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","count":"2","submission_left_submission_id":"2581421","submission_left_file_name":"3807923_ninyall_1.png","submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3807/3807923_ninyall_1.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3807/3807923_ninyall_1_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3807/3807923_ninyall_1_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"112","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_y":"187","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"281"}],"description":"after escaping his aunt and uncle, David finds a new home at least for a short time\n\nif you like the story feel free to check out my patreon https://www.patreon.com/Ninyall","description_bbcode_parsed":"after escaping his aunt and uncle, David finds a new home at least for a short time
if you like the story feel free to check out my patreon https://www.patreon.com/Ninyall","writing":"After about a month and a half in the hospital we were released. My rib hadn't healed quite like it was supposed to since it wasn't set right on the same day it was broke.\n\nThanks to my Uncle Buck's abusive ways the doctors had to rebreak it and align it properly; thankfully I was knocked out and didn't feel it.\nWhen I was released, I was surprised to see Phillies picking my sister and I up from the hospital. I asked her, \"Hello Miss Phillies, what brings you here today?\" She smiled sweetly and said she had filled out the forms for adoption and that I was her charge now, I was very happy the next few years were great Phillis moved us to the city so I could continue high school, it seemed everything was going so well, for a few years anyway, 2 years. I'm 16 now Nicole is still my best friend I even asked her out to the prom once, she turned me down saying she has no interest in dancing,\nWe laughed about it as we smoked our joints on the roof before heading back to class.\nThey say all good things must come to an end.\n\nWhen I got back from school my little sister Ember ran to me quickly and started pulling my arm, it wasn't like her she seemed upset about something, she pulled me to Phillies' room, she wasn't moving even though it was mid-day she never stayed in bed this late, I walked closer to find she had passed in her sleep, it seems she had died of old age. I immediately called emergency services, they arrived shortly after to take her body to the morgue, we stayed in the house even after she passed. After the funeral her lawyer came and visited us with some papers and her sons. Both of them were rather mean and tried to cheat their mother a few times,\n The lawyer sat us all down and handed us some papers, but before the lawyer could speak one of her sons Tonnie spoke up saying the children shouldn't be here since we weren’t family. The lawyer wasn't putting up with it and told him the documents in his hand said that I was required to be here, as a part of Phillies' last will. The lawyer then said, \"let's get down to business shall we, Phillies' last will and testament, ‘I leave the house and savings in my bank account to David and Ember, my sons will receive my car and the old house in the woods.”\n\nAfter the lawyer finished speaking Tonnie and his brother started yelling, complaining that me and my sister are street urchins that don't deserve their mother's wealth. The lawyer shut them up quickly telling them there was nothing he could do since it was in the will. After they left the lawyer looked to me and said, \" you have a court days 3 days from now you're not legally old enough to claim the house and money and since you and your sister are both orphans the judge will have to appoint someone you know to watch over your inherence. Make sure you bring someone you trust and will look out for your best interests as your benefactor,\" I immediately suggested my principle he always has my back even when he did catch me and Nicole smoking weed on the roof, he let it slide. The lawyer agreed to meet him and left. The 3 days passed, I was at the courthouse, Nicole drove me and was sitting in the back the principle was here and talking to the lawyer, unexpectedly so were Phillies' biological kids. I was a bit worried when they walked into the court room. After everyone was seated the judge spoke, \"it has come to my attention the minors have no guardian and are set to inherit a large sum of money and an estate. As the judge presiding over this case, I need to assign the benefactor who will be watching the estate until the children are old enough, their lawyer has told me the children have nominated whom they want to hold their estate but as a judge I must look to the children’s' next of kin before ruling in favor of someone who is not direct family.\" I grew concern listening to the judge, as he went on, he called up Tonnie, \"As I understand things Tonnie is the adoptive brother of David and Ember. Is there a reason Tonnie was not considered by the attorney as a good candidate?\" Our lawyer started to speak, \"Your Honor, it has been documented that Tonnie and his biological brother Rodney have no direct interest in David or Ember’s health and wellbeing. To let them take the estate would put the minors at risk of becoming homeless.\"\nThe judge nodding with the lawyer's claims smiled, \"What documentation do you have of these claims?\" He asked the lawyer pulled out a manila envelope and handed it to the judge, the judge seemed a little upset with what he was reading, after he put the papers down the judge said \"I regret to say I have come to a decision light of this evidence it does not hold up in a court of law and I name Tonnie as the oldest of Phillies' children I deem you as guardian of David and Ember with all rights and responsibilities until David is emancipated.