I spun around. A loud crash came from the dining room.
'Damn it' I thought. I can't get caught. I need out of this hell-hole.
My Father had gone out drinking earlier. Ever since my Mother died and my older brother Anthony had vanished with no trace two years back, he had been going slowly insane.
When ever he got drunk and angry, I was his main target for venting.
His footsteps started getting louder as he headed towards the bedroom where I was trying to find my brothers old cap.
I was already dressed in an old pair of Anthony's pants and one of his shirts. I was luckily quite small.
Dropping to my stomach, I slid under the bed. I could see his feet from here. He stumbled around the room singing softly.
" Jennifer Marie. I know you are in here." He said. His feet stopped moving and I thought for a short, hopeful moment that I was safe, But then he knelt down on the ground and grabbed my arm.
" Well well well. What have we here?" He questioned. Pulling me up close to him, he growled. I wrinkled my nose, as his foul beer tainted breath wafted over me, his yellow teeth showing as his lips curled up into a smile.
" Let me go!" I cried, punching his cheek with my free hand. His head flew to the side.
" Why you little-" He said, slapping my cheek. He picked me up and tossed me into the wall like an old rag doll.
I slumped there as he crept closer to me...and then I saw the god damn hat. It was on top of the closet. I got down on my hands and knees and crawled between his legs, dashing towards the closet.
Jumping, I wrapped my hand around it and dashed to the window I had opened earlier. I slipped onto the fire escape and scrambled down the ladder.
" Get back here you ungrateful child!" My Father shouted. I reached the ground and took off like a shot, shoving my hair under the cap as I did.
I wandered the streets of Brooklynn heading towards what I think is Queens.
" Hey what are you doing on our territory?" A mean voice pierced through the nights silence. I spun around. He couldn't be to much older then me but he had a mean look to him that reminded me off my father.
I took off running again down the street. But the boy was expecting that and dived and grabbed my waist. We crashed to the ground.
" Now tell me what you are doing in Brooklyn territory." The boy said. He knocked off my hat.
" Hey yous a girl?" He said, shocked.
Me, being as clever as I am, kicked him in the area where the sun don't shine.
He groaned and clutched his 'area'. I shot up and took off again, headed to Queens.
I made it to Queens around 2 in the morning.
I wandered the streets for an hour trying to figure out where to go when I bumped into someone.
My butt made contact with the ground and I looked up. A kind looking boy with brown hair and big brown eyes was staring at me, shocked.
My hat had fallen off again so I grabbed it and shoved it back on.
" Are you okay?" He asked.
I nodded standing up.
" What's a little goil like you doing out on the street so late at night?"
" I'm not little. I'm 8" I growled.
He chuckled. " Oh I'm gona like ya kid. Come on. You definitely need a home."
I followed willingly. I wasn't gona say no to any kindness after today.