Down

Chapter 15

Sarah said" I'm gonna testify under oath. I was there. I just need to get ahold of my sister."
JJ said" Sister?"
" Kie, do you have your phone? Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day."
" Wheezie?"
" I don't know what else to do. I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out."
" Wheezie? Yeah, that will work. Well, she's right about one thing. We gotta do something. Our boy is a PO-dub right now, okay? He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution. And we're just gonna sit here?"
Kie said" What's the plan? We start by kidnaping Shoupe?"
" Maybe, like, that's not the worst idea actually."
" Oh, it's not?"
" No!"
Pope said" That is actually the worst idea I've ever heard."
Sarah said" It's pretty bad."
JJ said" You know what? Please, just stay out of this. Okay, Pope, look, we've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?"
" Okay, okay, so what's your plan? You gonna storm a jail, guns a-blazing?"
" Look, Pope, all I'm trying to get you to understand is they got our boy. Are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! We're gonna go get his ass. We're gonna do something about it!"
Pope said" JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening."
" No, fine, man. Sit in your comfy chair. Do nothing. I'm gonna see what I can do. Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself."
Kie said" Okay." He walked to me, lifting me up and walked out, I wrapped my arms around his neck, looking back at Pope and Kie. He got onto the bike, I held onto his arms as he held onto the handles,
I said" Where we goin', JJ?"
He said" Don't know yet. Hold on."

JJ put me down at the playground,
He said" I'll be back in 25 minutes, top."
I said" Okay!"
" Don't leave with anyone, don't talk to no one you don't-"
" I got it!"
" And if someone tries to take you?"
" Kick 'em, bite 'em, scratch 'em, hit 'em. And scream a lot!"
" And?"
" Cuss like bubba!"
" Ata girl!" He ruffled my hair," Go play." I ran to the playground, I heard him drive away.

I was rubbing at my eyes as I sat in a tree, I yawned,
JJ said" Tired?" I looked and saw him looking up at me, I smiled, nodding my head." Come on, you can take a nap at the house while I go talk with Ricky."
I said" Château?" He sighed,
" No, no, our house."
" But daddy's there."
" No, uh, dad's in jail."
" Oh."
" Come on, you look like a little sleepy monkey." I climbed down, he lifted me up, I laid my head on his shoulder,
" Loves, Bubba."
" Loves you too, Munchie." He rubbed my back, I nuzzled my face against neck.

I was laid on JJ's bed,
He whispered" I'll be back to get you in a while, okay?"
I mumbled" When?" My head dropped, I rolled over and cuddled into the pillow, he rubbed my hair.
" Let's say about 11:30."
" Okay."
" Don't let the JJ bugs bite." I giggled, smiling at him, he kissed my head and walked out. I closed my eyes, falling asleep-

I was woken up,
JJ said" Hey, Munchie, come on." He lifted me up,
I said" Bubba!" I hugged him, he laughed and rocked me as we walked out,
" Eat anything between sleeps?"
" Found some chips."
" Good."

We got into Kie's car,
I said" Kie! Pope!" I made grabby hands to Pope, he smiled at me and took me up front. I hugged his neck, smiling at Kie, waving at her.
She said" Hey, Munch."
" Ca-Can you's watch me next time?"
Pope said" Sure, hopefully there won't be a next time." He smiled at me and ruffled my hair, I giggled at him.