\" The judge slammed his gavel and left the court room. I sat in the car with Nicole I didn't want to go back to my home I was scared I wouldn't be allowed back in but where was I supposed to go?\n\nWe left for my house, after a while of sitting there Nicole stopped at a Dairy Queen got some ice cream. She dropped me off and waved goodbye, my brother Tonnie was waiting inside. He got up when I walked in and told me to pack my things, I didn't argue with him I grabbed my cloths a few toys, after I had everything in a carrying case, he told me to get into his truck, as he finished moving Ember’s things and buckling her into a car seat. We left, after that I knew I would never see this home again. After some time in the car, he told me to get out at some random street corner and to take my sister with me. So, at 16-years-old, I was left there alone holding a toddler in the middle of a big city. We started to wander, not sure where to go after hours of walking the sun was setting, I was scared to talk to anyone, my sister pulled on my hand making gestures for food, she was hungry and so was I, but I didn't have any money. We found a dark place in an alley it seemed quiet enough, the setting sun crawled lower under the horizon, I thought of school. Would anyone look for me?\n\nHow would Tonnie explain my disappearance I thought as I held my little sister close. I closed my eyes for the night, thankfully the temperature wasn't bad. I fell asleep with Ember in my arms telling her everything will be all right, even though I was just as scared as she was.\n\nThe next morning was cold and bitter, Ember was still asleep curled up in my arms. Seems I was making a good wind breaker, I didn't know if I should wake her, I knew my stomach was growling and she told me last night hers was too, I pushed her shoulder gently, \"Ember wake up!\" After a little bit of pushing, she opened her eyes, and reached for her chalk board, \"What's for breakfast?\" I told her I don't know, we got up and started walking not sure of where to go. The smell of food drifted from different directions it didn't help with how hungry I was, after some time we saw a Walmart.\n\nI was always told they throw away baked goods, so we went in search of their dumpsters. When we found them, they were locked up I sat there for a bit in front of the dumpster, someone has to come throw away trash right? I kept exploring the city, but I didn't want to lose the Walmart. Somehow, I knew if I stayed here things would turn out for the better.\nAn hour pasted, Ember and I played tic tac toe and hang man on her chalkboard, until finally someone opened the back door of the Walmart, a security guard stepped out and walked up to us, he looked at me and said, \"You’ve been out here for too long; you need to leave.” I looked at him and asked, “Please sir we haven't eaten since yesterday.\" He didn't seem to care and said, \"Look kid I don't really give a damn if you don't leave, I have permission to use force to remove you from the property. So, are you going to leave peacefully or painfully?\" I took my sister's hand and left, there was no reason getting into a fight I couldn't win. We went south if we saw people on the streets I asked for help, one person, a bird blue tit I believe, was very kind; she gave me a $20 bill and said there was a homeless shelter 4 blocks southwest of here, I thanked her and started walking that direction. When I got there, there was a kind fox lady who greeted me, “Hi welcome to the Phoenix Shelter, how can I help you today young man?”\n\nI told her I needed food and a bed if there was one available, I told her how I was evicted from my home, she nodded and told me, \"I'm sorry hun we can't accept minors without a parent or guardian, but I can contact runaway services or CPS.\" I happily accepted this knowing that CPS helped me last time. The kind fox lady brought us some food while we waited for CPS, it wasn't much some chili and hotdogs, but I was hungry and enjoyed the meal while it lasted.\n\nAfter we finished eating a police officer showed up with a woman from CPS, they came over and asked me a few questions why I was here how I got here, mine and my sister’s names and where our parents where, I told the social worker everything, \"My name is David and this is Ember, our parents died two years ago, and we walked here after being evicted by our adopted brother.\" I told her the address of our most recent home she told us she would investigate Tonnie and that she would take us back to our home.\nWe got back to the house Phillies left us, there was a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn. When the CPS lady knocked at the door no one answered of course, Tonnie didn't live here, she came back to the car and asked if this was the right address, \"Yes of course it is, Tonnie doesn't live here that's why he's selling the house.”\n\n She said she would put us in foster care until she could figure out how to get a hold of Tonnie.\n\nThe house we were taken to was very nice it was two stories, with a courtyard and pool. The social worker walked up and knocked, after a bit a gentlemen answered he seemed nice, the social worker and the man talked a bit before she left, the man then looked at me, I was holding my sister's hand, a little scared of this man, he was a lion large gold mane he smiled a bit and said, \"My name is Byrien seems I’ll be taking care of you for a while. Do you know how to cook?\" The question seemed a little out of nowhere, I told him I did, and he smiled and said, \"excellent there’s food in the fridge I’ll be back around 10pm”, and he walked out the door, leaving us there by ourselves.