Free Far From Home by Megan Nugen Isbell Page A

protest.  I knew he was looking for help just as much as I was. 
    “Wait here,” I said gently and then walked back into Jesse’s room.  For a moment, my mind drifted back to the fun we were having in this room a half an hour before.  We didn’t have a care in the world, but everything had changed when the doorbell rang and I was angry.  I was pissed.  Jesse didn’t deserve this.  No one deserved this, but especially not someone like Jesse.  The kindest, most loving person I’d ever met was having his life ripped out from under him and it wasn’t right.
    I found my phone in my bag and with a shaking hand, I dialed my mom’s number.  I tapped my foot impatiently and she finally picked up after the third ring.
    “Mom,” I cried, cutting her hello off at the first syllable. “Jesse’s dad’s been in an accident.  He’s dead.”
    The line was so quiet, I was afraid she wasn’t even on the other end.
    “Oh my gosh,” she finally whispered. “Where are you?”
    “We’re at Jesse’s house.  The police just came.  What do we do?”
    “Come home now.  Bring Jesse.”  Her voice was urgent, but in complete control, which was something I needed to hear because I felt absolutely no control over any aspect of what was happening. 
    I hung up the phone without even realizing I forgot to say goodbye and shoved it back into my bag.  I went to his dresser and pulled out some clean clothes, stuffing them into his backpack, before going to the bathroom and getting his toothbrush.  There was no way he was staying here alone tonight.  I gathered our things and went back into the living room where he was still sitting.  He was like a statue.  He hadn’t moved since I left. 
    I knelt down in front of him, taking my hands in his and he finally looked up from the carpet.  He wasn’t crying anymore, but his eyes were vacant. 
    “We’re going to my house,” was all I said to him and he didn’t fight me.  Rocky and Jasper sat by the door looking confused and protective over Jesse.  “Stay here for a sec,” I told him and he didn’t even attempt to move from where he stood.  I went into the kitchen and filled the dogs’ dishes with food until it was heaping into a giant pile, then I refilled their water jug to make sure they’d at least be okay for a day or two.  They had the doggy door, so they would be able to let themselves in and out.  I didn’t want Jesse to have to worry about anything else.
    When I walked back into the living room, Jesse was still in the same spot, but he was kneeling and hugging both of his dogs.  It was as if the dogs knew Mr. Baylor wasn’t coming back.  I felt terrible leaving them here alone.
    “They can come too,” I said softly.  I knew under the circumstances, my grandmother wouldn’t mind.
    “No.  They’ll be fine here.  They wouldn’t want to leave,” he said quietly and then stood up, following me out the front door.
    We drove in silence the entire way back to my house as I did my best to fight back the tears.  My heart broke as Jesse stared out the window and I wanted to get us home as quickly as possible.  When we pulled up onto the rocky driveway, I saw all the lights were on on the first floor, which was a rarity for nearly midnight.  Inside, my mom was waiting.  She was sitting on the couch, Jack beside her and my grandmother sitting in her recliner.  I could tell my grandmother had been sleeping because she was still in her nightgown with curlers in her hair. 
    My mom stood up the moment we walked in and immediately came to Jesse, wrapping him in her arms.  My mom loved Jesse, she always had.  During the past six months though, she’d grown especially fond of him. She loved him for everything he’d done for me and for how happy he’d made me.  Jesse loved her too, almost like the mother he never had.  I watched as my mother held him and even though he towered over her, he seemed so small in her arms.  She whispered something in