After eating and our Ninja Turtles game, the other guys play video games. Carys sits quietly in the corner, whereas I fidget. Peering out the window, I see the rain has stopped. I tug on her arm and we slip out of the room.
"Want to go for a bike ride?" Her eyes light up as she nods. "Go change and meet me out back."
In less than ten minutes, we're zipping down the streets on our bikes. I hang back a bit to keep an eye on her, and I watch her long, dark locks fly freely behind her, like a trail of ribbons in the wind.
§
Carys ~ 8 years old
WHEN WE LEAVE, THE place is still crowded, but Ma asks the bar's assistant-manager to close. Once we are home, she lets us sleep in her bed; tucking us in, and kissing us good night.
Our bike ride was fun and made me happy, or maybe it was Evan. Either way, it helped get rid of my sadness, if only for a while.
Evan is kind and caring, always doing things like that, always including me. We're lucky no one noticed we were gone-we came back to the boys still playing video games, like we never left.
"Can we read for a bit?" I whisper to the boys, pulling out a flashlight and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Ry groans, but Evan elbows him to shut him up. Evan takes the book and begins to read out loud, or more like whisper, while my brother complains. Evan and I enjoy reading together. Ry usually leaves; his preference is video games.
We just finished The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and while I wanted to read it again the minute we finished, simply loving Huck and Tom, he talked me into The Chronicles of Narnia, and I'm so glad he did. We read for a bit and before long, our lids grow heavy and sleep easily takes us.
I wake to Ma's arms wrapped around me. Peering up, I see her pretty face is troubled, with the corners of her mouth down and tight creases along her forehead. Her sleep is sad. I snuggle deeper into her arms, hoping my cuddle will help her. Breathing in her sweet lavender scent always puts a smile on my face.
Sucking in a breath, I freeze. I smell Pops on her, clean and fresh, like the forest. She's wearing his Star Wars shirt. A small sob escapes my mouth, surprising me. I pinch my lips together, wanting to prevent the tears welling in my eyes from falling. I don't want to wake her. She'll only hide her sadness and want to take care of me. Who's going to take care of her?
The bed dips behind me as the boys leave. I want to join them, but don't want to leave Ma. I won't leave her alone.
Not too long after, she wakes and gets right to work making breakfast and getting us dressed. Today's another big day. Our lawyer and the social worker are coming to talk about Evan. Ma said something about guardianship. I don't really know what it means. All I know is that Evan must stay with us.
We sit quietly in the living room while Ma and Mr. Bell, our lawyer, speak with Ms. Sanders, the social worker. They talk for a long time, Ma's smiles diminishing the more they talk. I don't understand, but I don't like the sounds of ward of the state or until an official guardian can be appointed.
Evan stares into his lap. Gone is the fun boy I love spending time with. I lift his clammy hand into my own lap and our eyes meet. He's lost, maybe scared. Ry bumps my shoulder, his eyes on Evan. We're all scared and unsure.
Finally, the adults come to us, all eyes on Evan.
"Evan, it's time for us to go." The social worker stands before him.
Ry and I shout, "What? He's not going anywhere!"
"Wait a minute," Ma says.
She slips by the social worker, hugging Evan before kneeling in front of him. Ry and I stand on either side of him like guards, protecting him from this woman.
"Evan, dear, you have to go with Ms. Sanders, just for a bit. Mr. Bell has work to do before you can live with us. He's going to work real fast and get you home to us as soon as possible." Her eyes are watery.
She's fighting her tears, and so am I. I'm not a baby. I won't cry. I hate it when I can't stop the tears. My tummy hurts, like when I've been on a wild ride at the fair, and I'm all twinges and knots on the inside. Again, I'm torn as I rub Ma's back, trying to be brave and strong, even though I want to cry. Evan barely nods.
"No way," Ry shouts. "He belongs with us. He's my brother!" He wraps his arms tightly around his best friend. Evan's face crumples, but somehow, he stops himself.
"Rylan." Ma's voice is stern but warm. "He's our family. He's coming back." She's trying to convince herself as much as us. "He has to go for now, but he'll be back soon. You'll still see him every day at school."
///