He got ready for the day and poured himself a bowl of cereal. He was halfway threw when someone knocked on the door. Johnny froze. Some of his dad's…associates had stopped by to try to take what little was in the shop. That had stopped when Dad found out. Even behind bars he still had influence.
"Child Protective Services, open up," a woman's voice ordered on the other side of the door.
'Shit' he thought as he crept toward the window. Peaking out he saw a llama in a worn suit standing outside. She looked like she could be related to the llama from the bank that had tried to stop the concert. Johnny crept away, grabbed his backpack and skate board before using one of the hidden escape routs. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was far enough away. Getting on his board he headed toward the high school.
He spent the day debating if he should tell his dad about the CPS. He was surprised they hadn't turned up already. It had been a month since his Dad's arrest. The trial was still going on. Which was weird enough considering the cops had caught the gang red handed. He decided not to. Dad had enough to worry about. After school he headed to the theater.
They were putting on a show case. Taking songs or scenes from popular musicals. Each of them had a solo. Mike hadn't come back. Which was a good thing in Johnny's opinion. The mouse was only concerned about himself and he was mean to the others. Especially Rosita.
He had a soft spot for the mother of twenty five. Rosita brought left overs to the theater for an early dinner. She was the reason he had anything decent to eat. Its not that he didn't cook its just that with him being the only one paying the bills he couldn't afford much more than cereal. She had also used the time to help him with his homework. Turns out she had gone to collage to become an engineer. Hence the contraption she had rigged to take care of her family. She was always talking about her kids. He could tell Rosita was a good mom.
Which is why she was the only one to notice when he didn't dig into his food. Normally he was so hungry that he wolfed down anything set infant of him. The visit from Child Protective Services had tied his stomach into knots.
"What's wrong?" Rosita asked.
"What? Nu-nothing is wrong," he stuttered. He cast his glance around to see if the others were looking at him. Only to find the room empty. He turned back to Rosita.
"I asked them to give us a minute," she reassured. Johnny hadn't even noticed they left. She put a gentle hand over his.
"I'll ask you again, what is bothering you?" Rosita asked. He pulled his hand away. Wincing at the look of hurt on Rosita's face.
"There isn't anything you or anybody can do," he tried to dissuade her.
"We put together a theater in twenty-four hours. Pulled off the most successful performance this town has ever seen. I'd be surprised if we couldn't find a solution," Rosita said. The confident glint in her eyes had become a constant after the competition.
"And if you are right then, a burden shared is a burden halved," She reassured. The way she looked at him was one that only Moms seemed to have. One he couldn't refuse.
"Someone from Child Protective Services showed up at the shop today. I gave them the slip but they'll be back," he sniffled. His eyes stung. He willed the tears away. He was stronger than that. Dad had told him that tears were for the weak. Johnny didn't have the luxury of being weak.
Rosita gave his shoulder a squeeze. She bit her lip the way she did when she wasn't sure if she should say something.
"I know your Dad is in jail, but what about your Mom?" She asked.
"She died when I was little," Johnny said. This time a few tears fell. Thinking about Mom always did that.
"Do you have any family that might-"
"No, there's no one. I am completely alone. If CPS gets ahold of me it's straight into the foster care system," Johnny felt the flood gates open. He shoulders shook as he realized how alone he was. His relationship with his Dad might be getting better but there was nothing he could do to help Johnny. He would get shipped from place to place. He'd constantly be changing schools. He wouldn't be able to come to Moon Theater. What upset him the most was that he would have to leave Rosita and the others. They were his only friends.
Rosita wrapped Johnny in her arms. Letting him cry in a way he hadn't since his Mom's death. She stroked the fur on top of his head and whispered reassurances. It felt familiar. He couldn't remember if his Mom had comforted him in a similar manner.
"You're wrong Johnny. You are not alone. You have all of us here at Moon Theater. We will figure this out together because we care about you," Rosita promised. Johnny just nodded into the crook of her neck. He had seen her children do the same when they were upset beyond words. When the tears stopped and he had gotten his breathing under control again Rosita pushed him back so that he was looking her in the eyes.
"I want you to come stay with me and my family until we get this figured out," she said brushing a few tears away from the drenched fur of his cheeks.
"I can take care of myself," Johnny said. He didn't sound very convincing to his own ears.
"I know you can, but you said CPS showed up at your home. You don't want them to catch up to you just yet. Besides I could use an extra hand around the house," they laughed together. Johnny still wasn't sure. She must have seen his conflict because she added, "And it would make me feel better knowing you were safe."
That touched his heart. It was nice knowing that someone besides his Dad cared about him that much. Not that Dad had really been that concerned with his safety.
"Okay, just let me get my things from the shop," he agreed. Rosita hugged him tight. Johnny was careful to hug her back tightly but without the crushing strength he had inherited from his Dad.
He still didn't think there was anything that she or the other thespians could do. If he could cling to them just a little bit longer he would take whatever they were willing to give.