She`s sitting on her swing again watching the other kids play, she finally gave up on ever trying to participate in any game. It's not that she doesn't want to but every time she would walk up to them they would give her a look before running away. Some of the kids that were new to the playground would play with her for a day or so before getting shouted at by their parents for it. 'Don't play with that girl' she always hears them saying that, but why? Why does everyone hate her so much? She doesn't need an answer because she already knew it. It's because of her name, because she was a Doyle.
She never met her father but she couldn't hate him more. School isn't different from this play ground, she wants to convenes herself that she likes the quit , that she wants to be left alone so she could read more , study more . Deep down she knows that if any of them asks, she would leave her book and join them at any game they choose. Looking at the kids playing is the closest thing she ever got to actually playing, she watches as a new girl start to play with the boys. that's odd she thinks, the boys treat her as one of their own, she`s laughing and making fun of the other boys as she scores over and over for her team. Her dark curls barley reaching her shoulder as they bonus with each move she makes, she jokes around with the boys smacking them on their arms, laughing with her teammates.
Maura watches as the game starts again ,the new girl running with the ball toward the goal, she kicks the ball too high and all eyes land on the ball that found a new home on a nearby house`s ceiling . The playground is full of 'awww'. The kids start shouting at the girl for what she did, you start to feel sorry for her until she shouts back at them saying that she would get it back. For some reason a smile find its way to your lips at the way this girl is shouting, the dark haired girl start running and you guess that she was getting something to help bring down the ball.
All the kids are waiting, after a few minutes they get bored and start throwing small rocks at the ball on the hope of bringing it down. You watch as each take turns and finally give up when the sun started setting and their parents calling them to go home. you`re curious, you know that if a rock was thrown in the right angel with the right speed it could bring the ball down, you finally abandon your swing and walk up to the house picking up one stone and studying the distant between you and the ball .
With a swift throw the ball falls down, landing in your hands. The kids haven't left the play ground yet, you start running to the gate where you finally catch up to them before they leave.
"Here" you say with a happy smile and short breaths from running. You extended your arm offering the ball to one of them, any of them. None of them take it; they just start shooting you with angry glares. One of them let out a snort
"It's not our ball, and even if it was. We wouldn't have taken it after you touched it, Doyle" a smirk plays on their faces as they turn around to walk away and you could hear what their parents are saying
'Sweet heart, how many times did I tell you not to talk to that kid?'
'Honey, I don't want you near her. Understand?'
'it`s not enough what her father did to our town, now his daughter is trying to be friend with our kids? Honestly'
The sun is fading but you don't care, it's not like anyone is going to be home waiting for you to come back. You're still holding the ball tightly in your hands, anger boiling inside you.
"Where is everybody?" you turn around surprised by the deep voice that came from behind. It's the new girl; she was finally back with a long stick in her hand. You froze; you don't know that to do. You`re scared that she`ll leave too. "Ohhh, you got the ball" the girl finally notices the ball in your hands. Her excitement brings a small smile to your face; it's been a long time since any one talked to you without mocking you or shooting you an angry glare. "Thanks, ma would kill me if I lost it" she start walking toward you with a smile
"Your mother would kill you because of a ball?" Maura asked blankly
"Well not kill me kill me, but kill me you know?" Maura shakes her head slowly, what the hell is this girl saying? She didn't make any sense. "Never mind" Jane blurred out before taking the ball. Oh, that's why she was being nice to me Maura thought and start walking up to her swing "aren`t you going home?" the question was innocent
"Yes, why?" Maura was trying to find a secret agenda for this girl, why did she care if Maura went home or not, it is none of her business
"I just thought we could walk together" Jane said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Maura smiled without answering "so your coming or not?" Jane started walking and Maura walked quickly to catch up with her "I'm Jane by the way"
"Maura" you answer quietly as you both walk never taking your eyes off the ground
"So ... how did you get the ball down?" Jane tried to start a conversation
"Calculating the distant, wind, weight combined with force necessary to knock the ball…" Maura started blurring out nervously, no one ever offered to walk with her before. All the kids knew by the end of the day who she is and never went near her
"You`re weird" Jane said joking, but you froze. This might be the only conversation you`ll have for a very long time and you already made her think your weird "not bad weird, but good weird, you know?" you smile shyly as you feel you`re cheeks going pink, no one ever gave you a complement. You both keep on talking for what feels like for ever. You talk about a lot of things, Jane mostly takes about baseball and start saying things that you can't make out but you nod anyway. Talking to her feels so easy, you want it to stay for ever.
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli! That better be you" a voice shouts from the house, you can feel the warmth in voice
"Yeah ma it's me!" Jane shouts back before turning to you
"Well, that's me. See you tomorrow Maura" she waves you quickly as she runs into her house, you`re home is nowhere near here, but was worth it. Keeping Jane Company was worth it even if it meant going across the city to get back home.
You hate it here; you hate the way you turn on every light in the apartment to find it empty. You know that all kids your age with no parent and no one to take care of them go to foster care but Alex handles all the paper works to keep you here. The only time you see him is the first day of the month, he`ll probably be here soon so you don't lock the doors.
You start going through the mail, it's always the same. a few letters from your father and a few bills, you don't even bother to open the envelope, simply throwing it in the trash every time you see the prison`s address. You want nothing to do with him, he had no right trying to act as a loving father and writing to you on the hope you`ll reply soon. He should have got the message by now and yet he keep sending those letters, the first goes to the trash fallowed by the second and you`re just about to throw the third when you notice the weight. You curiously open the envelope and a small note book falls into your hand, you can't understand a word in it but you assume it's in code. It might be useful to chase the boredom away you think and place it in your pocket.
Alex knocks before coming in to see you setting on the kitchen counter with your knees pulled up to your chest, your hands wrapped around them and your chin resting on your knees . He places an envelope on the counter next to you
"this is this month`s allowance. The bills and the rent have already taken care of and if something happen you know the number" he says quietly before turning to leave
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli! That better be you" the voice echoes in your ears, you wish it was your name that was called, that it was your mother waiting for you to come home
"Alex" you call after him and he stops when you jump off the counter "why don't you ever tell me anything about my mom? What was she like? Why don't I have a picture of her or even her name?" your voice is pleading and he sighs
"Maura we talked about this before. There is no use taking about a person that is not here" he talks gently but you`re not convenes "what bring this up? It`s been awhile since you asked about her" you cross your arms and look the other way not wanting to answer as he leans in ,placing a gentle hand on your small shoulder . he stand straight with defeat when he realize that you`re not going to answer " spend it Wisely" he gesture toward the envelope before leaving and shutting the door behind him ,you`re alone again .