The dark, onxy hair spike up from behind a trashcan, hoping not to seen. Blue eyes peered over the trashcan. They then glanced across the street. A tall dangly boy with red messy hair and beady eyes stoody searching for something or someone along with a rather large fellow with dark brown skin and unkept curly hair. The blue eyes looked down in disappiontment.

"I guess I'm sticking here for the next few hours," the hiding child spoke.

He sighed in defeat. The young boy's babyface was covered in dirt and his blue polo shirt was tarnish with ripped knee-length shorts. Chiro already knew his mother wouldn't be to happy and would send him to his room for the next few nights with no supper; plus since he was already three hours late.

"Ooooh Chiro! We've found you..."

After hiding for three hours straight, the two boys found what they were looking for. Chiro's hiding spot has been found...

Before Chiro could do anything the tall boy held him upside down. Chiro made a unordinary sound as he was shaken. Pennies, dime, a quarter or two, and pieces of lint slip out of his pockets and tumbled onto the dry pavement. With anger clear in his eyes, the dangly child spoke, "Chiro... Were is the damn money!"

Chiro's face was beginning to turn green from both fear and the fact that in wasn't healthy to hang upside down and shooken.

"I don't have any money! Glenny! Let me go! Come on. Please?"

Glenny let the child drop. Even though Glenny and B.T. were ten, they were pretty strong. Most kids let them be, whether it's tortuing them or another child. Poor Chiro was only nine, meaning he wasn't as strong as the two bullies let alone as tall as them.

"B.T. you think Chiro here should get kicked? Hit? Or beaten into a rag doll?" Glenny asked the large toddler beside him.

B.T. chuckled. "Why not all three?"

With that little statement, Chiro ran as fast as he could towards his home. He could usually avoid B.T. and Glenny after school. His home was only a few blocks away and between the school property and his little home, everyone knew him. But today, almost everyone had left. It was the last day of school and nearly every child was at Shuggazoom lake.

"Come here, you little rat," B.T. yelled, shaking his fist.

Ignoring the threats the two boys sent him, Chiro ran. Since the street was mostly empty, Chiro had no problem reaching his home faster than be-

"Ha! I got you!"

Chiro gulped as B.T turned him around to face him. Balling his hand into a fist, Glenny punched Chiro's nose. Chiro felt warm, thick liquid run from his nose, over his lips, down his chin, and onto the rough, uneven pavement below.

"Next time I see you, you BETTER have the money! Understand!"

Chiro nodded frantically. He sighed in relief as B.T. let him fall to the ground in a heap. He watched as they walked away, arguing over who would get to hit Billy Grand's face into a bruised pulp. Slowly, Chiro walked the rest of block home in silence. He silently entered his home. As he trudged up the stairs, his mothers warm voice called to him.

"Chiro? Chiro? Is that you? Where have you been! I was about to go searching Shuggazoom!"

Chiro turned around as a woman, about in her late twenties, walked out of a room. She had golden hair, with deep, ocean blue eyes. She had a warm smile, one that could melt any heart. She wore a thin T-shirt and pants that were cut at the ankles. Once she saw the stae Chiro's state, she clicked her tongue.

"Chiro, baby, what happened? Come here. Come here," she spoke gently.

Chiro slowly walked towards his dear mother. She put an arm around him and led him the kitchen. She sat him on a chair and gave him a small hug before she went to get a wet cloth.

"Mom, it's no big deal. I... I..."

'Don't it's 'no big deal' me! Nobody messes with my baby! Now you tell who did this, why, where, when. You understand?"

Chiro sighed as his mother dapped at the blood leaking from his nose. She cooed at Chiro as she dapped.

"Sweetheart, I'm waiting. Tell me what happened."

Chiro gulped. He quickly thought of something to say."... I ran... Into a... Poo...le? Yes! I accidently ran into a pole! Clumsy me!"

"Chiro... Please... Just tell me what happened!"

Chiro pushed himself away from the table. With a sighed, he headed to his room. He silently climb the stairs as his mother went back to cooking, muttering about how stubborn Chiro, but how she still loved him till the end of Shuggazoom. As Chiro shut his bedroom door, he sighed in relief.

"It was nothing... It was nothing... It was nothing..." Chiro repeated quietly, hoping it will come true.

Chiro slid down his door and brought his knees to his chest. He sighed thoughtfully. He stood from his spot on his floor. He slowly walked to the window of his bedroom. From it you could see, Ranger 7, a few neighboring planets, and, ofcourse, the stars. Chiro looked towards the stars with a hopeful glance.

"One day... One day I'll be important... B.T. and Glenny won't pick on me... I won't be the smallest kid in my class... Mom and me will live in a big, huge mansion! I promise..." A tear silently went down Chiro's cheek. "I promise I'll protect her and be man of the house... I promise dad. I promise..."

With that, Chiro climb into his little bed, letting his nose bleed over his blue pillow. Soon the boy fell into a peaceful sleep.