Remembrances (1/14)
Apr. 11th, 2010 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dephigravityTitle: Remembrances
Pairing: Jensen/ Jared
Characters: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Tom Welling, Justin Hartley, and various other CW folks
Rating: R
Word Count: 2759
Summary: Tom Welling is a college student that is asked to spend time with an elderly Jensen Ackles. Jensen is slow to come around but realizes the company is just what he needs
First Meetings
Tom looks out the window to verify his location as the bus screeches to a halt in front of a bench displaying yet another realtor advertisement. After running his hand through his hair, he gathers up his belongings and stands and shuffles through the crowded seats to the front of the vehicle. He pats the back of the driver's seat and politely thanks the man and walks down the steps.
The door hisses closed behind Tom as he adjusts his backpack over his left shoulder while he reaches deep into his pocket to retrieve the address. Glancing at the digits, he commits it to memory and crumples the paper back into his khakis. He takes a deep breath and heads to his appointment, his nerves screaming for him to turn around and run for the bus.
Once he arrives, he pauses at the end of the parking lot and stares at the building. At least it's not the antiquated and gothic looking asylum he was expecting; instead it is fairly boring and, well, clinical.
Tom forces through the butterflies fluttering inside as the doors slide open to allow him entrance. He walks through into the sterile hallways, his nose wrinkling at the scent of bleach and approaches the front desk. A slender young black woman gazes up from a crossword puzzle and whistles at the massive attractive young college student.
"You must be the volunteer for Dr. Collins," she wheels her chair closer.
"That'd be me," Tom smiles shyly back at her.
"Go ahead and sign in here and I will show you the way," she says and hands him a clipboard and pen and then goes back to filling out her puzzle.
Tom scribbles his name and with a clearing of his throat to get her attention, he gives her back the clipboard. She squints, trying to read the writing but finally gives up. She set it aside on the ledge, rolls back to stand, and walks around the desk.
"Okay then, go ahead and follow me," she says, cocking her head in the direction of the hall she wants to lead him down. She takes hold of his upper arm and guides him down the corridor.
"You are going to be spending time with Mr. Ackles. It's okay, don't be shy. He won't bite you, ya know. He usually keeps to himself but I'm sure once the two of you get to know each other, you will get along just fine."
"How long has he lived here?" Tom asks, her soothing demeanor helping to ease his nerves.
"Not really sure, longer than I've been here though. He has no family so I'm sure he will enjoy the company."
"I sure hope so..." He looks down at her with sheepish uncertainty.
They came to stop at a partially opened door; She reaches out and lightly raps on the wood. "Jensen? It's me Shondra. I brought you a visitor."
She pushes the door open and nudges Tom inside. "I will come by and get you in about an hour, okay?"
"Sounds great," he says lowering his green eyes and smiles. A tremor of panic shoots through him at the realization that he is being left alone, alone with a complete stranger.
"You'll do fine," she says and gives his arm a reassuring squeeze before closing the door behind her.
Turning back around, he takes a few steps towards the elderly man, Mr. Ackles. Grey hair glistens as the old man stares peacefully out the window; either deep in thought or in the clutches of the abyss, Tom's not sure and silently cursing himself for his failure to ask. He stands there for a moment waiting for any kind of acknowledgment from him. When none comes, he takes the last few remaining steps into the room. With a large extended hand he introduces himself.
"Uh hi, Mr. Ackles? Jensen was it? I hope it's alright if I call you that. My name's Tom."
Jensen makes no move to take the hand; instead he continues his contemplation of the outside world. Tom withdraws his hand and wipes the salty dampness onto his jeans.
"You mind if I take a seat?" Tom asks, hoping to get a reply this time.
Jensen sighs and dismissively flicks his wrinkled hand in the direction of the corner chair. "Go ahead kid, but I ain't promisin' to be friendly."