\nWe watched TV until bedtime, there wasn’t much else to do. I tucked Ember in and waited it was 1:00 am by the time Byrien got home, I looked at him when he got in and asked, \"So, is this going to be a regular thing? Telling one time then coming back 4 hours later?\" He apologized telling me, \"Sorry little man the office required I work over, why are you still up anyway?\" so I told him that I was worried and couldn’t sleep I don’t want to keep being moved around. With 2 more years before I'm emancipated, I’m afraid I’ll end up homeless again before that happens. We sat there looking at each other for a few minutes before Byrien said he was going to bed and walked off to his room. I followed suit going off to my own room to get some sweet, sweet, sleep the next morning was Wednesday, I woke to find Byrien gone, it was 7:00 am and I had to prep for school but I can’t leave a two-year-old alone for the day, I called principle Mike, he didn’t answer I tried calling a couple times with no avail, so I called the school reception desk the sweet lady named Lilly answered she was a sheep. “Hello, Kingscross High School how can I help you?\" I told her, \"My name is David Damien I don’t have a babysitter can I bring my two-year-old sister to school with me?\" She told me that was fine as long as she was quiet.\nI giggled a little knowing my little sister would stay quiet and thanked her. I called Nicole next and asked her if she would give me a ride to school, I got dressed, grabbed the things CPS gave me to take care of my sister: diaper bag, sippy cup, things like that. When Nicole showed up, I hooked up the car seat also left to me by the social service lady, buckled Ember in, and we drove off. Nicole asked me \"So, the new house is in the nice part of town? Who’s the foster father?\" I looked at her, \"His name is Byrien, He’s some sort of accountant, I don’t know much beyond the fact that he’s never around. Now let me ask you something it didn’t take you long to get here, what do you know about the high end of town?” Nicole slowed down a bit and said, \"Don’t ask that question please I don’t want to talk about it.\" I didn’t push much more than that. We arrived at the school, I helped Ember out of the seat as Nicole walked off, she locked the door with her key fob, and I picked up Ember to chase after her.\n\nEmber was giggling without making a sound it was odd to watch some one laugh but at the same time be silent. She enjoyed when I ran with her in my arms, I slowed down when I got to the main door. I realized there was a lot of people staring at me, I tried to avoid eye contact with most of them and stay close to Nicole, sadly we had different classes after I grabbed my things from my locker and the bell rang Nicole went to her classes and I went to mine, holding Ember’s hand as she walked beside me, we got to my first class. \nMath, it was my least favorite subject, but I wasn’t bad at it, I averaged B-. I entered the math class walked up to my teacher to tell him, \"So, I couldn't get a babysitter for my sister. Is it okay if she sits in?\" My teacher, a bat named Bob, smiled at me, and said of course, Bob was a good teacher bit quiet, though not nearly as quiet as Ember.\nDuring math class Ember doodled on her chalk board occasionally she would tug on my pant leg and ask for a fish cracker or a drink. It wasn’t too distracting thankfully.\nAfter math was over, I was off to my second class of the day. On the way there I was stopped by a small group of female students, they all gathered around me and my sister and started asking us questions, like how old she was, why she was with me in high school, who was she to me, and what her name is. I answered them as best I could, but for every answer I gave two more popped up, would she be with me all day, and why she was holding a chalk board. Ember started to act scared hiding her face behind my leg and shaking a little from all the attention. I tried to tell everyone to leave us alone, but I couldn’t yell over the crowd of girls, but then one of the teachers yelled out, \"All of you should be heading to class now!” With that, the crowd dispersed, I of course tried not to be seen by the teacher as the crowd all ran to their classes but of course life hates me, and she zeroed me out as the only boy in the group. \"David! Would you please explain to me why you had a crowed of other stu-\"she cut off after seeing Ember next to me, \"who is this?\" she asked. I told her I couldn't find a babysitter and she was my little sister\", the teacher smiled and told me my sister can sit in with her class if needed, this teacher was one of the better ones her name was Delilah she the art teacher here and loved helping students with less, I was very thankfully but I told her no. \"I’m sorry Miss Delilah, but my sister is all I have left in my direct family I don’t want to leave her with just anyone\". Thankfully she understood and went back to class, I was about 5 minutes late when I got to my second class of the day, I stepped in to hear the teacher stop his lecture on English, he’s a dalmatian named Kyle. \n“Mister David is there a reason your late for class?\" \nI shook my head no and quickly walked to my desk with sister in toe, after I sat down the teacher just stared at me. He finally said, \"Don’t interrupt my class again, Mister David. that goes for your sister too.\" I nodded stayed quiet and tried to finish English without an incident. After a while Ember would pull on my leg a little and showed me \"hungry\". I of course tried handing her some goldfish crackers, but the teacher stopped me, \"It’s not snack time, Mister David, you and your sister can wait.