Chapter 2: James and Luka
¤(Jasam)¤
Life is a bunch of nothing some days. I get home to see my son Lucifer Silver Rye sitting on James's lap with a box of crackers. James is my brother or his uncle. James is eleven. While I am seventeen. Our dad and mom are gone. Left us to survive on our own when I was ten.
We live in a cheap apartment in the bad side of town. The apartment has three bedrooms, and a bathroom. The kitchen has a yellow stained fridge, dirty stove, and a small fold out table with random chairs I bought at thrift shops. The living room has a three seater couch. It has food stains, and marker stains. Blankets fling everywhere with toys. A small 18" flat screen sits on a black wooden TV stand. There's also a collection of movies in the TV stand. Mostly children's movies. Theres a small white toy box shoved against a wall. In the bathroom it is a stand up shower with a small children's bath in the corner. I can't be in a bathtub. The sink pipes have no cover. There is a double stack washer and dry jammed into a corner. In the rooms there is a bed and rollaway metal fabric drawers. Not much as you can tell. I can't afford much. I have bills to pay.
"Hey, guys. Wheres your babysitter?" I ask.
"She's in the rest room." James says.
"Thanks,Jamie." I shed off my coat and hang it on my hook along with my backpack. "Your birthday is coming up. What do you want?"
"New dress clothes and a sketch pad with charcoal."
"We will see. Now, how old are you turning?" I stroke my chin. I know he's turning twelve I like to joke with him.
"Twelve, Jay! How could you forget?"
"Eh? Maybe its because I love you too much I forget!" He laughs. "What movie are you watching?"
"Cars."
"Hmm. How was school?"
"I got to make glue. So much fun. I had a great day. On Friday can I go over to Frank's house?"
"When's Friday?"
"In four says, Jay. So can I?"
"Sure."
"Hey, Mr. Rye." The babysitter, Kylie, says. She is fifteen.
"Hello, Kylie. How much?"
"Ten." I pull out my wallet and give her two fives. She grabs her bag and leaves.
"Whos hungry? I am thinking of ordering pizza."
"Can we have pizza rolls instead?" James asks.
"Pizza Rolls!" Lucifer squeals.
"Alright. Alright. Pizza rolls it is."
I preheat the oven and set out the pizza rolls. I see them still watching Cars. I grab a bag of frozen peas. I leave it next to the stove as I grab strawberries and melons. I cut up have the melon and strawberries and put them in three separate bowls. I put the pizza rolls on a try and into the oven. I put the frozen peas on.
"Daddy!" Henri yells. He has his shirt swinging in his left hand and his pale bunny in his right. "I wove you."
"I love you too, Luka. Now get Uncle Jamie."
"Un-cul! Un-cul!" He screams. I make the plates of peas and pizza rolls. I give James his separated plate. Like a prison tray. I give Lucifer his Cars 2 plate with the sippy cup and fork. James comes in holding him. Now Lucifer is just in his briefs. Strange. I chuckle. They sit down and eat their fruit, peas, and pizza rolls. I eat mine too. We are a family.
James and Lucifer take a bath as I walk around the house picking up random stuff. Lucifer comes running out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around him with James chasing him just in a robe. "Luka, get over here!"
"I got him, James." I say." Go get dressed will ya." James nods his head. I swoop up Lucifer and take him to his room. He giggles and says random baby words. I sit him on his bed. I find shorts and a wifebeater for him to wear to bed. I grab a overnight pull up. Hes not so well with that. I get the pull-up first then his clothing. I rub his long thin hair dry before giving him his bunny and wrapping him in a blanket. I kiss his cheek. I pull up the gate.
I walk to James's room. He sits on his bed getting a shirt on. He sees me and lays down. "Jasam, are we going to live in this house forever?" He asks.
"Nope. One day I will get a real job and we will live in a real home. Understood. I will be a journalist for the local newspaper."
"All the kids in my class talk about their mom and dad. Also we are having a career day. Mr. Montauk wants me to ask if you could come in."
"I could take the day off of school and come in. Sound good. What day?"
"Tomorrow."
"Alright. I will tell all those kids about my waiter job at a fancy restaurant. "
"Thanks."
"Always. Now night, Jamie. You have school." I tuck him in and kiss his forehead. I turn on his lava lamp and shut off his light. I leave the room.
I take a quick shower. I dress in just boxers before getting into bed. I seat my alarm to wake me up for school.
***
James eats his cereal. Lucifer eats his oatmeal. And I eat my bagel. I see the time. "Jamie, get your coat and shoes on." I rush. He puts his bowl in the sink. "Do you have your phone?" He nods. I get Lucifer's jacket on and shoes. Jamie, Lucifer, and I stand outside as I lock the door. We head to my beat up car. I buckle Lucifer up. Jamie buckles himself up.
I drive to the elementary school. It has a daycare connected to it. I take them into the school dropping James off at his classroom first. Then I got to the daycare.
"Hi, Mr. Rye. Hi, Lucifer." Mrs. Orchard says. She is an old woman with a heart of gold. I pull out my wallet to pay for the month. Its one hundred. I hand her the money and Lucifer runs off.
"Hi, Mrs. Orchard. Here's the money for the month. See you after school ends." We shake hands and I give her the envelope full of money.
I walk back to James's classroom. Fifth grade students walk around showing their dads and moms their classroom. I see my little brother propping his head with his hands on his yellow and blue desk. I walk over and tap three times to get his attention. "JASAM!" He yells. I just chuckle and hug him. "Let me get you a seat. First lets look at my family drawing!" He drags me too a big wall. I see a picture of me, him, and Lucifer. Our names are hovering over us. I wear my normal work uniform, he wears his favorite hoodie, and Lucifer is in his underwear. I laugh at the picture. It shows how he interpreted our crazy family.
