Chapter One: Empty

The bell rang and Brax was relieved to be finished school for the day. He had too much on his mind already that he could not muster the concentration or care to learn about anything they tried to teach him in the classroom. The subjects that his teacher waxed lyrical about seemed so trivial to him. Useless facts about science or geography did not help him. The lessons and skills that he needed, he had to learn on his own, outside of the comfort of the classroom. And unlike some silly school quiz, the tests he had to endure could carry very real consequences. Life and death consequences. Lucky for Brax he was a fast learner. He had to be.

Brax grabbed his bag and jogged along the verandah to the Infants classrooms. Walking into the Grade Two classroom he called for his younger brother Heath to join him. "Darryl may I have a word please?" Brax turned to see the familiar stern face of Health's teacher beckoning him over.

"Is there a problem Mrs Anderson?" Brax replied.

"Yes there is Darryl! For the second time this week your brother has forgotten to bring his lunch to school. He was found on the playground at lunchtime today bullying some kindergarten children for their sandwiches. I need to discuss this problem with your mother because he is headed for a suspension if I get any more complaints of this sort."

"My mother isn't able to travel at the moment because she is about to have a baby, but I'll make sure he remembers his lunch tomorrow Mrs Anderson. And I'll talk to him about the bullying. Please don't report this to the Principal. I promise it won't happen again!" Brax looked down at his little brother who was staring at the ground. His heart felt heavy. He would do anything for things to be different.

"OK, but he is on his very last warning! Next time I have a problem with him, I will be reporting it and your mother will be called," Mrs Anderson stammered and stormed back to her desk.

"Thank you Mrs Anderson! You won't have any more trouble with Heath!" Brax grabbed his little brother by the hand and dragged him out of the classroom.

As they began the long walk home to the outskirts of Mangrove River, Brax gave his brother a slight shove. "What were you thinking Heath? Picking on little kindergarten kids? I have taught you better than that!"

"I'm sorry Brax! I didn't mean to hurt them. I was just hungry." Heath replied in almost a whisper. A tear silently fell down the face of the young boy. Brax felt his whole body ache as he looked down at his brother. He knew just how hungry Heath was because Brax himself hadn't eaten a meal in days either. He would do anything to give Heath a better life, but at only 12years old himself, there was only so much he could do. Brax wrapped his arm around Heath in an attempt to comfort him.

"I know buddy. I'm sorry! I'm sure that mum has done some shopping today, so we'll get something to eat when we get home." Brax stated more confidently than he felt.

The two Braxton boys walked into their Mangrove River home. The neglected house was dark and all the curtains were closed. Brax stepped over the clutter in the hallway and headed towards his parents room. "Mum, are you home?" Brax called out. "Mum?"

"Where is she Brax?" Heath followed closely behind his big brother.

"I'm not sure mate. Let's go and get you something to eat." Brax walked towards to the kitchen and felt his heart begin to sink as he was greeted with the same sight he had left that morning. An empty fridge, empty shelves and an empty cupboard. His mother had promised him that she would go shopping that day. She had promised that she would use the last of the money their father had left on food and not alcohol this time. Brax didn't know when his father was due to return from his latest trip. His mysterious trips had become much more frequent lately and were lasting longer each time. Not that Brax minded because things were always calmer when his father was away, but they did face other challenges when he was gone. Their mother became absent-minded and more easily surrendered to her demons – alcohol and gambling- without her husband to distract her.

Heath saw the anguish on his big brothers face and instantly knew that their mother had let them down again. He flopped onto the couch and let out a sob. He didn't understand why their cupboards were not brimming with food like other families he knew. He did not understand why his friends had mothers who would spend the morning making and filling their children's lunchboxes, while his own mother was not even awake when he left the house. "Brax can we go to next door to Joel's place and ask for some food?"

"No!" Brax grunted joining his little brother on the couch.

"Why not? Joel always has yummy food at school. Please Brax?"

"I said NO!" Brax shouted more loudly than he intended.

Heath was only 8yrs old and didn't quite understand the unwritten, unspoken but unquestionable rule of the Braxton family -never share your problems with the outside world. But Brax certainly did! He had learnt this particular lesson at a very young age and had a scar next to his right eye as an eternal reminder. When Heath was a baby and was rushed to hospital for an almost critical head knock and fall, the doctors turned to little Brax for the missing answers to a seemingly fictitious story from their mother Cheryl Braxton. When members from the Police and DOCS showed up on the Braxton doorstep that night asking questions, Danny Braxton left his first born son with no doubt as to what he thought about the visit. After his father had dragged a 4yr old Brax to the police station and made him give an entirely different account of Heath's accident, he took his son home and made sure he would never open his mouth against the family again. He had used a belt to teach the lesson that day and as Brax lay aching and bruised, locked in his room for the week and unable to see out of one eye, he knew it was one he would never forget.

As he looked across at his little brother now, Brax struggled to find the words to explain the way things had to be. No matter how bad things got or how desperate they became, asking for help was not an option. Even though Danny and Cheryl Braxton had their flaws, these must never be discussed. The Braxton boys must protect their parents and no one must know what goes on behind closed doors. "Heath, listen to me. You must never tell anyone about this. Do you hear me? Mum will get us food and Dad will be home soon. We are fine and it will all be OK. You don't need to ask anyone for help because I'll always look after you. Do you understand?" Brax searched his brother's face for a sign that he understood. He needed to know that Heath would never have to find out first hand what Danny Braxton thought of little boys who said too much.

"Yes Brax! I understand, it was just an idea." Heath replied glumly, not quite grasping the urgency of his brother's response but knowing that if Brax thought it was for the best, then it usually was.

"Well I have a better idea! Get changed out of your uniform, we are going out." Brax ordered.