Tom detects a slight hint of Texas drawl in the old man's words and it brings a smile to his face. Accents have always fascinated him; they seem to add even more character and richness to just about anyone that has one.
"Thanks," Tom says, pulling the chair closer and takes a seat. "I'm just here to keep you company, Dr. Collins thought it might do you some good. If you want to talk that's cool, if you don't that's fine too. Ball's in your court dude."
Jensen scoffs at the word but makes no further sign of agreement or acknowledgement. After ten minutes of silence, Tom reaches into his bag and pulls out a worn paperback. He throws a leg over the other and leans back into the chair. Settled in, he opens his book and begins to read to himself.
Jensen notices the movement out of corner of his eye but continues his absent stare, watching the leaves fall without a sound from the trees outside.
Time ticks by, excruciating and slow until Shondra finally pushes the door back open. "You two getting along?" She asks while seeing Tom yawn as he tucks the book back into his pack.
"It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ackles. If you don't mind, I'll be back again tomorrow. Same time. Okay?"
"It's your time son," he says quietly and with any lack of emotion.
Tom grabs the chair, puts it back in its corner, and then shoulders his bag. He smiles at the nurse before shutting the door behind him. When they are almost half way back to the desk he stops and asks, "He doesn't talk a whole lot does he?"
"Not so much. I can't say I know much about him. Keep trying though, I'm sure he's bound to warm up to ya," Shondra says as she softly punches his arm. He laughs as the seriousness of the situation dissolves with the simple gesture. She joins him and then guides him back to the desk.
"I sure hope he does. Warm up to me, I mean. He just seems so sad," he says as he reaches behind her to grab the clipboard and signs it.
"See you tomorrow then-" she hesitates with his name.
"Tom," he chuckles as he informs her.
"Is that what that says?" She snatches up the clipboard and tries to decipher the chicken scratch. She shakes her head, still unable to make out the letters and then turns to him with an even broader smile. "Well I will see you tomorrow then, Tom."
¬***
Tom comes in every day for the rest of the week, everyday is the same routine. He walks over and greets Jensen; Jensen sometimes says something in return, most times not. They sit there in silence for the first fifteen or twenty minutes before Tom gives in, sighs, and picks up his current novel. Day in, day out, no change.
Tom is beginning to think his presence is pointless. The next Sunday is shaping up to be the same, pure silence. Tom is two pages into his newest book when he is interrupted by the tender yet aged Texan voice.
"What ya readin' there, Tommy?"
Tom sets the book in his lap, surprised by Jensen's sudden interest. "Umm, it's actually an older book, I think from like the 70's."
A snort escapes from the gray haired Mr. Ackles; it takes Tom a second to realize what humor Jensen could have possibly found in what he had just said.
"A friend recommended it to me. It's called Watership Down. Have you read it before?" Tom asks as he leans forward, happy for the engagement of conversation.
"Never was much of a reader. What's it about?" Jensen lifts his brow, dull green eyes full of skepticism.
"Not really sure just yet. It has rabbits though," Tom says as he unconsciously cocks his head and looks at the ceiling as though it will supply an answer.
Jensen grumbles and returns to his stare out the window. When he doesn't add more to the conversation, Tom picks up the book and makes it through another page before he speaks again.
"Well, go ahead," Jensen says, starling Tom.
"Sorry? Go ahead and what exactly?" He questions, clueless as to what the man wants.
"Read me the story, son," Jensen sighs, relenting to the inevitable.
"Really? Awesome," Tom says flashing a wide smile and flips back to the beginning of the novel.
" Watership Down by Richard Adams... Part 1: The Journey, The Noticeboard...
'The primroses were over. Toward the edge of the wood, where the ground became open and sloped down to an old fence and a brambly ditch beyond, only a few fading patches of pale yellow still showed among the dog's mercury and oak tree roots...' "
Tom barely finishes the second short chapter when the knock comes. Shondra seems pleasantly surprised by the scene.
