a part of a drug chain just to have money to keep a modest subsistence. But Ace wants to get away and...
