“My chores are done,” Jake said, jogging up to Madison. “What can I do now?”
Madison grunted as she shoved a full wheelbarrow up a small mountain of manure to dump it, adding to the growing pile. Jake stood alongside her, completely at ease with being ankle-deep in manure.
“Your boots are getting dirty,” she said, easing the wheelbarrow back into a stand. She wiped the sweat from her brow as he looked down.
He shrugged. “So?”
“So?” She turned to wheel the cart back to the pens where another load was surely needed. “If I recall, you recently had a fit about getting crap on your shoes.”
He walked with her, trying to keep up with her long strides, something he did every day. “That wasn’t recently. That was, like, days ago.”
“You’ve changed your mind, then?”
He nodded. “I guess. It doesn’t bother me so much now.”
“It shouldn’t,” she said. “Considering you shovel it every day.”
“That doesn’t really bother me either. But I still want better chores. What else can I do today?”
“You’ve been in an eager mood lately,” she said, grinning.
“I just want to help out. Do what you do.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t know. It makes me feel good, I guess.” He seemed shy all of sudden, as if realizing just how helpful he’d become.
“It isn’t cool, you know,” she said, laughing. “Doing everything I do.”
He squinted over at her. “Yes, it is. It is to me. You know how to do, like, everything.”
“Well, thanks.”
He looked away, obviously embarrassed. “I just like to learn.”
She returned the cart to the pen, released it, and clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the best thing you’ve said yet, Jake. Now let’s see how these two are doing.” Pulling the gloves from her hands, she eyed the two boys who were walking around shoveling manure.
They’d been arguing earlier over money. Because they lived in a group home together and were only allowed so much spending money a month, this seemed to be a common theme for trouble between them. Apparently, Alex had already spent his allotted amount, and he wanted J.J. to share his. Lack of money and arguing over what they couldn’t have, she mused, was most likely why they ended up shoplifting in the first place.
“Alex, be sure you’re helping J.J. out,” Madison said, noticing the difference in work amount. J.J. was doing nearly all of the shoveling while Alex merely walked around and poked with his shovel.
“Yeah, I’m doing everything,” J.J. said.
At hearing that, Alex turned and in a split second, his face twisted with rage and he charged at J.J.
Madison lunged forward with two giant strides and caught him with the full force of her body. He continued to push as if she weren’t there, yelling at J.J.
Madison braced herself for the impact of J.J., but it didn’t come. She could hear him scurrying, hear him yelling in return, but he didn’t come. Turning, she braced her arms around Alex and caught sight of J.J. struggling in Jake’s grasp. Jake was in front of him, holding him by the shoulders, trying to talk him down.
“It’s not worth it,” Jake yelled. “J.J., listen. It’s not worth it. You’ll have to run and you’ll have to shovel crap forever.” He shook him. “You’ll have to run!”
J.J. stilled while Alex kept yelling. Madison squeezed him harder and backed him up. When she had him a safe distance away he finally calmed and went limp.
“You done?” she asked, forcing him to look in her eyes.
He nodded.
“What?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” She released him but stood between him and J.J. “You go work in that corner and cool down. We’ll talk after that.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He picked up his shovel and kicked it as he walked.
Madison watched him for a while before heading back to J.J. To her surprise, Jake was shoveling too, encouraging J.J. along the way.
“If I help you, you guys will get done faster,” Jake said. “And then the crap chore will be done.” He worked as best he could with his hurt wrist, which was no longer splinted. And J.J. worked with him, the pair making a good team.
Madison shook her head in pleased disbelief and crossed to the gate where Marv had come to a stand.
“Remember that kid you called hardheaded and spoiled?” she asked with a grin.
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s him.” She nodded toward Jake, who now had J.J. laughing as they worked. “What do you think now?”
He scratched his five o’clock shadow. “I’d say he’s coming along.”
“Coming along? He’s done his chores the past few days without any trouble. He does extra chores eagerly. And now he’s breaking up arguments and helping the others. He’s like a different kid altogether.”
“We’ve seen it happen before,” he said. “Like a light switch goes off.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “I know, but with this kid it feels really good.”
“That because of his aunt?”
Madison gripped the back of her neck, knowing it was an honest question. “No. I’m just real happy for him. I knew he had it in him.”
“What about his aunt? Does she know?”
“I left her a message this morning. I’ll leave her another one tonight.”
“She won’t talk to you, huh? I tried to warn you.” He breathed deeply and tried to make eye contact with her.
“I better go talk to Alex.” She turned and left him there, leaving his question along with him. Grace wouldn’t talk to her, but that was going to change. It just had to.