"I told you he'd warm up..." she whispers to him as she escorts him out.
Tom's eyes seem just a bit greener with the happiness from his minor breakthrough.
***
Over the coming weeks and months Tom finishes novel after novel. Sometimes he brings in ones Jensen doesn't much care for but lets him read anyway. Jensen is not an Anne Rice or Stephen King fan but downright despises Clive Barker. And other times Jensen becomes entranced in Tom's voice, such as with Lonesome Dove or Bury Me at Wounded Knee. Tom makes a mental note to check into more westerns for his new Texan friend.
Three months to the day of their first meeting, Jensen decides to forego their daily reading and talks, actually talks to him. Tom looks deep into the paler green eyes as Jensen reveals a little bit about himself. Jensen has been a widow for the last twenty-five years now, but doesn't want to get into the details just yet. Tom understands and delights in the fact that Jensen turns the tables and ends up interviewing him instead.
Tom is a Junior classmen at UCLA, majoring in sociology with a minor in history and is in a relationship but is fairly shy to discuss it, which, Jensen understands all-to-well himself. Tom tells stories of his older brother and sisters, pets, and parents. They talk about the books he has brought in and sometimes movies. Jensen is a western man, no surprise there, while Tom tends to lean towards horror.
Jensen is talking about the nursing home staff when Tom takes in the pictures on the wall. It is then that he spies a picture of two boys, arms draped over one another's shoulders and gap-toothed grins of joy shining through the sepia ink.
"Jensen who're they? Your kids?" He asks, gesturing towards the wall.
Jensen looks behind him to see what it is Tom is talking about. When he catches sight of the picture he groans and stands up, slowly hobbling to the wall and pulling it down. "No, no children for me I'm afraid. Would you believe that was me?"
"Really?" Tom says, his interest piques. "You were so young!"
"I think I may have been seven back then," he says and hands the frame to Tom.
"Who's the other boy," Tom asks as he absorbs the contents of the photograph.
Jensen takes back his seat with a soft moan as muscles and creaking bones resettle. "That, that is Jared. Jared Padalecki. He and I were the best of friends."
"Tell me about him," Tom says as he wipes a smudge off the glass above Jared's moppy dark hair, similar to his own.
"Let me see. My parents moved to San Antonio when I was 6. I was terrified to go to a new school, I was always the shy one..."
~~~
"You want a licorice?" The floppy haired boy looked across the table, shoving out a piece of black licorice.
"Huh?" Jensen asked as he looked up from his barely touched pb and j. "Oh, no thank you, I don't like the black ones."
"I have red too," the kid said and reached back into the brown paper bag. His tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he searched blindly in the sack of almost all candy. "Gotcha! Here ya go!"
Jensen reached across the table and timidly grabbed the treat. "Thanks."
"I'm Jared," said the spastic boy. "I like candy, like, a lot so I always have any kind if you want some. My parents say it'll rot my teeth out, but I think they are just lying to me cus they're afraid they'll have to pay me all the tooth fairy money, ya know?"
"There's no tooth fairy?" Jensen stopped in mid chew to ask, surprise formed in his large eyes.
"Nah. At least that's what Chad told me anyway. Chad is the smartest kid I know, so he has to be telling the truth. He's pretty swell too, kind of a brat sometimes, though. He's always chasing after Sophie. I keep tellin' him that she's got cooties but he says those aren't real either. You ask me I think all girls got cooties. Yucky girls. Won't see me getting married when I grow up, nope, no sirree bob! You want another?"
Jensen shook his head, still engrossed in the words spilling out from Jared's mouth.
