Haha, don't worry, Thornedbudx, i'm sure you'll hate Jim again by the end. It doesn't stay cute for long.


Before my hand even so much as touched Jim's door handle he shouted from inside, "STAY THERE!" followed by much shuffling and fuss from inside his bedroom.

"Jim?" I asked, cautious but leaning forward extremely curious. Just as my ear was about to touch the door, I fell onto my brothers chest. He caught me but we still fell back laughing.

"You can come in now!" He grinned at me for a moment then kissed my cheek. "Happy Birthday sis!"

I fell onto my side, unable to control my laughter. Instantly Jim was over me, hand on my mouth and finger on his lips. Fear, cold and unrelenting shot through my system, killing all excitement in my gut and forcing me to stiffen. We stayed there for a few seconds that felt like hours when Jim got up and closed the door, sighing. I winced and ran to him burying my head in his pyjama top. Slowly and deliberately quiet he hushed me and stroked my hair.

"I didn't know he was back tonight." I was surprised he could hear my muffled reply.

"It's okay. He didn't hear anything." He let go of me, but I held on tight to his sleeve as he led me across the room and into his wardrobe. He closed that door too and pulled the small light from the bottom draw at the end of the room switching it on with difficulty, given the toddler attached to his arm. Next, he smiled. I thought it was strange; I was still worried about my loud outburst earlier. From next to the light he pulled a small box wrapped up in purple tissue paper and tied with a yellow bow.

While I just stared at it, he stared at me somewhat expectantly. "Are you going to open it?"

I nodded slowly.

"It's okay, Jenny, he's not here."

Gently, gradually, I let go of his arm. Part of me didn't want to open the box it was so pretty. I pulled at the ribbon anyway and lightly pulled at the tissue paper. Once it was open, Jim picked up the box inside.

"Promise me you'll look after it. It's for big girls." He opened the box for me to see what was inside. I was struck by it! Inside was a silver locket set with several tiny stones. Carefully I picked it up and turned it over. It was engraved on the back with my name and an M.

Two shots rang through the house and I dropped the necklace, flinging my arms at Jim.

...

I cheered as hard as I could, leaning forward in my chair & ignoring the disappointed looks of Mrs Stevens and the bored boy next to me. Mrs Stevens gave in and pushed me back in my seat telling me that my brother would do how he did, no matter how hard I cheered.

The boy sitting next to me pulled at my sleeve. I had to do a double take, I'd never seen him before and the movement surprised me. I looked at my sleeve, and back at the boy, who'd gone back to his book.

"Your bruises." He said quietly. "I didn't think you'd want anyone to see." Without looking up he waved disinterested at my arm.

I thanked him quietly. After a few minutes I broke the silence again, "How did you know?"

"You have long sleeves." Once more he spoke without taking his eyes from his book.

"And?"

"It's the middle of June. No one wears long sleeves in the middle of June." He peered up at me, expectant.

I shut up, chastised. After a little while longer I was at it again, asking him if he was swimming. He said no. Disappointed, I huffed and left the stands. I wasn't supposed to but he had annoyed me and I wanted some skittles. When I paid at the sweet machine there was a big group of boys down the corridor. One of whom started to point and laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" I said defiantly.

"Your arm is purple!" One of them shouted, much to the amusement of the others, one of whom thought it would add to their fun to follow it with, "Your Mum is dead!"

"Leave my sister alone!" Jim was suddenly in front of me, dressed but still dripping wet from his excursion in the pool. I was glad for it, I didn't want the older boys to see the tears that welled up in my eyes.

"Or what? Weakling!" The first boy laughed again.

Mrs Stevens came around the corner then. "CARL! Stands, now!" Then added, "I think your sister needs to go home, Jim?"

The boys left with the swimming teacher.

"I don't want to go home. But I don't want to stay here either!"

Jim turned to me and knelt down, handing me a £10 note. "Go get your bag, have some lunch. I'll meet you there in a bit okay?"

I hugged him tight and ran up to the stands to get my bag, acutely aware of Mrs Stevens and the boy from before watching me carefully.

We were in the café for well over an hour when Jim finally said we were going home. He took me to the changing rooms first, showing me Carl's shoes and telling me how he adored them. That he had taken them because of what he did.

"No one hurts my little sister, if I can help it."

It made me giggle.