Silence is Suicide.

Chapter Sixteen.

The little bell dinged as Jeremy and I walked into the small shop.

"Aye! Jeremy!" a short, chubby old man happily greeted my new friend. He noticed me standing behind Jeremy.

"Who's this?" the old man turned to me, "in for a tattoo or piercing?" he laughed a hearty laugh.

Jeremy chuckled. "Nahh, this is my buddy, Emerson. He's just going to chill with me today. That okay Pops?"

"Ahh, hello Emerson. You can call me Pops if you'd like." Jeremy's father smiled at me. He turned back to his son, "That's fine... but we're going to have to put this little guy to work." He looked back at me and laughed a friendly laugh.

"Thanks Pops." Jeremy said patting his father on the back. He started to walk toward the back room, motioning for me to follow him.

"When Pops said he needs you to do some work, he means it. First I'm going to have you sterilize the needles. When you're done with that, come and find me and I'll give you another task to do." Jeremy grabbed a large bottle of sterilization formula, a few small towels, and lead me toward the needles.

Jeremy showed me how to properly clean each instrument. He made it clear that I thoroughly clean each instrument. He watched me clean the first one and praised me while patting me on the back.

He let me work on my own for awhile.

Jeremy must get his homely character from his father. They're both very kind people... from what I know so far.

I finally finished with the sterilization 45 minutes later and began to search for Jeremy. He was sitting in the back room getting all the inks ready.

"All done bro?" he said after he noticed me.

I nodded.

"Great. Now I'll have you sweep outside the shop then inside." he got up and handed me a broom. I pivoted and headed outside.

I began to sweep outside and watched all the people walk past. I got a few glares and some people rolled their eyes at me. I loathe the looks I always get and who knows why they give me those glares. I became annoyed and decided it was time to sweep on the inside of the shop.

Jeremy's father whistled a tune from behind the counter. "Slow day here." he said quietly to himself. "Although, we should have some kid coming here for a tattoo soon."

I continued to sweep. A few moments later, the little bell on top of the door rang.

"I'm here for my appointment." a male voice stated.

The bell dinged again.

"Emerson...?" a familiar female voice quietly said a few seconds after she walked in.