\" I dropped the bag so Ember could get to it and apologized to the teacher. The bell rang finally, we got out of English class as soon as possible, one more class than lunch, I wonder if Nicole will be okay for skipping lunch with her on the roof, third class of the day history, I liked this one, the teacher’s name was Miss Sillia, she was a secretary bird. I got there right on time, the class was relatively uneventful and after the bell it was off to the lunchroom, I got there and unpacked mine and Embers lunches some simple sandwiches we sat and played checkers on her chalk board until the bell rang. Nicole came and found me on my way to class, \"So, your sister get you in trouble yet?\" \nI responded, \"No, thankfully\". \nWe parted ways, I got to science class. The teacher was showing us how to extract alkali metals and their danger when exposed to water. About halfway through Ember pulled my leg again, her slate said “bathroom”, I picked her up and told the teacher where I was going, he handed me a hall pass and said make it quick. I rushed to the bathrooms and showed Ember a stall, I waited for a bit, and we got straight back to class after she was done, I missed some of the best parts of class and was a little disappointed when the teacher said one of my classmates caught his desk on fire, no one was hurt thankfully, but I thought it would have been fun to watch. Next was study hall, I spent most of the time helping Ember with her reading and writing a lot of the teachers on break were amazed at her skill, being two years old and writing at her level.\n\nThe last two classes were uneventful I waited for Nicole by her car she was busy for an extra hour knowing her it was detention, eventually she got out unlocked her car and got in, I buckled Ember up before we drove off to Byrien’s house. Nicole waited for me, she said she wanted to make sure I could get in before she left, I tried to open the front door only to find it locked I tried the back and thankfully it opened. I told Nicole and waved as she drove away, Byrien was gone, looks like he came by to pick some stuff up and then left again. I spent the rest of that afternoon looking for mid-morning day cares, if there was anyone who could watch Ember while I was at school. I eventually found one they were super nice on the phone and said I could bring Ember in tomorrow. I hopped in the shower as Ember was watching cartoons, as I was getting out, I heard a car door slam and the front door open, I assumed Byrien was home I got out of the bathroom and downstairs to find Byrien and a husky woman, Byrien walked up to me handing me a $100.00 bill and said, \"Take ember out for the rest of the night. Don’t come back till midnight or later.”\nI looked at him a little confused, curfew was at 8. \"I don't know isn't curfew important?\"\nByrien laughed and said \"No, go on out you have my permission.\" \nI didn’t say anything just took Ember in my arms and left, Byrien handed me the keys too so I could get back into the house and we were off, I called Nicole and asked her if I could come over, I’ve never been to her house so this should be interesting.\n\"Hey Nicole, Byrien gave me some money and said not to be back tell after curfew can I come over to your place?\" \nNicole hesitated for a bit before answering, \" Sorry I can't my parents are out of town and they said no one is allowed over.\" \nI thought about that Nicole didn’t seem the type to listen to or respect her parents. She’s constantly in and out of detention so why would she care, so I asked again. \n\"Since when do you listen to anyone, let alone your parents!? I really need a place to stay Nicole do you have any place I can go?\"\nNicole sighed and asked me where I was, I told her and in with in 2 or 3 minutes she showed up, she looked at me and snapped \"get in\" I did so of course buckling Ember in first. We drove off, I didn’t know where we were going after a bit of time, we left the nice suburbia we were in and found ourselves at a decent hotel. as Nicole got out of the car she said, \"The hotel here is 80 a night I’ll give you a little extra money so you can get food for you and your sister but you’re going to have to pay it back.\" We walked into the hotel and up to the front desk, Nicole did all the talking and swiped a debit card to pay for the room, we went up to the 6th floor hotel room it was surprisingly nice, Nicole said it belongs to a bigger hotel chain called Marcello sweets, the name rang a bell but I’m not sure from were. She stayed for a bit, I made sure to grab my Switch and we played Mario Kart while Ember doodled. The rest of the night was pretty quiet, I ordered pizza with the money Byrien gave me and after we ate it was about 12:30, so we checked out after only being there for 6 hours. On the way home we got pulled over, Nicole smiled sweetly to the cop as he asked for her license and registration, he of course asked for my ID too, after a bit of time he came back and asked us where we were going so late at night, Nicole said \"home\". I simply stayed quiet. The officer nodded and said, \"I’m going to follow to make sure that’s where you’re going.” After some time, we arrived at Byrien’s house, I got out and helped Amber out as I always do, and the cop followed right behind us telling for Nicole to stay put.\n\nThe cop knocked on the door to no answer, the cop knocked a second time, after a few minutes Byrien opened the door.\nEmber and I walked in quietly as the cop told us the dangers of missing curfew, before he left, I watched as him and Nicole drove off to her house, I hope she wouldn’t be in too much trouble. Byrien looked at me and said, \"Try not to get into trouble again it looks bad for me.\" He went back to his bedroom after that, I followed suit tucking Ember in and crawling into my own bed soon after.\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"After about a month and a half in the hospital we were released. My rib hadn't healed quite like it was supposed to since it wasn't set right on the same day it was broke.