"Hi, Mr. Rye. I see you made it." His teacher, Mr.Montauk says. "I just want you to tell what you do when you work at a restaurant and what age you cans start."
"Sure thing, Sir." I shake his hand.
"Children and parents, sit, please."
James gets me a chair and pulls it over to his desk. I take a seat and look at all the parents here for their kids. I wonder what James thinks.
"Got any volunteers?" I raise my hand. "Mr. Jasam Rye."
I stand in front of a bunch of fifth graders and parents. Probably parents of kids in my year. "I am Jasam Rye. I am a waiter at Silver Blood Rose. It is a very high classed restaurant. We have to wear a white dress shirt, black slacks, and a vest if there is a party. Everyone who works there is classified as a waiter or a cook. I am classified as a waiter even though some nights I might do the dishes or help prepare a meal. Anything they need done I am on it. For a waiter we take the persons order and be polite. No if, buts, and ands about it. Thats just how things work. Its easy pocket money and you can meet cool and funny people while working there. The age limit is fourteen years old for restaurants but you will be a dishwasher or a helper of the cooks helper for awhile. Most new employees are. Now its not really a job meant for your whole life but its a fun after school or even a summer job. Any questions?" I announce.
"Yes, could it pay bills and give you a decent life by yourself? My names Gester." Ask a child.
"Yea, you could, Gester."
"Cool. Is being a waiter important?"
"I would say so. Or you kinda wouldn't have a restaurant."
"Sir, how old are you?" A girl asks.
"Seventeen."
"How are you here? I thought it was for parents!"
"I am James's legal guardian."
"So like his dad?"
"Missy, that is personal information." Her dad scolds her.
"My name is Sapphire Locket. Call me Sophie. Anyways, how long are the shifts?" A pretty little girl with blond curls asks.
"Eight hours."
"I am Benito Locket. I am curious. Do you have a superior?" A tall thin man.
"Yes. Mr. Wyatt Wilbert is the manager. He is who tells people to tell me what to do or plain talk to me. Sometimes promotions, or fire me."
"Intriguing."
"Daddy, could you buy the restaurant he works at?"
"Yup." My eyes widen. He seriously isn't thinking of buying my only work place.
"Are you for real, daddy?"
"Doing it when its transitioning."
"Sir, I am sorry for intruding but are you serious? That is my line of work."
"I am not going to fire anyone but you might get a promotion. Once I really your file that is."
"Oh god." I feel like puking.
"Hiding something are we?"
"Oh no."
***
I smile at my son and brother. No work today. Thank god! "Who wants ice cream!"
"ISE KREM!" Lucifer yells.
"Ice cream!" James cheers.
"Get your coats on." I dress Luka in his black slim fitting jacket with a blue hoodie. I see James gets in his blue puffy jacket. I get on my black slim fitting jacket with a grey hoodie. I slip on Lucifer's work type looking boots. I get my black combat boots on. James gets on my old pair of tan steel toe boots. They are in great condition from three years ago. I honestly kept a few things because of James. His favorite hoodie was mine growing up. We all get in the car and drive to a family restaurant. We walk in and take a seat.
"One vanilla, one strawberry, and one triple chocolate ice cream. All in a cup, ma'am." I announce.
"Anything to drink?"
"Hot cocoa!" James says.
"Cocoa?" Lucifer wonders
"It's like hot chocolate milk, Luka!"
"Coco milk! Coco milk!"
"A hot chocolate, a chocolate milk, and a strawberry banana chocolate shake." I say. She nods her head and walks to take the order. My phone rings unexpectedly.
"Hello, Jasam Rye speaking."
"This is Wyatt. Hey, someone else bought out the restaurant. He has your empty file and everyones full one. Be bewared. "
"Alright, Wyatt. See you tomorrow."
"Yea, tomorrow."
He hangs up and I see the girl walking towards us with our drinks. She sets them down where they need to be. I thank her.
"James, how was school?" I ask.
"Great. I think I want to be an artist."
"Sounds cool. Do you want to take art classes now? Remember Duke? He teaches art."
"Yea I wanna learn."
"Alright. Let me call him."
I pull out my phone and call Duke. "Duke Paints. How may I help you?"
"Hey, Duke. Its me Jasam."
"Oh if I knew it was you I wouldn't have answered. Just kidding. What can I do for you?"
"How much are classes for a twelve year old?"
"Fifty dollars per month. I could cut it in half for you. So twenty-five. Classes are every day except for sunday at four o'clock."
"Cool. Sign my brother up. "
"I am closing up the shop where are you?"
"Rod Rains."
"I will be there in five with paperwork and a pen." Duke just hangs up on me. He always does that without saying bye.
The girl comes with our ice cream. James eats his strawberry, Lucifer eats his vanilla and I eat my triple chocolate one. I see and feel Duke sit down.
I pull my wallet out. He shows paperwork in my face. I fill it all out giving him the first two months pay. "Thanks, Jasam. I must go home to my daughter before she has a fit that I never am home." He is a single dad. Her mom well dropped his daughter nearly nine years ago at his door. She was three days old. He was nineteen and crazy. He was beyond angry when he seen his little girl at the door. He learned to love her. She is such a sweetheart.
"Tell, Penny, her Uncle Jasam said hello, dear."
"Got it." He slaps my back and leaves.
I look at the time on my phone and groan. Time to get them to take a bath and hit the hay.
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