Merely nine years old, small stature, brown hair, middle class boy. Smiles on every opportunity given, toothy grin with a couple of missing teeth, signs of growing up. He has a younger sister one grade level under him yet her appearance is much smaller and fragile. She also smiles together with him, always holding hands walking together until they have to separate for class, a really strong bond.
School ends at 3:15 p.m, yet they wait until 5:00 p.m. every . The same parent never comes to pick them up ontime everyday. Their smiles seem to disappear at the sight of either parent. They always say good-bye to the new teacher. A smile and a wave is shown before their heads hang low to their feet walking at a distance from the parent 'assigned' for the pick-up that day.
At home they are expected to "be good" and go to their room and stay there. They usually have to skip dinner because they are afraid to come out of their respectful chamber.
The screams and yells start around 20 minutes after the arrival from school. Swears and things that are not meant to be heard go through the thin walls. The children become nervous and start shaking. Nothing in their power can be done to stop their parents anymore. They just cry silently hoping for it to end quickly.
The small boy is scared and he can not imagine how his sister must feel. He grabs his mp3 player and his emergency phone. Opening the lock of his room with utmost care not to make a sound. Dragging himself on the floor to his sisters room, he can see the shadows and can hear clearly the colorful discussion his parents are having, his small hands tremble at the thought of being caught, afraid of the risk of being punished; He hurries.
He slowly and carefully opens the door, his stubby hands fumble with the lock and the door squeaks as it opens. He unconsciously flinches. The nine year old crawls inside and locks the door behind him. His sister nowhere in sight.
Slowly bringing his trembling body up he rushes to the small and cramped closet. All dark and warm, full of dust and hangers he finds his sister curled up in the corner under the heavy blanket crying. He rushes by her side and delves under the heavy blanket with one arm already around her. He shuffles for the mp3 player he brought with him and turns it on by instincts before placing the headphones on the small girl.
"Everything is going to be fine ok... I'm here. It will end soon"
His sister begins to relax after the third song. The screams of pain of his mother start , the punches and physical violence barely has begun. His tears slowly but surely blur his vision and soon fall down his cheeks. The boy is glad the closet is dark; He doesn't want his sister to see him fall and collapse.
He wakes up earlier than expected to a silent house. His sister is calmly sleeping by his side, her chest rising and falling ever so slowly. He checks the phone and realizes school has begun. Slowly untangling from the tight embrace he shakes his sister awake and gets ready for school. Their eyes red and swollen.
She looks at him and smiles, toothy grin and crinkling eyes, he can't do anything more than smile back at her.
They walk together to school which is a few blocks away. Hands clasped together and steps tired and heavy.
As they get closer the girl's hand tightens a little not wanting to let go. Afraid of loosing the only stable pillar in her short life.
They arrive at the younger girls class and stand there silently outside the door for a few minutes. Both of them afraid to talk about what is happening, what will happen, what can happen. She smiles faintly before opening the door to her class. Her classmates flooding her with questions to feed their curiousity.
The boy walks slowly to his own classroom, but he is stoped by his teacher on the way there. He starts to panick not ready to explain his tardy or his disheveled apperance. He shifts from side to side before arriving the teachers side. She smiles at him before before telling him to follow her to class, no questions asked.
School ends like every other day and they find each other as soon as the final bell rings. Smiles at full beams for a few hours before leaving home.
Their dad shows up this time. His suit still perfectly ironed after a long days work. The fight starts as soon as the front door is shut.
They run to the older brothers room, and lock the door after them. Glass shaterring and walls screaming.
The boy cracks. He wants to scream and cry, yell and balw, but then he turns and sees his small, tiny and fragile sister. He calls.
9-1-1
He tries to calm his ragged breathing with his sister crying next to him. Explaining his situation as good as a nine year old can.
The police arrive right after.