"So new kid, what's your name? I heard from Mrs. Ferris that there was a new kid in Ms. Tal's class. Ms. Tal's pretty, for a girl I mean, but I like Mrs. Ferris. She doesn't make us do too much homework. There was this one time that I missed the bus and she walked me home. Hey you wanna go out and swing new kid? What's your name? Did I ask that before? I can't remember. Sometimes I forget stuff real easy. I will be thinking it and then poof! It's all gone. My dad says it's all the sugar I eat but I think he's lying cus of all the tooth fairy money…"
"Jensen!" The short haired Jensen interrupted. "My name, I mean. You said the thing about the tooth fairy all ready."
"Oh, sorry. So wanna go swing? If we leave now we can beat Chris and Steve. They always try to get the best swings. Steve is fun, Chris is kind of a jack ass. Whoops! Don't tell anybody I said that. My mom bought a new bar of soap and I don't want to do that again. You ever have to eat soap, it's so gross. There was this one time that I…"
"Sure, I guess," Jensen interrupted again. He wrapped up his uneaten sandwich and threw it in the trash can on the way out to the playground.
***
"Mom! Mom! Mom!" Jensen ran into the house as the yellow school bus drove off.
"Jenny is that you? How was school dear?" Donna Ackles calls from the kitchen.
"Mommy, don't call me Jenny, it's so girly," he whined and came to a skidding stop. "Guess what? Guess what? Guest what?"
Donna bent down to her pint sized little boy and ran a gentle hand over his slicked back hair. "What's that dear?"
"I made a friend! He is the bestest ever!" Jensen jumped into her arms.
"I told you, that you would honey. Tell me about this boy?"
"His name is Jared Padalecki and he likes candy and he likes to talk, a lot!"
~~~
Tom is so involved in the story that he doesn't notice as the nurse puts her hand on his shoulder.
"Okay you two, break it up. Tom your bus is gonna be here any minute," Shondra says in her sweet and friendly voice.
"Shit!" He hurries to gather his stuff and moves back the chair. "I gotta go Jensen. I will see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Lookin' forward to it Tommy," Jensen smiles as Tom hands him back the frame.
He thumbs the smooth metal frame and beams down at the shaggy brown haired boy with the empty space in his smile, and the wrapper of a chocolate bar tucked into his shirt pocket.
(Next)
Pairing: Jensen/ Jared
Characters: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Tom Welling, Justin Hartley, and various other CW folks
Rating: R
Word Count: 2759
Summary: Tom Welling is a college student that is asked to spend time with an elderly Jensen Ackles. Jensen is slow to come around but realizes the company is just what he needs
Tom looks out the window to verify his location as the bus screeches to a halt in front of a bench displaying yet another realtor advertisement. After running his hand through his hair, he gathers up his belongings and stands and shuffles through the crowded seats to the front of the vehicle. He pats the back of the driver's seat and politely thanks the man and walks down the steps.
The door hisses closed behind Tom as he adjusts his backpack over his left shoulder while he reaches deep into his pocket to retrieve the address. Glancing at the digits, he commits it to memory and crumples the paper back into his khakis. He takes a deep breath and heads to his appointment, his nerves screaming for him to turn around and run for the bus.
Once he arrives, he pauses at the end of the parking lot and stares at the building. At least it's not the antiquated and gothic looking asylum he was expecting; instead it is fairly boring and, well, clinical.
Tom forces through the butterflies fluttering inside as the doors slide open to allow him entrance. He walks through into the sterile hallways, his nose wrinkling at the scent of bleach and approaches the front desk. A slender young black woman gazes up from a crossword puzzle and whistles at the massive attractive young college student.
"You must be the volunteer for Dr. Collins," she wheels her chair closer.
"That'd be me," Tom smiles shyly back at her.
"Go ahead and sign in here and I will show you the way," she says and hands him a clipboard and pen and then goes back to filling out her puzzle.
Tom scribbles his name and with a clearing of his throat to get her attention, he gives her back the clipboard. She squints, trying to read the writing but finally gives up. She set it aside on the ledge, rolls back to stand, and walks around the desk.
"Okay then, go ahead and follow me," she says, cocking her head in the direction of the hall she wants to lead him down. She takes hold of his upper arm and guides him down the corridor.
