Ch. 38

As the four of them left the beach, they headed towards the parking lot.

Trina had noticed a little boy wandering around them. She had noticed him earlier in the day doing the same thing.

He seemed to be looking for something, what she wasn’t sure of.

He couldn’t have been more than 11 years old wearing a blue t-shirt and matching shorts that from the looks of them hadn’t been was washed in several days.

Trina continued to watch the boy while the others were now in the parking lot packing up the bikes. She had a chance to look at the boy’s brown eyes, which still were looking for something, anything.

Jon tapped her on the shoulder, startling her for a second. He giggled. He whispered. “Ready to go home?”

Trina leaned over, she said in Jon’s ear. “That boy has been wandering around all day.”

“By himself?” Jon mouthed.

“Trina shrugged. “I don’t know. He seems to be looking for something.”

Jon looked troubled as he also began to watch the boy comb through the trash bins in the parking lot fighting back tears.

The boy’s hair was filthy. He appeared both exhausted and hungry. Jon went to the back of his motorcycle and took out the container of shrimp alfredo the four of them had been eating earlier along with an extra plastic fork.

Trina looked on. She was alarmed for the boy. She thought.
‘Where were his friends? His family?’

Jon went back over to the her. He gave her the container and fork. He whispered to her. “He’s hungry. Can you give him this?”

Trina nodded. “Sure.”

The two of them walked over the boy who was still rummaging through some trash cans. Upset that he was coming up empty handed, Trina gently touched the boy on the shoulder.

The boy was afraid that he was going to end into trouble. He began to run towards the beach.

“Whoa!” yelled Trina.

Jon ran after him. An avid runner, Jon caught up with him pummeling him to the ground. The boy kicked and screamed. Trina, Richie and Kendall seconds later met up with Jon and the boy.

The little boy squealed, “No! No! No! I wasn’t doing anything. I’m not going with you.”

“Buddy, it’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you.” Trina said in an attempt to reassure him.

Jon quickly grabbed him and held his arm so that he wouldn’t flee.
“Stop!” He told him with a hoarse voice. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

The boy cried as he continued to struggle free from Jon.

“Yes you do! You want to take me and put me in that shelter!” He screamed.

Trina upon getting a closer look at the child, noticed that he was frail. She realized it had been several weeks since he had a bath or something substantial to eat.

“Who wants to take you?” Trina asked.

“CPS.” he told her. “They want me to go with them because they said I’d be better off.”

“CPS?” Trina asked.

“Child Protective Services.” Kendall told her friend.
She walked over to the boy. “Sometimes things can get better, sometimes things can get much worse after they take over.”

The boy nodded his head in agreement. His muscles began to relax under Jon’s firm hold.

“Got that right lady.” He told Kendall.

Kendall bent down in front of the boy.“What’s your name buddy?” She asked him.

“You’ve been there too huh?” he asked her.

She understood him completely. When she was little she had been taken by CPS because of her parent’s abuse. At times, foster care at least for her at times was until finally the right family came along.

She threw a weak smile at him. “I do. My name is Kendall.”

In anticipation over what would happen if he gave his name out, the boy stayed silent.

“It’s okay. We’re not going to do anything to you.” Jon whispered.

Now shaking uncontrollably, the boy said, “My name is Toby.”

“Hi Toby. I’m Trina.” She said as she bent down next to Kendall. “This is Richie and the guy who’s got you in a death lock is Jon.” Trina quipped as she pointed at each one. Richie waved. Jon smiled.

Acknowledging them all, Toby said “Hi.”

Sensing that Toby now wouldn’t leave, Jon let him go. Toby stood in front of them silently.

“Toby, what are you doing wandering around so late?” Trina asked.

Toby looked down at the sand sadly. “Just looking.” he told her.

“For what buddy? Did you lose something?” Kendall asked

Toby shook his head. “Umm. Yeah. I lost my treasure.

“Treasure? You’re looking for treasure this late?” Trina asked.

“Oh yeah. It’s real important that I find it. If I can give it to my folks, then we’ll be rich.” He told Trina.

Kendall looked at Toby with concern. She knew there was no treasure, but like Trina she wondered where his parents were. She glanced at Richie, who also was worried for the boy.

“What kind of treasure is it? May we can help you find it.” Kendall told him.

Toby nodded. “Oh no. You can’t see the thing. It’s so personal to my family that no one here would understand the importance of bringing this home.”

“That big huh?” Jon whispered.

Toby agreed. “Yep. That big.”

Trina looked up at Jon. “Jon, can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Sure.” He told her as the two of them walked up the beach for a bit.

“What’s up?” Jon whispered.

“You know there’s no treasure right?” Trina told him.

Jon nodded. “Of course I do.” he said.

“He looks so tired. Hungry. He won’t just take that food.” Trina said.

“I know.” Jon said.

Trina looked over at the boy again. Her eyes studied him from top to bottom.

“I wonder how long he’s been wandering?” she asked.

