#bergen_county

Zane sighs, "So Nadeen is frustrated, and I've tried helping with that.. and I don't just mean sex. I know she's gonna dump me though. I can't stay faithful for long. ..and she might be oka with that on the side now and then but.. mmmph . The others don't treat me like a horn dog so much as they used to... and that's nice. But I'm still well ,what I am and not everyoen gets it. Adam, I try to help him , and he's a great guy, but he's really got a lot of things bottled up. Like all he feels he can safely show is swagger, pride, and maybe anger...worried about him right? And Eden? i'm not a boggan but how did I NOT see that? I guess... I want to be a good citizen of the community like dad says, but I don't knwo if i'm really making a difference, right?"

His mother looks at her son, "Zane. You're doing fine." A kiss between his horns, "You have a big heart. And folks underestimate you. I bet you help a lot more than you know. Nadeen is better for having known you, and you are better for having known her. And who knows how it will end? Live in the now, because if you don't, you're not really living. Adam is your friend, but he must make his own choices. you cant' change other people, you can only invite them to change themselves. And you ARE making a difference. Every day. Now you can't always know that, but if you can't know, why not assume the better?"

"Thanks, mom" He finishes the dishes.

"Now you go off, " She shoos, "Go chase girls, make music, get into trouble. I love you!"

"I will!" he assures.

And he leaves the Wayburton residence in a much better mood.

---------------------

Jimmy visits his grandmother, "I brought you soup" he tells her.

"I'm supposed to make you and your parents the soup" The old woman fusses.

"Not while you're still tending that broken wrist you're not" The piskie insists.

And he places it on the tray, and sets things up so she can use the spoon one handed.

"You're the best grandson" she smiles. Then low "Any trouble from 'the man'?"

"Not today" he says.

"Good. Did you return what you took?" She asks.

"I did. " He says "I'm sorry, I can't help but Take, but I always return it..I..."

"you'r a good boy" mmmph As if she's ready to fight anyone who says otherwise.

"And you don't have to explain a thing to me. You may steal, but you have never lied to me."

A flash of guilt on the piskie's face. he lies every day, save when she's enchanted, "Well, somethings I don't.. .tell you."

"Well, I dont' tell YOU about everything either.. so even steven" his grandmother says with a smile "it's okay. " She enjoys her soup, and when it's done, he puts the tray away.

"Anything else, grandma?" He asks.

"yes... go outside, play. Have fun. I'm fine" the old woman says

"Grandma.. I'm a teenager. I don't go play. I hang out' A smile "It's more cooler better"

"Well, whatever it is, it's clearly not respecting grammar, but go.. go hang out more cooler better then" She smiles.

he smiles then looks bad, "Sometimes I wish I COULD tell you more..."

"Is it dishonorable?" She raises a brow.

"Well.. no." he says

"Hurting innocent folk?" She asks

"Noooo" he says

"Then you'r already better than most adults I see on the TV." She waves him off.

he smiles and goes.Soon to blend with crowds.

...................

"you have been out again" It is not a question, "You run wild through the streets."

"Yeah... I do" Dirk shrugs.

The man arches a brow, "Your homework is done?"

"Yeaaaah ... " Sort of mostly hurriedly.

"Did you give your best effort?" Doubtful.

"Well.. it's just homework.. and I ain't smart.... so.."

"Excuses. Would you excuse a weak man who never tried to build his strength?"

"Well, no, I laugh at wusses... " Then he realizes where this is going "Crap."

"Indeed." Symon's father looks at the boy who has, wehtehr anyone lieks it or not, become part of their home, "you admire the badasses in the movies yes?"

"yeah..." He admits.

"They can be brutal, they can be blunt, but are they ever that stupid?" HE raises a brow.

"Well... uhm.. sometimes there are smarter folks than them in the room" The cap ponders aloud.

"Quite often I am sure...but that doesn't mean THEY are stupid. You may never be a genius, just as a weak man may never be the strongest. But for neither to try to improve is to give up. Both are a wuss. Surrender is the only choice a man makes in his life. He must know when and if...but as a rule it is not wise to surrender ...because what he surrenders to, he is owned by. Are you owned by what is weakest in you?"

"FU.. heck no" The boy says.

"Then go upstairs, and put EFFORT Into your homework, return it to me, and by showing me it has improved, show me you aren't a wuss." The doctor directs.

Dirk grunts cocks his hat, and heads upstairs to get a second try.

Anne Marie observes from a door way, loving her husband a little more each day but wise enough not to intrude on this 'manly moment until Dirk is gone. "Does he get a reward for shaping up? Or is positive reinforcement too 'wussy'?" She smiles.

"Please... if he improves today, tomorrow I let him try the pulling the pebble from my hand trick again. "

"He's still not figured out that's a Chinese thing huh?" She says.