"You are going to be spending time with Mr. Ackles. It's okay, don't be shy. He won't bite you, ya know. He usually keeps to himself but I'm sure once the two of you get to know each other, you will get along just fine."
"How long has he lived here?" Tom asks, her soothing demeanor helping to ease his nerves.
"Not really sure, longer than I've been here though. He has no family so I'm sure he will enjoy the company."
"I sure hope so..." He looks down at her with sheepish uncertainty.
They came to stop at a partially opened door; She reaches out and lightly raps on the wood. "Jensen? It's me Shondra. I brought you a visitor."
She pushes the door open and nudges Tom inside. "I will come by and get you in about an hour, okay?"
"Sounds great," he says lowering his green eyes and smiles. A tremor of panic shoots through him at the realization that he is being left alone, alone with a complete stranger.
"You'll do fine," she says and gives his arm a reassuring squeeze before closing the door behind her.
Turning back around, he takes a few steps towards the elderly man, Mr. Ackles. Grey hair glistens as the old man stares peacefully out the window; either deep in thought or in the clutches of the abyss, Tom's not sure and silently cursing himself for his failure to ask. He stands there for a moment waiting for any kind of acknowledgment from him. When none comes, he takes the last few remaining steps into the room. With a large extended hand he introduces himself.
"Uh hi, Mr. Ackles? Jensen was it? I hope it's alright if I call you that. My name's Tom."
Jensen makes no move to take the hand; instead he continues his contemplation of the outside world. Tom withdraws his hand and wipes the salty dampness onto his jeans.
"You mind if I take a seat?" Tom asks, hoping to get a reply this time.
Jensen sighs and dismissively flicks his wrinkled hand in the direction of the corner chair. "Go ahead kid, but I ain't promisin' to be friendly."
Tom detects a slight hint of Texas drawl in the old man's words and it brings a smile to his face. Accents have always fascinated him; they seem to add even more character and richness to just about anyone that has one.
"Thanks," Tom says, pulling the chair closer and takes a seat. "I'm just here to keep you company, Dr. Collins thought it might do you some good. If you want to talk that's cool, if you don't that's fine too. Ball's in your court dude."
Jensen scoffs at the word but makes no further sign of agreement or acknowledgement. After ten minutes of silence, Tom reaches into his bag and pulls out a worn paperback. He throws a leg over the other and leans back into the chair. Settled in, he opens his book and begins to read to himself.
Jensen notices the movement out of corner of his eye but continues his absent stare, watching the leaves fall without a sound from the trees outside.
Time ticks by, excruciating and slow until Shondra finally pushes the door back open. "You two getting along?" She asks while seeing Tom yawn as he tucks the book back into his pack.
"It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ackles. If you don't mind, I'll be back again tomorrow. Same time. Okay?"
"It's your time son," he says quietly and with any lack of emotion.
Tom grabs the chair, puts it back in its corner, and then shoulders his bag. He smiles at the nurse before shutting the door behind him. When they are almost half way back to the desk he stops and asks, "He doesn't talk a whole lot does he?"
"Not so much. I can't say I know much about him. Keep trying though, I'm sure he's bound to warm up to ya," Shondra says as she softly punches his arm. He laughs as the seriousness of the situation dissolves with the simple gesture. She joins him and then guides him back to the desk.
"I sure hope he does. Warm up to me, I mean. He just seems so sad," he says as he reaches behind her to grab the clipboard and signs it.
"See you tomorrow then-" she hesitates with his name.
"Tom," he chuckles as he informs her.
"Is that what that says?" She snatches up the clipboard and tries to decipher the chicken scratch. She shakes her head, still unable to make out the letters and then turns to him with an even broader smile. "Well I will see you tomorrow then, Tom."
