"I think I know how get dad to stop hitting us." Heather grinned.
"How?" Jesse asked.
He was so hungry but couldn't find anything to eat. All that was in the refridgator was beer.
"We get rid of his beer."
"Heather, no!"
"Why not?"
"Leave his beer alone! He'll kill you if you touch it!" Jesse cried.
Heather's eyes filled with tears. Jesse sighed. Nice going. he told himself.
"Help me find something to eat okay."
Heather nodded. Then listened to the noise outside. She could hear two men laughing. "Hey, I think that's those guys from next door. Let's go over there."
"No. We don't want to impose." Jesse said.
"Well I don't want to starve either! Come on! They're nice, they won't care."
Jesse let out a soft sigh. As much as he didn't want to impose he knew his sister was right. His stomach was screaming at him.
"Okay. Let's go." he gave in.
Heather grinned as she took his hand.
"What will it be big Pete?" Micky asked.
"Hotdog."
Micky handed him one.
"Hi." they heard a little girl say.
"You must be Jesse and Heather. Hello, I'm Peter."
"Hi." Jesse smiled.
For some reason Jesse found himself always feeling relaxed whenever he came in contact with the four young men.
"Would you like a hotdog?" Micky asked.
"Sure!" Jesse cried. Heather nodded eagerly. Micky made each kid a plate of food which contained a hot dog, beans, and potato salad.
"Gee and I thought Micky ate fast." Peter whispered to Mike with a laugh.
Mike frowned. Jesse and Heather were eating like they hadn't eaten in days.
"Want some more?" Davy asked.
"Yes. Another hotdog, and beans." Heather grinned.
Davy smiled. "Coming right up."
He then leaned over Mike and whispered. "You're right Mike.
Something's not right about this situation. Not right at all." Mike let out a light sigh. "So it's not just me?"
"No." Davy shook his head. "Look at them."
"Proubly the first time they ate this week." Mike sighed.
That night Jesse and Heather went to sleep with a full belly. It was
the first time in weeks.
The next morning Jesse awoke to his father's screams and his
sister's cries.
"Who did it?!" their father screamed.
Heather was whimpering.
"Did what?" Jesse asked.
"Who poured all my beer down the sink?! I woke up this morning and what do I find but a bunch of empty beer cans in the sink! Now who did it?!"
Jesse looked at Heather who was crying softly. He knew the answer to that one. Their father reached for her, yanking her by the arm. "Jesse go outside!"
"No! It was me! I did it!" Jesse cried. He was scared to death. He knew that whatever happened to Heather was going to be really bad.
He never seen his father this mad.
Jack yanked Heather outside the door. She heard him lock it. "No! Leave him alone! Daddy, it was me!" she pounded her little fists on the door until they turned pink.
"Oh sure Mike. Blame me." she heard Micky laugh.
Heather turned around and seen the Monkees pull up. She flew to Mike. She burst into tears.
"Heather. What's wrong?" Mike asked gently grabbing her arms.
"Daddy! He's hurting Jesse! I poured his beer down the sink! He got mad. Jesse said he did it! Please help Jesse! Please!" Heather sobbed.
Peter took the little girl in his arms, trying to calm her down.
Micky raced inside to call the police. Mike ran next door.
Man, it's locked! he thought. He ran to the back door which was unlocked. He went inside.
"Jesse? Jesse, can you hear me?" Mike called.
He entered the living room and seen something that made his heart stop for a second. There was Jesse lying on the floor. He wasn't moving. There was blood pouring out of his nose and mouth.
"Oh my God." Mike gasped.
He heard footsteps and another gasp. He glanced at the person and seen it was Davy.
"Think I have enough proof now?"
"You have more than enough proof Mike." Davy shivered.
"Jesse? Jesse? Can you hear me?" Mike called gently shaking him.
"Is he breathing?" Davy asked. He bent down laying his head on the boy's chest. "I hear a heartbeat."
"Thank God." Mike said.
"Jesse? Can you hear us. It's Davy and Mike. Come on pal. Wake up." Davy gently shook him.
Jesse slowly opened his eyes. "Davy? Mike?"
"We're here pal. Help's on their way." Mike assured him.
"Don't want to live here anymore. Dad's too mean." Jesse said weakly.
"Don't try to talk okay. Just rest until the police come. But you have to stay awake." Mike said.
Jesse nodded.
"I don't know where the father is. My guess is he knows he's in alot
of trouble so he left town. But I've talked with both kids. They
both seem to like you four. Would it be okay, if they stayed with
you until we found a foster home?" a policeman asked.
"Of course." Peter said.
"Yeah, we adore those kids." Micky smiled.
The cop also smiled and nodded. "Okay. I will be sending someone by in the morning to talk with you." he left.
"Peter, you and Davy can move in the upstairs bedroom with us. The kids can take the downstairs bedroom."
"I can't speak for Davy, but I know he'd agree. He and Mike haven't left Jesse's side since he's arrived." Peter smiled.
"Let's get them and Heather and get out of here." Micky said.
Heather nervously entered the pad. It was late and she looked like
she was trying with a great effort to stay awake. She entered Peter
and Davy's room and climbed in Davy's bed. She glanced at the photo
that was next to Davy's bed. There was a knock at the door.
"Heather? It's Davy. May I come in?"
"Yes."
Davy entered. "I just need a pair of pajamas."
"Who's this?"
Davy sat next to the little girl and smiled. "Well the little boy's me."
"Really?"
"Yep. The little girls are my older sisters. The man's my father. And the woman holding my hand. That's my mum."
Heather looked at him with sadness filling her eyes. "When did they die?"
Davy frowned. "How did you know they died?"
"Your eyes got sad when you looked at your parents. Were they nice?" Heather asked.
Davy felt a lump form in his throat. "Yes, they were very nice."
"You were lucky. My dad's always been mean to us. Mom died right after I was born. I think Dad blames me. Why did your parents and my mom have to die?" Heather asked.
"I don't know love. Go to sleep okay." Davy said.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead, and quickly left the room so the little girl couldn't see the tears in his eyes.