Thanks to my Uncle Buck's abusive ways the doctors had to rebreak it and align it properly; thankfully I was knocked out and didn't feel it.
When I was released, I was surprised to see Phillies picking my sister and I up from the hospital. I asked her, "Hello Miss Phillies, what brings you here today?" She smiled sweetly and said she had filled out the forms for adoption and that I was her charge now, I was very happy the next few years were great Phillis moved us to the city so I could continue high school, it seemed everything was going so well, for a few years anyway, 2 years. I'm 16 now Nicole is still my best friend I even asked her out to the prom once, she turned me down saying she has no interest in dancing,
We laughed about it as we smoked our joints on the roof before heading back to class.
They say all good things must come to an end.
When I got back from school my little sister Ember ran to me quickly and started pulling my arm, it wasn't like her she seemed upset about something, she pulled me to Phillies' room, she wasn't moving even though it was mid-day she never stayed in bed this late, I walked closer to find she had passed in her sleep, it seems she had died of old age. I immediately called emergency services, they arrived shortly after to take her body to the morgue, we stayed in the house even after she passed. After the funeral her lawyer came and visited us with some papers and her sons. Both of them were rather mean and tried to cheat their mother a few times,
The lawyer sat us all down and handed us some papers, but before the lawyer could speak one of her sons Tonnie spoke up saying the children shouldn't be here since we weren’t family. The lawyer wasn't putting up with it and told him the documents in his hand said that I was required to be here, as a part of Phillies' last will. The lawyer then said, "let's get down to business shall we, Phillies' last will and testament, ‘I leave the house and savings in my bank account to David and Ember, my sons will receive my car and the old house in the woods.”
After the lawyer finished speaking Tonnie and his brother started yelling, complaining that me and my sister are street urchins that don't deserve their mother's wealth. The lawyer shut them up quickly telling them there was nothing he could do since it was in the will. After they left the lawyer looked to me and said, " you have a court days 3 days from now you're not legally old enough to claim the house and money and since you and your sister are both orphans the judge will have to appoint someone you know to watch over your inherence. Make sure you bring someone you trust and will look out for your best interests as your benefactor," I immediately suggested my principle he always has my back even when he did catch me and Nicole smoking weed on the roof, he let it slide. The lawyer agreed to meet him and left. The 3 days passed, I was at the courthouse, Nicole drove me and was sitting in the back the principle was here and talking to the lawyer, unexpectedly so were Phillies' biological kids. I was a bit worried when they walked into the court room. After everyone was seated the judge spoke, "it has come to my attention the minors have no guardian and are set to inherit a large sum of money and an estate. As the judge presiding over this case, I need to assign the benefactor who will be watching the estate until the children are old enough, their lawyer has told me the children have nominated whom they want to hold their estate but as a judge I must look to the children’s' next of kin before ruling in favor of someone who is not direct family." I grew concern listening to the judge, as he went on, he called up Tonnie, "As I understand things Tonnie is the adoptive brother of David and Ember. Is there a reason Tonnie was not considered by the attorney as a good candidate?" Our lawyer started to speak, "Your Honor, it has been documented that Tonnie and his biological brother Rodney have no direct interest in David or Ember’s health and wellbeing. To let them take the estate would put the minors at risk of becoming homeless."
The judge nodding with the lawyer's claims smiled, "What documentation do you have of these claims?" He asked the lawyer pulled out a manila envelope and handed it to the judge, the judge seemed a little upset with what he was reading, after he put the papers down the judge said "I regret to say I have come to a decision light of this evidence it does not hold up in a court of law and I name Tonnie as the oldest of Phillies' children I deem you as guardian of David and Ember with all rights and responsibilities until David is emancipated." The judge slammed his gavel and left the court room. I sat in the car with Nicole I didn't want to go back to my home I was scared I wouldn't be allowed back in but where was I supposed to go?
