Read Online Crumbling Walls (Jack and Emily #1) by Laura Strandt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Strandt
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towards the pair already righting the chair and looking sheepish, “Would you like me to ask them to be?”
Jack noticed him rolling his eyes and kicked him lightly in the foot, “Dude, they already fixed it and nobody cares.”
“One time. That's all I asked for. One time without them doing something obnoxious.”
Jack went on to say something else, but Emily didn’t hear what, given she’d used the distraction to move away from the group. Needing a few moments to calm herself down, she studied the other displays until Ms. Tassleman showed up at her elbow, “Mom working again?”
She nodded, “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe she’ll be able to make it next year.”
Not able to look her favorite teacher in the eye, she remained focused on the work in front of her, “Maybe.”
▪▪▪
Everyone was settled in their seats a few minutes before the concert began. Even Sam, who was a notorious fidgeter from what Jack had mentioned, had promised to sit still.
It helped, of course, that both Jack and Tim had threatened him with bodily harm if he did anything bad and promised ice cream if he was good.
Emily, seated next to Jack, who was next to Tim, leaned over, “Can I get in on some of that ice cream action?”
“Do you promise not to sing along or scream for the next hour?”
“I think so, if properly motivated.”
Tim grinned past his brother at her, “Two scoops?”
“Deal.”
▪▪▪
Most of the concert was fun. There was a sing-a-long, which Sam, after getting the okay from Tim, belted out along with the rest of the crowd. Then more holiday favorites, during which Sam did nothing more than hum, which, for this particular six-year-old, was truly amazing.
He nearly lost the ice cream promised him, however, when Dex walked to the center of the stage. Sam stood and called out over the silent audience, “Hi Dex!”
With a wide grin and a Santa hat perched atop his newly dyed neon green hair, “Hey Sam. Be sure to clap for me when I’m finished, okay?”
“’Kay Dex.”
And once the audience stopped chuckling, Dex began to play.
Who knew such a strange looking, pierced individual could create such a feeling with a chunk of brass.
He played through “Oh Holy Night” then slipped into “White Christmas” and finally melted his way into “Silent Night”. Once he was done, everyone just sat mesmerized for a few moments until Sam, God love him, climbed up on his seat and started clapping his little hands off.
After that, the rest of the crowd woke up and began thundering the applause while Dex just stood there, enjoying the one moment of the year no one thought of him as ‘that nut case with the hair issues.’
▪▪▪
Afterwards, Dex brought his parents and sister over to the Callaghan’s. “Mrs., Mr. Callaghan, this is my mom, Cindy, and my dad, Jim, my sister, Annie, and her son, Caleb.”
Everyone shook hands, “Nice to finally meet you.”
Cindy smiled, “Glad to finally meet the woman who’s been saving me on food bills. I really should offer to help with your groceries.”
“Having to feed six already, you don’t even notice another mouth or two around the table.”
They all stood around talking until Dex’s mom looked at her watch, “Honey, we’ve gotta go.” Shaking hands again with Jack’s parents, “It was wonderful to meet you.”
“You too. Hope to see you again soon.”
Elizabeth turned to Will, “We ought to go, too. It’s getting late.”
Will tossed his keys to Tim, “Don’t be too late.”
Sarah, who had been standing next to Tim for the last few minutes after saying good-bye to her own parents, “We won’t. I’ve gotta work early tomorrow morning, so I can’t be out very late anyhow.”
“Well, have fun and be careful.”
While everyone was getting their coats on, Tim motioned Jack
Jack noticed him rolling his eyes and kicked him lightly in the foot, “Dude, they already fixed it and nobody cares.”
“One time. That's all I asked for. One time without them doing something obnoxious.”
Jack went on to say something else, but Emily didn’t hear what, given she’d used the distraction to move away from the group. Needing a few moments to calm herself down, she studied the other displays until Ms. Tassleman showed up at her elbow, “Mom working again?”
She nodded, “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe she’ll be able to make it next year.”
Not able to look her favorite teacher in the eye, she remained focused on the work in front of her, “Maybe.”
▪▪▪
Everyone was settled in their seats a few minutes before the concert began. Even Sam, who was a notorious fidgeter from what Jack had mentioned, had promised to sit still.
It helped, of course, that both Jack and Tim had threatened him with bodily harm if he did anything bad and promised ice cream if he was good.
Emily, seated next to Jack, who was next to Tim, leaned over, “Can I get in on some of that ice cream action?”
“Do you promise not to sing along or scream for the next hour?”
“I think so, if properly motivated.”
Tim grinned past his brother at her, “Two scoops?”
“Deal.”
▪▪▪
Most of the concert was fun. There was a sing-a-long, which Sam, after getting the okay from Tim, belted out along with the rest of the crowd. Then more holiday favorites, during which Sam did nothing more than hum, which, for this particular six-year-old, was truly amazing.
He nearly lost the ice cream promised him, however, when Dex walked to the center of the stage. Sam stood and called out over the silent audience, “Hi Dex!”
With a wide grin and a Santa hat perched atop his newly dyed neon green hair, “Hey Sam. Be sure to clap for me when I’m finished, okay?”
“’Kay Dex.”
And once the audience stopped chuckling, Dex began to play.
Who knew such a strange looking, pierced individual could create such a feeling with a chunk of brass.
He played through “Oh Holy Night” then slipped into “White Christmas” and finally melted his way into “Silent Night”. Once he was done, everyone just sat mesmerized for a few moments until Sam, God love him, climbed up on his seat and started clapping his little hands off.
After that, the rest of the crowd woke up and began thundering the applause while Dex just stood there, enjoying the one moment of the year no one thought of him as ‘that nut case with the hair issues.’
▪▪▪
Afterwards, Dex brought his parents and sister over to the Callaghan’s. “Mrs., Mr. Callaghan, this is my mom, Cindy, and my dad, Jim, my sister, Annie, and her son, Caleb.”
Everyone shook hands, “Nice to finally meet you.”
Cindy smiled, “Glad to finally meet the woman who’s been saving me on food bills. I really should offer to help with your groceries.”
“Having to feed six already, you don’t even notice another mouth or two around the table.”
They all stood around talking until Dex’s mom looked at her watch, “Honey, we’ve gotta go.” Shaking hands again with Jack’s parents, “It was wonderful to meet you.”
“You too. Hope to see you again soon.”
Elizabeth turned to Will, “We ought to go, too. It’s getting late.”
Will tossed his keys to Tim, “Don’t be too late.”
Sarah, who had been standing next to Tim for the last few minutes after saying good-bye to her own parents, “We won’t. I’ve gotta work early tomorrow morning, so I can’t be out very late anyhow.”
“Well, have fun and be careful.”
While everyone was getting their coats on, Tim motioned Jack
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