Three Couples, Six People, Many Songs(#11)
Song #11 - You're A God, Vertical Horizon
"Daaa-deee!"
"Yes Martin?"
"Where my shoooes?"
James sighed and rubbed his temples. He had found a free day-care center for teenage parents not too far from the one bedroom apartment that he now lived in. Not exactly the best of places, but more than good enough for the little boy. "I'm coming Martin," James yelled back to the four-year-old. Comb in hand, he tried to fix his hair into some sort of respectable shape. Then he brushed his teeth quickly and buttoned up his shirt. After many months of unsuitable jobs, he finally managed to squeeze his way into a Home Depot. Currently he just did janitor type work, and put things away and such, but if he stayed there long enough, he could make it to a Sales Clerk position, which paid considerably more. All he needed to do was pass the GED he would take next year.
After he was done getting ready, he stepped out of the tiny bedroom and found Martin sitting patiently on the floor. "Alright, now you get your coat, hat and gloves and I'll find you shoes, okay?"
"Okay Daddy!" The little boy bounced up and ran to the closet, picking up the items that his father had asked him to get. His bubbly readiness to be up and moving seemed equivalent to that of a puppy with its on a treat and a new toy.
While the child was briefly occupied, James checked under the bed, and there the shoes in question lay. Boots actually, but anything that went on feet that was not a sock, was just a shoe in Martin's opinion. Smiling, James remember how long it took him to get Martin to tell the difference between cats, dogs, and horses. "Martin?"
The blue haired boy ran over to his father and held out his arms, full of the clothing items. "Here!"
"Thank you," James said, taking the things from the boy, and then setting them on the bed. "Let's see... Boots first." Kneeling down, James carefully put the little red boots on his son's tiny feet. Still kneeling, he put on the boy's hat, coat, and gloves. Standing up, he looked down at the little boy, and resisted the urge to pick him up and squeeze him tightly. The four-year-old looked so warm and cozy, all bundled up in his coat. And then the bright red boots, little warning signs that almost said "Beware of small boy!".
"Done?" Martin asked, looking up at his father with his bright green eyes.
"Yup." James took Martin's hand, and together they walked out of the apartment that James was careful to lock. They had certainly moved up from their previous living quarters, but they still lived in a far from trustworthy neighborhood.
---
"Remember, say Please and Thank you, listen to Ms. Nolty, sharing is caring, and try not to get into any fights. Okay?" James patted his son on the head and then kissed his little forehead.
"Yes Daddy. But Tommy started it last time!"
James resisted the urge to smile. "So go tell Ms. Nolty next time."
"But he said tha-"
"No buts."
"Yes Daddy..."
James handed Martin a little brown-paper bag. "There's your lunch, now scat!"
Martin giggled and then ran up to the door, knocking it sharply when he got there. It opened and a young red-haired woman greeted Martin, then waved at James.
"Bye Daddy!" Martin called.
James grinned and waved at his son, then continued on his walk to work. He had three more miles to go, but the money he saved by not taking the bus was worth it. He counted it as his daily exercise anyway, although one might count chasing Martin around their tiny apartment, and saving the few breakable things that he owned, more than enough exercise.
Managing to make it to work on time for once, James found himself able to go about his work at a leisurely pace. He somewhat enjoyed his job actually; the simple tasks gave him time to focus on himself, and his relationship with Jessie. She had been, well, she'd helped him out so much. She had helped him get this job, she had helped put his mind back on track.
She had fixed his life...
James put down the box of soda that he had picked up. He really didn't deserve Jessie. She didn't need someone that had a four year old son already, she didn't need someone that hadn't even completed high school, and she didn't need someone that would never make it to the place in society that she would make it to.
Sighing, James lifted the box again. But he couldn't break up with her. Yeah they were kind of at an awkward stage in life, but everything worked out okay, right? Right.
He needed to stop lying to himself.
---
"So I was wondering if I could stop by on Saturday? I don't have any classes or plans, and I'd like to spend time with you and Martin."
James leaned against the bathroom wall. He talked to Jessie there at night so that he would not wake up Martin. "That'd be wonderful. Do you want to go see a movie? There's a great new cartoon one that I think Martin would like."
"Sounds good to me."
He picked up on a little hesitation on Jessie's side... "You sure? If you don't want to go that's fine, I just thought it'd be nice. He's never gone to a real movie theatre before."
"I said it sounds good to me, James. Stop worrying so much. I really like Martin, and I love you."
James sat down on the bathroom floor. "I just... I don't deserve you Jessie."
"James..."
"I know I've said this before, but I *really* mean it. I mean, come on. How many relationships like ours do you know of that have pulled through? You're older than me. I have a *son*. You're in college, I'm gonna take the GED... It's not gonna work."
"James! Just *stop*. I never said it was gonna be easy, did I? I've got barely two years of college left. After that, we *are* moving in together, we *are* getting married, and I *am* adopting Martin!"
"We're getting married?" James blinked, a "Wait a second... What just happened?" expression on his face.
"Yes, we are. What? Got any objections?"
"N-no! Of course not! But... usually people propose. Y'know, get rings and all?" He smiled a little. Same old Jessie...
"We can do that later. Maybe we can browse around on Saturday, but no rush. So I'll be at your place Saturday Afternoon. I'll call tomorrow though, same time. Love you!" She hung up.
James stared at the phone, then pressed the off button. "Wow... I'm getting married in two years... Heh." He stood up and looked into the mirror, staring at his tired face. "You're getting married," he told himself. Turning around in the bathroom, he informed the ceiling and the bathtub, which were both obviously thrilled to hear that bit of news. "I need to tell Martin tomorrow. He's going to have a Mommy." James sobered down for a moment, remembering Martin's true mother. "I hope she approves of Jessie..." He smiled. "They probably would have hated each other if they met though, too similar."
He stopped his chatter and looked at himself in the mirror. "I'm talking to myself. I need to go to bed."
But before he left the bathroom, he looked at himself one more time, beaming proudly. "I'm gonna get married to Jessie."
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Lying in his bed, James stared at Martin's sleeping form. /I'm gonna get married to a woman that I don't deserve... What happens if she realizes that there's no way I can be a perfect match for her? What if she breaks off our relationship? I need her... I don't deserve her, but I need her. I love her.../
He forced himself to close his eyes. /Just try and sleep now, talk it over with her on Saturday. Everything will be okay./---------
Lying in his bed, James stared at Martin's sleeping form. /I'm gonna get married to a woman that I don't deserve... What happens if she realizes that there's no way I can be a perfect match for her? What if she breaks off our relationship? I need her... I don't deserve her, but I need her. I love her.../
He forced himself to close his eyes. /Just try and sleep now, talk it over with her on Saturday. Everything will be okay./-------------------
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