Chapter Text
Jack flinched when the window in the kitchen suddenly shattered. Expecting an attack he was ready to fight whoever had launched it, until he noticed two boys on the road looking as if they had just done something unforgivable. He then also saw the ball that had most likely shattered the glass. The two children where no one he knew. They stared at him, both not finding any words.
One of the tugged the sleeve of the other, trying to pull him away. Jack knew they were gonna run, he didn’t look forward to chase kids through the streets, yet this window needed to be replaced, and he wasn’t in the mood to pile on yet another bill.
“Hey!” He yelled when the boys tried to bail. “You two stay here.”
The boys froze in place, both staring with wide eyes out of pale faces. At least they knew they had messed up.
Rose came downstairs, attracted by the noise. She quickly got what had happened. The ball was more than enough evidence.
“I’ll take care of it.” She sighed, picked the ball up and went outside.
Jack grabbed the broom and cleaned up the shards, wondering what Rose was telling the boys. She wouldn’t let them go just like that. Rose wasn’t that type of person.
A few minutes passed, Jack was taking out the sharp shards that were still stuck to the window so no one would get hurt. Rise returned with a piece of paper and placed it on the counter. “I’ll call their parents.”
“You think they’d just pay for a new window?”
“They have to.” Rose insisted. “Remember when John broke that one window on accident? They made us pay that too.”
Jack grunted, grabbed a roll of tape and the plastic bag Rose was handing him. “How much force do they put in these balls, shattering a window isn’t that easy, you know?”
Rose laughed. “They’re kids, they find it fun to kick them as hard as possible.”
“And break windows in the process.” The man sighed. “And if they don’t pay? We need to replace this as soon as possible… it’s way too easy for someone to get in.”
“Jack…” Rose muttered silently and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’ll work out fine. Let me help you with this, then I call their parents.” She offered and climbed on the counter to hold the bag in place as Jack taped it on the window frame.