We left for my house, after a while of sitting there Nicole stopped at a Dairy Queen got some ice cream. She dropped me off and waved goodbye, my brother Tonnie was waiting inside. He got up when I walked in and told me to pack my things, I didn't argue with him I grabbed my cloths a few toys, after I had everything in a carrying case, he told me to get into his truck, as he finished moving Ember’s things and buckling her into a car seat. We left, after that I knew I would never see this home again. After some time in the car, he told me to get out at some random street corner and to take my sister with me. So, at 16-years-old, I was left there alone holding a toddler in the middle of a big city. We started to wander, not sure where to go after hours of walking the sun was setting, I was scared to talk to anyone, my sister pulled on my hand making gestures for food, she was hungry and so was I, but I didn't have any money. We found a dark place in an alley it seemed quiet enough, the setting sun crawled lower under the horizon, I thought of school. Would anyone look for me?
How would Tonnie explain my disappearance I thought as I held my little sister close. I closed my eyes for the night, thankfully the temperature wasn't bad. I fell asleep with Ember in my arms telling her everything will be all right, even though I was just as scared as she was.
The next morning was cold and bitter, Ember was still asleep curled up in my arms. Seems I was making a good wind breaker, I didn't know if I should wake her, I knew my stomach was growling and she told me last night hers was too, I pushed her shoulder gently, "Ember wake up!" After a little bit of pushing, she opened her eyes, and reached for her chalk board, "What's for breakfast?" I told her I don't know, we got up and started walking not sure of where to go. The smell of food drifted from different directions it didn't help with how hungry I was, after some time we saw a Walmart.
I was always told they throw away baked goods, so we went in search of their dumpsters. When we found them, they were locked up I sat there for a bit in front of the dumpster, someone has to come throw away trash right? I kept exploring the city, but I didn't want to lose the Walmart. Somehow, I knew if I stayed here things would turn out for the better.
An hour pasted, Ember and I played tic tac toe and hang man on her chalkboard, until finally someone opened the back door of the Walmart, a security guard stepped out and walked up to us, he looked at me and said, "You’ve been out here for too long; you need to leave.” I looked at him and asked, “Please sir we haven't eaten since yesterday." He didn't seem to care and said, "Look kid I don't really give a damn if you don't leave, I have permission to use force to remove you from the property. So, are you going to leave peacefully or painfully?" I took my sister's hand and left, there was no reason getting into a fight I couldn't win. We went south if we saw people on the streets I asked for help, one person, a bird blue tit I believe, was very kind; she gave me a $20 bill and said there was a homeless shelter 4 blocks southwest of here, I thanked her and started walking that direction. When I got there, there was a kind fox lady who greeted me, “Hi welcome to the Phoenix Shelter, how can I help you today young man?”
I told her I needed food and a bed if there was one available, I told her how I was evicted from my home, she nodded and told me, "I'm sorry hun we can't accept minors without a parent or guardian, but I can contact runaway services or CPS." I happily accepted this knowing that CPS helped me last time. The kind fox lady brought us some food while we waited for CPS, it wasn't much some chili and hotdogs, but I was hungry and enjoyed the meal while it lasted.
After we finished eating a police officer showed up with a woman from CPS, they came over and asked me a few questions why I was here how I got here, mine and my sister’s names and where our parents where, I told the social worker everything, "My name is David and this is Ember, our parents died two years ago, and we walked here after being evicted by our adopted brother." I told her the address of our most recent home she told us she would investigate Tonnie and that she would take us back to our home.
We got back to the house Phillies left us, there was a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn. When the CPS lady knocked at the door no one answered of course, Tonnie didn't live here, she came back to the car and asked if this was the right address, "Yes of course it is, Tonnie doesn't live here that's why he's selling the house.”
She said she would put us in foster care until she could figure out how to get a hold of Tonnie.
The house we were taken to was very nice it was two stories, with a courtyard and pool. The social worker walked up and knocked, after a bit a gentlemen answered he seemed nice, the social worker and the man talked a bit before she left, the man then looked at me, I was holding my sister's hand, a little scared of this man, he was a lion large gold mane he smiled a bit and said, "My name is Byrien seems I’ll be taking care of you for a while. Do you know how to cook?" The question seemed a little out of nowhere, I told him I did, and he smiled and said, "excellent there’s food in the fridge I’ll be back around 10pm”, and he walked out the door, leaving us there by ourselves.