Jon looked her. He admired how she was handling all of this.

“He can’t stay out here.” Trina said.

Jon touched his throat. Despite him not talking for weeks, he thought that his throat would hurt a lot more than it did. He said with a hoarse tone.

“Can’t just bring him back to the house.”

“Why not?” Trina asked.

“What if he has parents that are looking for him? They’ll be worried sick.”

“If he did, don’t you think that they would found him by now? Look at him.” Trina pleaded.

Jon looked at the boy. She was right. If someone was looking for him and if they lived in the area, they would have found him.
‘There goes my night with her.’ he thought as he looked at her blue eyes met his sadly
.
'God, I hate it when she’s right sometimes. I wonder how long he’s been out here?’ Jon asked himself.

He looked at Trina once more. Her eyes continued to plead. Playfully, she tugged at Jon's shirt in an attempt to garner a sympathetic response.

“You’re killing me Trin.” He whispered.

“Please Jon. I promise tomorrow, it’s just you and me.” Trina told him.

Jon stared her. He took her hands into his and kissed the top of them. He shook his head. He whispered. “Okay. For you.”

Trina squealed with joy and hugged him. He kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She told him.

He pulled away form her for a minute. He gently cupped her face into his hands. He told her.
“You’re undoing me. Every minute, every second. All I want is-”

She gently put her fingers over his lips. She interrupted. “Plenty of time for that. Right?”

“I guess. Although tonight would have been perfect.” He told her mumbling as her grabbed her hand again and kissed it.
The two walked back to the others hand in hand. Trina broke free from Jon, again kneeling down in front of Toby.

“Toby, you know, Jon and I were talking and we think that we can help you find that treasure.”

“Yeah? How?” He asked her.

“Well, we could start in the morning. It’s around here somewhere right?” She asked him.

Toby shrugged his shoulders. “Not sure. It could be anywhere to be honest.”

Jon took a deep breath. He looked at his watch. It was 10:30. It was too late for a little boy to be out by himself.

“Toby, we can help you look for it tomorrow. I know some people who could help. Why don’t we take you home.” Jon said.

“Oh that’s okay Jon. I live up the street.” Toby said.

Jon and the others looked up the street. There was nothing there but Trash receptacles and boxes.

“Toby, where up the street?” Kendall asked.

Toby pointed at a large box. “ Over there.”

Trina looked at Jon in horror. “Oh my god. “ she mumbled.

Jon shook his head. “Toby, why don’t you stay with Trina and I at my house. I got plenty of room. I promised you we can look for the treasure first thing tomorrow.”

“You promise?” Toby asked.

“Yeah buddy I promise.” Jon told him.

Trina and Kendall were relieved as Toby nodded his head in agreement.

“Good. Let’s get you home.” Trina smiled as she put his arm around Toby.

“I’m going to call Juanita and have her pick up myself and Kendall. You guys can follow us on the bikes.” Trina said as Kendall followed back to the parking lot where the pay phones were set up.

Toby, Jon and Richie walked up seconds later and headed towards their motorcycles.

Toby’s eyes widened with amazement. “Wow! These are yours?”

Jon smiled. “Yep. Want to ride with me?”

Toby nodded. “Sure. How fast does it go?”

“Pretty fast.” Jon told him.

“I always wanted to ride a bike. My mom was going to get me one. But my dad yelled at her. Told her that we couldn’t afford it.” Toby said.

“It happens. It took me a while to get my first bike too.” Jon told him.

“Yeah. But did your dad hit your mom when all she did was ask him a question?” Toby quizzed.

Jon and Richie were stunned. So stunned, that they didn’t see Juanita pull the car up next to theirs. She rolled down the window.

“Beach pick up.” She teased. “I take it, the celebration went on a little too long?”

“We’d like you to bring the girls home. We have a guest that will be staying with us for the night.” Jon told her.

Juanita looked at the boy. She looked at him and quickly remembered that Jon was talking. Her eyes narrowed in anger.
“Darlings, you get yourselves in here. Jonny your voice.” she reminded him.

“Juanita, not now.” he told her.

“When? Because your doctor’s appointment has been moved up to tomorrow morning and you better have an answer for them as to why you’re being so freakin chatty.” She said telling him angrily.

“I thought you’d be happy to see that the notebook was gone.” Jon quipped.

“Not at the expense of you not being able to sing!” She yelled as Trina and Kendall went into the car and shut the door. Juanita started to back out of the lot. Trina was in the passenger’s seat.

“We’ll see you in a few.” She told the guys as the car took off. Jon helped Toby get on his bike.

Juanita sped up the block.

“Thanks Juanita.” Trina said.

“Trina, how long has Jonny been talking?” Juanita asked.

“He hasn’t been talking long. Just a few times on and off today.” She told her.

Juanita stared at the road, she was worried. Trina put her hand on her shoulder.
“Believe me. I’m scared too. But Toby’s situation-”

Kendall interjected. “We had to help him. He has no where else to go.”

