“Earth to Jude?” I waved my hand in front of his face and that seemed to get his attention.
“When did you get boobs?” He squinted his face and pinched his nose embarrassed that he said it out loud.
“It’s ok and boobs tend to grow, so yeah.” I had no idea what else to say, this was starting to feel awkward with how nervous I am.
“Sorry I didn’t mean that, I mean you look so different like I’ve been gone a year instead of two months.”
“Uh, I hope that’s a good thing.” I felt my cheeks burning up. I was starting to feel embarrassed that maybe I didn’t look as great as I thought.
“Get out of your head little bird. You look beautiful, I meant it as compliment.” I couldn’t help but smile. He always made my day better.
“Well you look good too. Your body is nice.” I can’t believe I just said that. I instantly slapped my hand over mouth, embarrassed that I said something so stupid. Like why couldn’t I just end it at you look good too. I never felt this nervous around him to the point I forget how to speak.
“Why don’t we go eat and you can admire my nice body from across the table.” Jude winked and I felt my cheeks turn a darker shade of red. I nodded and started heading towards the door when I felt him grab my wrist and pull me back. He pushed my hair to the front of me and was running his finger over the back of my shoulder, which hurt really bad.
“Ow!” I cringed and then it hit me he must see the bruise on my shoulder that Mr. Montgomery left. When I tried running away from his office the other day, he threw his scotch glass at my back. It ended up hitting me hard on my shoulder blade and I learned not to run away from my punishments. I just got so excited today about him coming home that I forgot to keep a t-shirt on.
“What in the hell happened Madison! Did that fucker hurt you again?” Jude was angry and I wished I could tell him the truth, but Mr. Montgomery threats about what he would do to Jude if I told him were worse than the beatings I took.
“It’s nothing, I was learning how to play baseball and I got hit by the ball.” The lie rolled easily off my tongue just like all the other lies. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a t-shirt to throw on over my tank top.
He gave me a dead stare not showing if he believed me or not. I could tell he was leaning more towards that it was a lie. I didn’t want to give him a moment longer to think about it, so I went in my backpack and grabbed the gift I got him.
“Here, I got you a little welcome back home gift.” I felt so stupid in this moment giving him a gift for being at baseball camp, but I wanted to make him smile. I helped clean the library all summer to save up for it.
When I handed him the sketch pad and pencils, he just looked down at it without saying anything. I started to doubt what I over heard the one night between him and Mr. Montgomery. From what I could hear, Jude was asking Mr. Montgomery for the money to buy it, but he told him art would never get him anywhere and he needed to focus on baseball and only baseball.
We weren’t allowed to get jobs because they felt it would make them look bad because they were so rich. Jude and I though, we never took advantage of their money. Yes they bought us nice clothes, but we would have been happy with anything that was clean, fitted, and didn’t have holes. We never even asked them for a cent, but Jude really loved to draw and wanted to start building a portfolio. Knowing Jude, he hated every second asking for the money. In that moment I decided I would sneak behind the Montgomery’s back to get him the sketch pad and pencils. I honestly felt any beatings I will get when Mr. Montgomery finds out was worth it if it made Jude happy.
Jude set the gift down on my desk and came over to grab my hands. “How and why did you get this for me little bird?”
“I could tell you’ve been dying to get your art in books and I think your drawings are amazing. I told the Montgomery’s I was going out with my friend, which wasn’t a complete lie, she was at the library that I cleaned every morning.” He pulled me in for a tight hug and I felt the butterflies finally calm.
“No one has ever gotten me something so perfect. I can’t believe though you worked your whole summer to get me this. I’ll find a way to pay you back, I promise.” I wish I could tell him that escaping to the library was the best part of my summer.
“Don’t be silly, it’s a gift. If you really want to repay me though, you can make me one your monster sandwiches.” His monster sandwich was made up of ham, turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sweet relish, barbeque, mayonnaise, and potato chips on white bread. At first I thought it would be disgusting, but surprisingly it was delicious.
“Deal. I don’t know how a little thing like you can eat a whole one.” He gave me one of his perfect smiles and we headed down to the kitchen. Thankfully only Mrs. Quinn was in there.
“My boy has returned! How was camp?” Mrs. Quinn pulled out the cookie sheet and hurried over to pull Jude into a hug.
“You’re suffocating me Quinny!” She was an older woman in her sixties and