We watched TV until bedtime, there wasn’t much else to do. I tucked Ember in and waited it was 1:00 am by the time Byrien got home, I looked at him when he got in and asked, "So, is this going to be a regular thing? Telling one time then coming back 4 hours later?" He apologized telling me, "Sorry little man the office required I work over, why are you still up anyway?" so I told him that I was worried and couldn’t sleep I don’t want to keep being moved around. With 2 more years before I'm emancipated, I’m afraid I’ll end up homeless again before that happens. We sat there looking at each other for a few minutes before Byrien said he was going to bed and walked off to his room. I followed suit going off to my own room to get some sweet, sweet, sleep the next morning was Wednesday, I woke to find Byrien gone, it was 7:00 am and I had to prep for school but I can’t leave a two-year-old alone for the day, I called principle Mike, he didn’t answer I tried calling a couple times with no avail, so I called the school reception desk the sweet lady named Lilly answered she was a sheep. “Hello, Kingscross High School how can I help you?" I told her, "My name is David Damien I don’t have a babysitter can I bring my two-year-old sister to school with me?" She told me that was fine as long as she was quiet.
I giggled a little knowing my little sister would stay quiet and thanked her. I called Nicole next and asked her if she would give me a ride to school, I got dressed, grabbed the things CPS gave me to take care of my sister: diaper bag, sippy cup, things like that. When Nicole showed up, I hooked up the car seat also left to me by the social service lady, buckled Ember in, and we drove off. Nicole asked me "So, the new house is in the nice part of town? Who’s the foster father?" I looked at her, "His name is Byrien, He’s some sort of accountant, I don’t know much beyond the fact that he’s never around. Now let me ask you something it didn’t take you long to get here, what do you know about the high end of town?” Nicole slowed down a bit and said, "Don’t ask that question please I don’t want to talk about it." I didn’t push much more than that. We arrived at the school, I helped Ember out of the seat as Nicole walked off, she locked the door with her key fob, and I picked up Ember to chase after her.
Ember was giggling without making a sound it was odd to watch some one laugh but at the same time be silent. She enjoyed when I ran with her in my arms, I slowed down when I got to the main door. I realized there was a lot of people staring at me, I tried to avoid eye contact with most of them and stay close to Nicole, sadly we had different classes after I grabbed my things from my locker and the bell rang Nicole went to her classes and I went to mine, holding Ember’s hand as she walked beside me, we got to my first class.
Math, it was my least favorite subject, but I wasn’t bad at it, I averaged B-. I entered the math class walked up to my teacher to tell him, "So, I couldn't get a babysitter for my sister. Is it okay if she sits in?" My teacher, a bat named Bob, smiled at me, and said of course, Bob was a good teacher bit quiet, though not nearly as quiet as Ember.
During math class Ember doodled on her chalk board occasionally she would tug on my pant leg and ask for a fish cracker or a drink. It wasn’t too distracting thankfully.
After math was over, I was off to my second class of the day. On the way there I was stopped by a small group of female students, they all gathered around me and my sister and started asking us questions, like how old she was, why she was with me in high school, who was she to me, and what her name is. I answered them as best I could, but for every answer I gave two more popped up, would she be with me all day, and why she was holding a chalk board. Ember started to act scared hiding her face behind my leg and shaking a little from all the attention. I tried to tell everyone to leave us alone, but I couldn’t yell over the crowd of girls, but then one of the teachers yelled out, "All of you should be heading to class now!” With that, the crowd dispersed, I of course tried not to be seen by the teacher as the crowd all ran to their classes but of course life hates me, and she zeroed me out as the only boy in the group. "David! Would you please explain to me why you had a crowed of other stu-"she cut off after seeing Ember next to me, "who is this?" she asked. I told her I couldn't find a babysitter and she was my little sister", the teacher smiled and told me my sister can sit in with her class if needed, this teacher was one of the better ones her name was Delilah she the art teacher here and loved helping students with less, I was very thankfully but I told her no. "I’m sorry Miss Delilah, but my sister is all I have left in my direct family I don’t want to leave her with just anyone". Thankfully she understood and went back to class, I was about 5 minutes late when I got to my second class of the day, I stepped in to hear the teacher stop his lecture on English, he’s a dalmatian named Kyle.
“Mister David is there a reason your late for class?"
I shook my head no and quickly walked to my desk with sister in toe, after I sat down the teacher just stared at me. He finally said, "Don’t interrupt my class again, Mister David. that goes for your sister too." I nodded stayed quiet and tried to finish English without an incident. After a while Ember would pull on my leg a little and showed me "hungry". I of course tried handing her some goldfish crackers, but the teacher stopped me, "It’s not snack time, Mister David, you and your sister can wait." I dropped the bag so Ember could get to it and apologized to the teacher. The bell rang finally, we got out of English class as soon as possible, one more class than lunch, I wonder if Nicole will be okay for skipping lunch with her on the roof, third class of the day history, I liked this one, the teacher’s name was Miss Sillia, she was a secretary bird. I got there right on time, the class was relatively uneventful and after the bell it was off to the lunchroom, I got there and unpacked mine and Embers lunches some simple sandwiches we sat and played checkers on her chalk board until the bell rang. Nicole came and found me on my way to class, "So, your sister get you in trouble yet?"
