For some reason I can only sing Teenagers to the tune of A Hard Day's Night by the Beatles

~~

It was only a week until winter break and I couldn't wait. No school for two whole weeks! That also means I don't have to see Lindsey and I get to spend more time with Frank.

Speaking of Frank, I was currently at a music store in town getting him a present. Frank told me people give each other presents at christmas too, not just Santa. They do it when they care about each other.

"Excuse me, c-can you help me?" I asked a worker with a name tag.

"Yeah, what can I do for you?" She asked.

"D-do you know people called Ramones?" I asked.

"The band? Yeah, I know them," she said.

"What do I get someone who likes them?" I asked.

I know Frank would like something that has to do with music, he loves music. I just don't know anything about it. Apparently I couldn't even spell guitar correctly.

"Maybe a CD," she suggested.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's a disk that you can play music with," she said.

I frowned, biting my lip.

"Does he have a CD player?" She asked.

I bit my lip and shrugged.

"Okay, does he play an instrument?" She asked.

"Um, he plays the guitar," I said.

"Maybe you can get him a new pick," she suggested and I frowned. "A pick is something that you use to play the guitar."

"Are they good presents?" I asked. "Would he like it?"

"Well, my cousin plays guitar and he never denies getting new picks," she said. "They're right over there, the triangle ones."

She went to go help someone else and I looked at them. There was all sorts of things in all different colors and designs. I gasped, picking up one that was pink. It had a little white heart in the center and I giggled.

"Frankie will love this," I mumbled.

I smiled and looked at it, walking out. A loud alarm went off and I jumped in fright, looking around. A mean looking man walked up and I whimpered in fear.

"What do you think you're doing?! Stealing from me?!" He shouted.

I could feel my eyes watering as I looked around. I wanted the nice worker back, not the scary one.

"You have to fucking pay for that!" He yelled.

I shrunk back into myself. "I-I didn't know, I'm sorry."

"You didn't know? Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that," he scoffed.

The door opened and a police officer stepped in.

"I heard the alarms going off, is everything okay?" He asked.

"This boy is shoplifting," The man said.

"I-I don't know what shoplifting is," I whimpered.

The man grabbed the guitar picked from my hand and I cried.

"Hey, that's for Frankie!" I exclaimed.

"So you were stealing it," the police said.

I shook my head as I cried. The man pulled out something, something metal that I didn't recognize. He grabbed my wrist and I shrieked in fear.

It's like when they took me from Mama all over again.

The police are monsters.

I ran out, crying as he yelled. People turned and looked as I ran towards home. I felt someone big tackle and I screamed. Something cold was around my wrists and I couldn't pull them apart from behind my back. The policeman was saying something but I was just screaming and kicking my feet. I was brought up to my feet and put into the back of a car. I screamed and cried as they drove away.

The things around my wrists dug into my skin painfully as I tried to pull my arms away. I looked out the window as they drove me somewhere I didn't recognize. I was brought to a big building that I didn't know. The man was saying again but I was too scared to listen. I was out into a little area with bars. The door was locked behind me and I cried.

"Sir, please step away from the bars," the police said.

"I want my Mama," I cried.

"Sir, step back," he ordered.

I took a step back and sobbed.

"Just take a deep breath," he said.

I wiped my eyes, trying to take a deep breath. He reached through the bars and put something in my hand. I looked at the two shiny silver circles, my crying stopped momentarily as I was confused.

"One call," he said, pointing to something on a wall.

I walked over to it, sniffling as I looked at it in confusion. There was something sort of U shaped hanging on a box that had numbers on it. I didn't know what to do and I burst into tears again.

"Mama," I cried.

"Do you not know how to work a damn phone?" Someone asked.

I looked to the side and saw a man sitting there. He had a white beard and a bald head. His clothes were dirty and he had colors on his arms just like Frankie does.

I sniffled and shook my head. I didn't even know it was a phone. I thought phones were just those small little rectangles with screens. I picked up the black U shaped thing and stared at it. It was connected to the box with numbers but I had no clue what to do.

"Put the quarters into the little slot," the man said.