¬
Tom comes in every day for the rest of the week, everyday is the same routine. He walks over and greets Jensen; Jensen sometimes says something in return, most times not. They sit there in silence for the first fifteen or twenty minutes before Tom gives in, sighs, and picks up his current novel. Day in, day out, no change.
Tom is beginning to think his presence is pointless. The next Sunday is shaping up to be the same, pure silence. Tom is two pages into his newest book when he is interrupted by the tender yet aged Texan voice.
"What ya readin' there, Tommy?"
Tom sets the book in his lap, surprised by Jensen's sudden interest. "Umm, it's actually an older book, I think from like the 70's."
A snort escapes from the gray haired Mr. Ackles; it takes Tom a second to realize what humor Jensen could have possibly found in what he had just said.
"A friend recommended it to me. It's called Watership Down. Have you read it before?" Tom asks as he leans forward, happy for the engagement of conversation.
"Never was much of a reader. What's it about?" Jensen lifts his brow, dull green eyes full of skepticism.
"Not really sure just yet. It has rabbits though," Tom says as he unconsciously cocks his head and looks at the ceiling as though it will supply an answer.
Jensen grumbles and returns to his stare out the window. When he doesn't add more to the conversation, Tom picks up the book and makes it through another page before he speaks again.
"Well, go ahead," Jensen says, starling Tom.
"Sorry? Go ahead and what exactly?" He questions, clueless as to what the man wants.
"Read me the story, son," Jensen sighs, relenting to the inevitable.
"Really? Awesome," Tom says flashing a wide smile and flips back to the beginning of the novel.
" Watership Down by Richard Adams... Part 1: The Journey, The Noticeboard...
'The primroses were over. Toward the edge of the wood, where the ground became open and sloped down to an old fence and a brambly ditch beyond, only a few fading patches of pale yellow still showed among the dog's mercury and oak tree roots...' "
Tom barely finishes the second short chapter when the knock comes. Shondra seems pleasantly surprised by the scene.
"I told you he'd warm up..." she whispers to him as she escorts him out.
Tom's eyes seem just a bit greener with the happiness from his minor breakthrough.
Over the coming weeks and months Tom finishes novel after novel. Sometimes he brings in ones Jensen doesn't much care for but lets him read anyway. Jensen is not an Anne Rice or Stephen King fan but downright despises Clive Barker. And other times Jensen becomes entranced in Tom's voice, such as with Lonesome Dove or Bury Me at Wounded Knee. Tom makes a mental note to check into more westerns for his new Texan friend.
Three months to the day of their first meeting, Jensen decides to forego their daily reading and talks, actually talks to him. Tom looks deep into the paler green eyes as Jensen reveals a little bit about himself. Jensen has been a widow for the last twenty-five years now, but doesn't want to get into the details just yet. Tom understands and delights in the fact that Jensen turns the tables and ends up interviewing him instead.
Tom is a Junior classmen at UCLA, majoring in sociology with a minor in history and is in a relationship but is fairly shy to discuss it, which, Jensen understands all-to-well himself. Tom tells stories of his older brother and sisters, pets, and parents. They talk about the books he has brought in and sometimes movies. Jensen is a western man, no surprise there, while Tom tends to lean towards horror.
Jensen is talking about the nursing home staff when Tom takes in the pictures on the wall. It is then that he spies a picture of two boys, arms draped over one another's shoulders and gap-toothed grins of joy shining through the sepia ink.
"Jensen who're they? Your kids?" He asks, gesturing towards the wall.
Jensen looks behind him to see what it is Tom is talking about. When he catches sight of the picture he groans and stands up, slowly hobbling to the wall and pulling it down. "No, no children for me I'm afraid. Would you believe that was me?"
"Really?" Tom says, his interest piques. "You were so young!"
"I think I may have been seven back then," he says and hands the frame to Tom.
"Who's the other boy," Tom asks as he absorbs the contents of the photograph.