Juanita looked at Kendall through her rearview mirror. She saw her eyes pleading for sympathy. Trina continued to touch Juanita gently on the shoulder. She agreed with Kendall.

“It’s true. He’s homeless.”

Juanita was at the house. Pulling the car in the driveway, she stopped abruptly. She turned to Trina. “He’s what?” she asked.

“The little boy. He’s homeless. If you want to blame someone for Jon using his voice Juanita, Blame me.” Trina told her.

Juanita shook her head. “Nope. I won’t. He’s got a mind of his own.”

The three of them got out of the car. Juanita stomped as Trina and Kendall sprinted behind her.

“Juanita, I really pushed him today. Seriously.”

Juanita turned to her and Kendall in frustration. “He’s a strong person. You may have pushed Trina, because chances are, he pushed first. God knows he can push a person’s buttons. I’m just wondering if he’s decided now that he’s had a few days off that maybe he may not want to do this as much as he originally thought.”

“Juanita, no hon!” Trina said.

Juanita interrupted her as she sat down on the front steps. “Trina, he’s a such a perfectionist that you know as well as I do he can be self-destructive.”

Trina sat down next to her and Kendall kneeled down in front of her.

“I’m sorry girls. I just don’t want him to lose himself again. He hates to listen and when he doesn’t, it’s usually when he needs to.” Juanita cried.

Trina put her head down on Juanita’s shoulder. “I know. But we just have to wait and see. Nothing we can do now.”

Juanita nodded. “It’s hard being his second mom huh?” Kendall quipped.

Juanita said. “I don’t know how Carol does it. Three boys. One a superstar, one a teenager, the other just getting his feet wet in life. I have kids too but-”

“You’re kids haven’t been on the cover of Rolling Stone or followed by cameras at all times.” Trina told her.
“Yeah. But my surrogate son has.” Juanita said in an weak attempt to make a joke.

The guys pulled up on the motorcycle. Jon got off. He took off his helmet while walking over to Toby and taking off the boy’s helmet. Toby was grinning from ear to ear.

“That was so cool!” Toby told him as Jon laughed. “Have fun bud?” Jon asked.

“Yeah! Toby leapt off the bike. “Trina! Jon and Richie raced. It was great!”

Trina, Juanita and Kendall’s eyes all widened. Richie, looked down in shame at the driveway. Toby ran up the steps. Jon and Trina’s eyes locked.

“No biggie.” Jon mouthed to her.

Trina smiled at him.

“You raced?” Trina asked Toby as her eyes couldn’t help but to watch Jon.

He was adorable in the way that he watched Toby. It was yet another layer of a person who she was happy know beyond music and the videos.

“Trina, Kendall it was great. Richie was going soooo slow and Jon joked and told him that he was riding like an old man. Richie told him ’Oh yeah?’ and then dared Jon to race and we did. Just up the street here and Jon beat him!”

“He did?” Trina asked.

“Yeah. At first Richie was mad because I was in the back and I think that he didn’t want me to get hurt, but Jon asked me if I could handle it and I said ’definitely’ and the next thing I knew…” Toby said.

Juanita’s eyes flared at Jon. “You have got to be kidding me. Racing with that little boy. What is wrong with you?” She asked.

“It was up like three houses. It was no big deal Juanita.” Jon told her.

“No big deal. Like using your voice?” she asked him.

Jon rolled his eyes at her.

“Yeah. Roll your eyes. I hope the doctor’s tells you tomorrow no singing for a few more weeks. Then let’s see who you’re going roll your eyes at. I’m going to bed!” Juanita said stomping up the stairs. She looked at Kendall and Trina.

“Kendall darlin, housekeeping made up your room. I’ll tell them to make one up for our young friend.”

“Thanks Juanita.” Kendall said.

Juanita stomped off and up the steps into the house.

Toby’s eyes widened. “Wow. What’s with her?” he asked.

“She’s just worried that’s all sweetie.” Trina reassured him as she got up and began to walk him up the steps.

“Worried about what?” Toby asked her.

“Jon. He tends to make everyone nervous from time to time.” Trina joked.

Toby laughed. “Nah. Jon’s cool. Everyone needs to calm down.”

“Thanks Toby.” Jon said

Let’s get you washed up. Are you hungry?” Trina asked.

“Starving.” Toby said rubbing his stomach.
“Well let’s get some food into you.” Trina told him..

“Okay” Toby said as they all walked into the house.

Jon was last. He wondered what the doctor’s would say about his voice tomorrow.

‘Would I be able to sing? What if I blew it? What am I going to do if I can’t?’

He touched his throat in concern.

Maybe Juanita was right. Maybe he needed to know what it was like to not to sing for a living.

Sad, yet frustrated at himself, he decided to take one last look at the evening sky which was now illuminated with stars. He began to walk into the house.
‘Shit, I really messed up! What am I going to do?‘