I responded, "No, thankfully".
We parted ways, I got to science class. The teacher was showing us how to extract alkali metals and their danger when exposed to water. About halfway through Ember pulled my leg again, her slate said “bathroom”, I picked her up and told the teacher where I was going, he handed me a hall pass and said make it quick. I rushed to the bathrooms and showed Ember a stall, I waited for a bit, and we got straight back to class after she was done, I missed some of the best parts of class and was a little disappointed when the teacher said one of my classmates caught his desk on fire, no one was hurt thankfully, but I thought it would have been fun to watch. Next was study hall, I spent most of the time helping Ember with her reading and writing a lot of the teachers on break were amazed at her skill, being two years old and writing at her level.
The last two classes were uneventful I waited for Nicole by her car she was busy for an extra hour knowing her it was detention, eventually she got out unlocked her car and got in, I buckled Ember up before we drove off to Byrien’s house. Nicole waited for me, she said she wanted to make sure I could get in before she left, I tried to open the front door only to find it locked I tried the back and thankfully it opened. I told Nicole and waved as she drove away, Byrien was gone, looks like he came by to pick some stuff up and then left again. I spent the rest of that afternoon looking for mid-morning day cares, if there was anyone who could watch Ember while I was at school. I eventually found one they were super nice on the phone and said I could bring Ember in tomorrow. I hopped in the shower as Ember was watching cartoons, as I was getting out, I heard a car door slam and the front door open, I assumed Byrien was home I got out of the bathroom and downstairs to find Byrien and a husky woman, Byrien walked up to me handing me a $100.00 bill and said, "Take ember out for the rest of the night. Don’t come back till midnight or later.”
I looked at him a little confused, curfew was at 8. "I don't know isn't curfew important?"
Byrien laughed and said "No, go on out you have my permission."
I didn’t say anything just took Ember in my arms and left, Byrien handed me the keys too so I could get back into the house and we were off, I called Nicole and asked her if I could come over, I’ve never been to her house so this should be interesting.
"Hey Nicole, Byrien gave me some money and said not to be back tell after curfew can I come over to your place?"
Nicole hesitated for a bit before answering, " Sorry I can't my parents are out of town and they said no one is allowed over."
I thought about that Nicole didn’t seem the type to listen to or respect her parents. She’s constantly in and out of detention so why would she care, so I asked again.
"Since when do you listen to anyone, let alone your parents!? I really need a place to stay Nicole do you have any place I can go?"
Nicole sighed and asked me where I was, I told her and in with in 2 or 3 minutes she showed up, she looked at me and snapped "get in" I did so of course buckling Ember in first. We drove off, I didn’t know where we were going after a bit of time, we left the nice suburbia we were in and found ourselves at a decent hotel. as Nicole got out of the car she said, "The hotel here is 80 a night I’ll give you a little extra money so you can get food for you and your sister but you’re going to have to pay it back." We walked into the hotel and up to the front desk, Nicole did all the talking and swiped a debit card to pay for the room, we went up to the 6th floor hotel room it was surprisingly nice, Nicole said it belongs to a bigger hotel chain called Marcello sweets, the name rang a bell but I’m not sure from were. She stayed for a bit, I made sure to grab my Switch and we played Mario Kart while Ember doodled. The rest of the night was pretty quiet, I ordered pizza with the money Byrien gave me and after we ate it was about 12:30, so we checked out after only being there for 6 hours. On the way home we got pulled over, Nicole smiled sweetly to the cop as he asked for her license and registration, he of course asked for my ID too, after a bit of time he came back and asked us where we were going so late at night, Nicole said "home". I simply stayed quiet. The officer nodded and said, "I’m going to follow to make sure that’s where you’re going.” After some time, we arrived at Byrien’s house, I got out and helped Amber out as I always do, and the cop followed right behind us telling for Nicole to stay put.
The cop knocked on the door to no answer, the cop knocked a second time, after a few minutes Byrien opened the door.
Ember and I walked in quietly as the cop told us the dangers of missing curfew, before he left, I watched as him and Nicole drove off to her house, I hope she wouldn’t be in too much trouble. Byrien looked at me and said, "Try not to get into trouble again it looks bad for me." He went back to his bedroom after that, I followed suit tucking Ember in and crawling into my own bed soon after.
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