Chapter Text
2 months went by with the kid, he was efficient with his chores, didn't talk back except for the occasional mumble but it didn't bother bobby as much someone would think.
Sam knew he had to pull his weight, bobby clearly stated that when he let Sam stay in the house, and Sam wasn't taking chances.
So if it was washing dishes, hanging up the washing or taking out the trash, the little nine year olds body could move fast.
Though bobby had to remind the kid sometimes that it was just chores and he wasn't gonna be upset at Sam if he didn't hurry.
The boys response?
He pointed at the tv that was turned onto the cartoon channel.
Sam had a fascination with those.
"You give me jobs at 11am usually...that's 10 minutes before the cartoon channel starts back up, bobby."
Yeah no the kid didn't care about being fast he cared about missing out on watching looney tunes.
Right. The kid was still...just a kid.
Idjit.
Overall? Sam was an..okay kid.
For a kid.
--
It was when Sam was outside, cleaning out the back where a tree stood tall.
The kid had gotten sudden inspiration to make those tire swings he'd seen in movies,
And where better to get unused tires than a salvage yard?
Bobby was keeping watch from afar making sure the kid didn't hurt himself too bad while the kid tried to attach rope to the tree failing miserably, as any short and skinny kid would expect.
But he was damn stubborn.
And.. lonely.
Bobby sighed as he watched the kid refuse any help and kept at it, he was determined.
And bobby almost felt guilty for not getting the kid in school sooner.
Maybe he was too busy staring at his phone.. waiting for it to ring..
To hear johns voice on the other side.
"Kid! Lunch time, get in here!" Bobby ordered as he set the sandwiches on a plate putting it on the kitchen table.
The kid usually ate everything, but he seemed to hate anything that could get greasy on his hands.
Fair enough.
He watched the kid scarf down the sandwich while glancing outside, eager to get outside again
"Okay okay hang on kid, I wanna talk to you about something." Bobby voice rang out making Sam's head snap up, his cheeks so full of food it made him look like a squirrel.
He took a minute to swallow as bobby went onto talk.
"Kid, you've been cooped up here for 2 months and-"
"-i like it here!-"
"-and let me finish. I think to be a responsible guardian..and not have people knocking at my door..I want you to be enrolled into 4th grade" bobby finished crossing his arms.
He was expecting a fight. Maybe some snark at him for expecting the kid to do his chores *and* go to school. But no. Nothing the kid instead beamed like he had just given him the greatest gift in the world
"Really? I get to go to school? For how long?" Sam asked excitedly
"Until you graduate, kid. I'm not raising a dropout, your smart, use it" bobby warned
"Ive never stayed in school for longer than a term.. this is gonna be really different." Sam mumbled to himself
"Yeah well, we'll go out and get you your school supplies while I go enroll you, which reminds me...I can't just say I kidnapped some kid from his dad so we have to come up with a cover story" bobby said to Sam walking over to set his plate down.
"Well...we could..you know.." Sam flushed a sudden red rubbing his neck, "-just say I'm your kid?" He answered laying back in his chair. Bobby thought about it for a few minutes. No one in his town knew him as a guy who would have a kid. But..it wasn't like they knew much about him anyways.
"Yeah alright." He said slapping a bit of sunscreen on Sam's face as the boy winced at the smell and feel "yuck" he muttered gagging as he rubbed it into his face and arms
"Kid, it's hot out there I'm not sending you our there to make a damn tire swing if your not gonna put on a bit of sunscreen." Bobby said dryly sending off the kid with a few tools in hand, begrudgingly letting bobby move the tire for him.
"Still smells like crap.." he scowled whispering under his breath.
"I heard that!" Bobby called back grinning to himself so much it hurt.
--
Sam was full of nervous jitters on that Monday morning after a week of bobby gathering fake documents to enrol him.
He wore baggy jeans, a tad big sneakers and a Scooby doo shirt (the design was dusting away). Bobby was in the kitchen cling wrapping his sandwich up, aswell as an orange, a juice popper, string cheese, and a small bag of chips. "Alright kid—" bobby began putting his lunchbox in his bag before looking back at the nervous kid toying with his shirt "—your bag is packed, your shoes are tied, your hair is done, wait wait wait." Bobby paused observing Sam
"You brushed your teeth?"
"Seriously? Bobby I'm gonna miss the bus!" Sam complained gesturing to the door in a hurry
"You've got 5 minutes kid relax!" He hushed the boy pursing his lips.
"I'm not into that sappy crap so..just don't get into any fights..don't talk back to teachers...uh..what else.." bobby muttered
"Be myself?" Sam volunteered the suggestion
Bobby rose a brow "if you say so."
Before the old man knew it Sam was one foot out the door turning to him with a smile
"Bye!! I-"
Love you.
It was a normal gesture when waving off caregivers or parents when your about to go to school, instead bobby and Sam stay in uncomfortable silence for a minute,
"C'mon I'll walk you down to the bus, we don't want you missing it now do we?" Bobby asked clearing his throat as he led down Sam to the bright yellow bus.
The man turned to Sam grabbing off his wore down cap and smiled pushing it on Sam's head "chin up, and be good." Bobby assured letting Sam get up in the bus.
His eyes drifted to the bus driver to give a polite nod when he saw the guy already glaring at him.
Ugh. It was jerry. That guy smelt like cheese.
Samuel William singer was off to school.