I stared at him in confusion and he pointed to my hand. I opened my fist, looking at the shiny things. I put them into the little slot, hearing the little clinking. I looked to him for more help and he sighed.

"Now dial the phone number of whoever you want to call," he instructed.

"I-I don't know any phone numbers," I said.

"Well, I can't help you there," he said.

I looked up at the police, bursting into tears again. The police took me away again. They're monsters, they always take me away from everyone I love.

"What's your name?" The policeman asked.

"G-Gerard," I hiccuped.

"Your full name," he corrected.

"Gerard Way," I said.

The officer looked up at me with raised eyebrows.

"I remember you, I was on your case when you went missing 17 years ago," he said. "We never were able to find you, in sorry. But at least you're finally back now. I'm pretty sure we've still got your dad's number around somewhere, I'll call him for you."

I sat down on the bench, sniffling as I wiped my eyes. I saw him talking on the phone, looking over at me every now and then.

He hung up and I sat here waiting, wiping away my tears. I tried taking deep breaths as I hiccuped. Soon enough, my dad and Mikey walked in. I cried, running up to the bars.

"He was caught stealing," the police said.

"I-I didn't know I had to pay," I whimpered.

"Officers, he doesn't understand these things," my dad said. "He was kept in a basement all his life, he doesn't understand. Please, can't you make some little exception for him."

"Yeah, poor kid didn't even know how to use a phone," the other man in the barred area with me defended.

"Fine, just this once," the officer said. "But you better teach him these kinds of things."

He opened the door and I cried, falling into my dad's arms.

"I'm sorry for moving out!" I exclaimed. "I love you, I was so scared."

He rubbed my back softly and we walked out. I held onto Mikey's hand as I wiped my eyes.

"What'd you try stealing?" Mikey asked.

"I didn't try to steal it!" I cried.

"I'm sorry, what was it, though?" He asked.

"M-my Christmas present for Frankie," I said.

"Where were you?" He asked.

"The music place," I said.

We got into the car and drove, parking outside the music place. I followed them in nervously, holding Mikey's hand tight. The scary man walked up to us and I whimpered, hiding behind my brother.

"He is not welcome in this store," he stated.

"Please don't press charges," my dad said. "He didn't mean to shoplift. He doesn't understand the concept of having to pay for things. He hasn't really had a normal life and doesn't know all these things."

The man pursed his lips as he stared at me. I whimpered, looking down as my eyes watered.

"Fine, I won't press charges," he promised. "But I'm not just gonna let this go."

"Maybe he can work for you here?" My dad suggested. "He'll work for free. Plus, this'll be good for him, he can learn new things."

"That sounds like a good arrangement," he agreed. "How about an hour everyday after school?"

"He has tutoring after school but he can work after that," my dad said.

"B-but what about Frankie?" I asked.

"Frank is going to have to be a second priority," my dad stated.

I sniffled, wiping my eyes.

"Can he start now?" The man asked. "I'm bob, by the way."

"Yeah, he can start now," my dad said.

Bob went over, grabbing something and handing it to me. I looked at the stick in confusion with the big brush thing at the bottom.

"Wh-what is this?" I asked.

"It's a broom," Bob stated. "Sweep."

I stared at it in confusion.

"Brush the floor with it," Mikey said.

"Why?" I asked.

"To get the dirt off," he explained.

I started the sweep the floor sadly.

"We'll pick you up in an hour, okay?" My dad asked.

I nodded and he smiled.

"And maybe when you get home you can move out of the treehouse and back into your old bedroom?" He suggested.

I nodded slowly and he gave me a hug.

"I know you were scared today by the police but it's okay, no one's gonna take you from me again," he whispered.

I cried, hugging him tight.

"I'm sorry for all the mean things I said," I apologized. "You're not a monster."

He patted my back and pulled away.

"What were you trying to buy for Frank?" He asked.

Bob reached into his hand and pulled out the pick I had wanted.

"Here," my dad said, handing him a ten dollar bill. "Keep the change."

"It's only two dollars," Bob said.

My dad handed him the money, taking the pick and handing it to me.

"I'll see you in an hour," he said.

I nodded, watching as they walked out and left me to work.