410 All Out In The Open Now (1/2)

(Jake)

I found myself back in my own bed and more than slightly disoriented. It took me some time before I realized I wasn't dreaming and that really happened. My brother is a professional baseball player. My dad is dead. I have an uncle.

I wonder if there's an aunt? A cousin or two? And...why did none of them come for me? Good news, my dad didn't not want me. Bad news, more people exist that didn't want me. I was struggling with how to feel.

I got out of bed and checked the time: 4pm. The boys should still be at practice. I hope Coach doesn't get too mad that I skipped...again. I have to have the poorest attendance out of all the varsity players.

I went to the bathroom to wash my face and clear the gunk out of my eyes. Then I headed downstairs. I found Mr. Atkins sitting in the living room, watching some kind of tv show on home improvement.

"Jake." He stood up once he noticed me. "How are you feeling now?"

I shrugged, then looked around. "You're alone?"

Mr. Atkins gave a tight smile. "Mary and Dr. Moore had to go meet with Doug Duncan. We're mandated to report anything about you and your family to social services."

I gave a nod. I wasn't surprised.

Mr. Atkins looked at me for a second longer than normal. "Hey, we've got some time before dinner. Let's go get some ice cream." He waved me to follow him, not caring if I really wanted to go or not.

Like before, he drove me to the coast, we grabbed some ice cream and sat on his favorite bench.

"It's getting a little warmer now." Mr. Atkins said between licks. "Soon, you won't have to bundle up so much."

I ate my ice cream slowly as I looked out towards the ocean, watching the waves roll in and the sun started to get lower.

"Jake? Why don't you tell me what you're thinking right now?" Mr. Atkins probed.

"I have a brother." The words came out like I declared the grass is green or that the sky was blue. It was a fact. No opinion of it.

I thought Mr. Atkins would be surprised, but he just nodded. "I know."

I frowned. "Did Dr. Moore tell you?"

Mr. Atkins dug something out of his pocket, and handed it over to me. It was...

"Dr. Moore suspected awhile ago that you had a brother. Mary poked around and found this when she went on that trip with Zeke." Mr. Atkins explained where the photo came from. A neighbor from the first house I lived in, but the boy beside my brother had passed away so they didn't know anything besides the initials on the back. "We thought J.J. would be his first and last name, but now I suppose it's his first and middle initial."

I stared at the boy in the picture. He was bigger than I was at that age. He looked happy. What am I saying? He IS happy. "He's a professional baseball player." I told Mr. Atkins.

"Yes, I looked him up a little more closely now that we know he's your family." Mr. Atkins answered plainly.

"My family?" I felt a little sick to my stomach after hearing those words. The more I thought about it, the more angry I felt. "If he thought we were family, would I still be alone in this world?" I put my ice cream down, scared I might throw it in anger.

"Jake, you're not alone." Mr. Atkins scooted closer to me. "I'm here for you. So is Mary. The boys. Dr. Moore. Your coaches. Your teammates. Classmates. Family isn't limited by blood relations."

I looked up at him, eyes stinging. "Is this how you felt? When you found out that your dad was gone?"