Jensen takes back his seat with a soft moan as muscles and creaking bones resettle. "That, that is Jared. Jared Padalecki. He and I were the best of friends."
"Tell me about him," Tom says as he wipes a smudge off the glass above Jared's moppy dark hair, similar to his own.
"Let me see. My parents moved to San Antonio when I was 6. I was terrified to go to a new school, I was always the shy one..."
"You want a licorice?" The floppy haired boy looked across the table, shoving out a piece of black licorice.
"Huh?" Jensen asked as he looked up from his barely touched pb and j. "Oh, no thank you, I don't like the black ones."
"I have red too," the kid said and reached back into the brown paper bag. His tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he searched blindly in the sack of almost all candy. "Gotcha! Here ya go!"
Jensen reached across the table and timidly grabbed the treat. "Thanks."
"I'm Jared," said the spastic boy. "I like candy, like, a lot so I always have any kind if you want some. My parents say it'll rot my teeth out, but I think they are just lying to me cus they're afraid they'll have to pay me all the tooth fairy money, ya know?"
"There's no tooth fairy?" Jensen stopped in mid chew to ask, surprise formed in his large eyes.
"Nah. At least that's what Chad told me anyway. Chad is the smartest kid I know, so he has to be telling the truth. He's pretty swell too, kind of a brat sometimes, though. He's always chasing after Sophie. I keep tellin' him that she's got cooties but he says those aren't real either. You ask me I think all girls got cooties. Yucky girls. Won't see me getting married when I grow up, nope, no sirree bob! You want another?"
Jensen shook his head, still engrossed in the words spilling out from Jared's mouth.
"So new kid, what's your name? I heard from Mrs. Ferris that there was a new kid in Ms. Tal's class. Ms. Tal's pretty, for a girl I mean, but I like Mrs. Ferris. She doesn't make us do too much homework. There was this one time that I missed the bus and she walked me home. Hey you wanna go out and swing new kid? What's your name? Did I ask that before? I can't remember. Sometimes I forget stuff real easy. I will be thinking it and then poof! It's all gone. My dad says it's all the sugar I eat but I think he's lying cus of all the tooth fairy money…"
"Jensen!" The short haired Jensen interrupted. "My name, I mean. You said the thing about the tooth fairy all ready."
"Oh, sorry. So wanna go swing? If we leave now we can beat Chris and Steve. They always try to get the best swings. Steve is fun, Chris is kind of a jack ass. Whoops! Don't tell anybody I said that. My mom bought a new bar of soap and I don't want to do that again. You ever have to eat soap, it's so gross. There was this one time that I…"
"Sure, I guess," Jensen interrupted again. He wrapped up his uneaten sandwich and threw it in the trash can on the way out to the playground.
"Mom! Mom! Mom!" Jensen ran into the house as the yellow school bus drove off.
"Jenny is that you? How was school dear?" Donna Ackles calls from the kitchen.
"Mommy, don't call me Jenny, it's so girly," he whined and came to a skidding stop. "Guess what? Guess what? Guest what?"
Donna bent down to her pint sized little boy and ran a gentle hand over his slicked back hair. "What's that dear?"
"I made a friend! He is the bestest ever!" Jensen jumped into her arms.
"I told you, that you would honey. Tell me about this boy?"
"His name is Jared Padalecki and he likes candy and he likes to talk, a lot!"
Tom is so involved in the story that he doesn't notice as the nurse puts her hand on his shoulder.
"Okay you two, break it up. Tom your bus is gonna be here any minute," Shondra says in her sweet and friendly voice.
"Shit!" He hurries to gather his stuff and moves back the chair. "I gotta go Jensen. I will see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Lookin' forward to it Tommy," Jensen smiles as Tom hands him back the frame.
He thumbs the smooth metal frame and beams down at the shaggy brown haired boy with the empty space in his smile, and the wrapper of a chocolate bar tucked into his shirt pocket.
(Next)
