Everything will be alright
The mouse was sitting by a bush. It's fur was a dull grey and matted. It's tail was a ragged looking thing. It was clear at first sight that it had been in many fights which judging by the scars on its back the mouse always came out of in pretty bad shape. God even the mice in Chino were violent.
Ryan was watching the mouse from his perch on his door step. Inside the house his mother was having an "argument" with her boyfriend of the day. Watching the mouse was the only thing keeping his mind off the sound off flesh hitting a wall or connecting with a fist as his mother was thrown around the room.
Pain screamed through his body and he couldn't help thinking that the mouse was a bit like him with the getting into fights that he had no chance of winning. His mother's boyfriends were too strong and overpowering. His defensive side for his mother always got him on the receiving end of their fists. The only thing stopping him now was the fact that the boyfriend had locked him out of the house. Usually Trey was there to help him but not today.
Ryan squeezed his eyes closed and tried to block out the sounds of his mother's screams and sobs with his hands over his ears but they were too loud. The sound of a car driving up to his next door neighbour's house caught his attention obviously Arturo had been released from juvy and was being taken home by his public defender. He pried his eyes open and hid behind a bush as the two got out of the car and made their way into Arturo's house. This usually meant Theresa would come out to play with him. He could see a little boy waiting in the car about his age with curly black hair. He was waving at the man who must be his father or uncle or something who was waving back and smiling motioning with his hands that he'd be back in a minute.
As he had expected, Arturo's little sister scuttled out of the house she was six just like Ryan and the two got on very well ever since the Atwood's had moved into the house next door last year after his father had gone to jail. He got out from behind the bushes and she caught sight of him. She gasped at his face which was covered in bruises and his eye was so swollen he could hardly open it. His lip was split and his cheekbone looked so bad she feared that it was broken.
She ran up to him and nearing the house she could hear the screaming "Oh, Ryan" she whispered quietly as she neared the tense boy and could hear the screams from his house. Advancing slowly she put her arm around him and started guiding him towards her house. She knew what to do as in the past year this had happened a lot.
Ryan winced slightly with the movement. His ribs were feeling delicate and pain was flaring up his leg. He could feel hot tears prickling him as his friend let him lean on her as they started on the trip to her back door. He had no idea how far it was from his house but what usually took them ten seconds while running took what felt like ten minutes with him stumbling over all the stones on route. Theresa was a little worried as her mother had told her to go out to play and not to disturb her while she talked to her brother and his lawyer but this was serious she had to get some ice and she new her mom was good at first aid and could help. She always did.
She gingerly opened the door helping Ryan up the few steps. "Theresa I told you not to dis…" Her mother stopped mid sentence at the sight of the boy stumbling with her daughter.
She sprung up from her chair and ran to her daughter helping her bring the injured boy in. "Arturo get ice!" she ordered. Arturo not really understanding what was going as his back was to the door looked confused but went to the freezer "umm are peas ok?" He asked "We're cleaned out of ice probably those Atwood kids." He added he knew all about the trouble Ryan and his brother had to endure.
"Yes that's fine honey. Ryan was Trey with you?" She asked taking the peas from Arturo and gingerly putting them on Ryan's cheek bone carefully he squirmed at the coldness and he shook his head slowly. Arturo jumped only just realising Ryan was in the room and so immediately feeling guilty.
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought the group's attention from Ryan to the lawyer in the room. Ryan's face suddenly went very pale remembering the posh car that had driven up and the child who was still waiting in the car.
"Is he okay?" The lawyer asked advancing towards Ryan who shrank back in his chair. The only emotion he'd seen on a man's face was anger but this man looked calm, gentle almost and worried. The thing that stuck out most was that he looked horrified at
Ryan's condition and not quite believing what he saw. "What happened?" he continued.
Ryan immediately backed away any man older than Trey was a threat to him he'd had too many bad experiences. "I have to go …" He whispered.
"No Ryan its ok this is just Arturo's lawyer" Theresa explained trying to keep him from leaving. "He wont hurt you and he can keep a secret" she stared at Sandy telling him to not push it. He obviously understood and went quiet.
Ryan nodded but he still looked unsure of what too do. But still he trusted Theresa and everywhere was hurting so he had no real choice but too stay. He glanced up at the man nervously and saw the man still looking at him in horror.
Theresa's mom held the ice to Ryan's cheekbone and helped him settle into a chair opposite Sandy at the kitchen table. "Where does it hurt Ryan?" She asked in a soothing tone.
He told her his places of discomfort all the while staring at Sandy unable to take his eyes off him. After a while the man spoke again "Do you think we should take him to a hospital…" The minute he said it he realised it was a mistake. Ryan looked horrified and started trying to stand up. Theresa's mom immediately shushed him.
"You're not going anywhere Ryan" She told him and after looking her in the eyes he eventually calmed down.
The room went silent except for the sound of Ryan small whimpers of pain as Theresa's mom cleaned the cuts on his arms and face.
After a moment the woman carefully lifted Ryan's top up just enough too look at his ribs. Bruises marred his chest and she immediately knew the man was right about the hospital.
"Ryan I think it would be a good idea to go to the emergency room…" Ryan shook his head frantically and then clenched his eyes shut at the sudden increase in the headache he was harbouring from the movement. "It would be ok. I can go with you and we can tell them some thug on the street did this too you"
Ryan looked panicked usually Theresa's mom could patch him up. The few times he was forced to go to hospital child services had been contacted and so many questions had been asked his mom had been so pissed with him. He stood up quickly before anyone could stop him but his body wasn't having any quick movements today and he immediately started swaying and if Theresa's mom hadn't been behind him he would probably have hurt himself further as he collapsed.
"Here let me help" the man stepped forward and picked Ryan's now limp body up. "We can take my car." They all looked at him shocked but realized that they had to comply as their car had been stolen the week before.
Theresa's mum smiled and nodded giving the okay. "Thank you so much Mr Cohen." He nodded back at her and began to carry the little boy out to his car. The rest decided Theresa and her mom would go with Mr Cohen and Arturo would stay at home so that when Trey came back someone could explain what had happened.