(*Hetalia does not belong to me)
Prologue 1
Alfred shifted in his bed and stirred in his sleep as the sounds of crying began to wake him. He slowly woke and sat up. He picked up his pet it he felt safer to get out of bed.
He slid off the bed and rubbed his eyes a bit and he opened his already creaked door. He made his way easily to the kitchen where the sad noises where coming from. A low light illuminated his way there.
He saw his mother still in her red dress and cream colored apron sitting at the dining table. She was hunched over shoulders shaking. Her hands constantly touching her face as more soft sobs left her lips.
"Mommy?" Alfred spoke his voice small and slightly raspy. His mother didn't reply as she continued to cry. Alfred wasn't sure why she was sad. He went up to her and tugged at her dress. She finally peeled her hand slowly from her tear ridden face.
"Mommy?" Alfred asked again looking up at her and squeezing his bunny closer to his chest. She burst out in another sob as she scooted her chair back and getting on her knees. She wiped at her face again and then gently cupping her sons face she shuddered a uneven breath.
"No mommy." Alfred said as he didn't want to see his mother cry. He felt the itch in his eyes as he wanted to cry with her. She slowly lowered her head and slid her hands onto his small shoulders and down his arms as she crumbled to the floor.
"Come back. Please come back..." She began muttering in between sobs. Alfred felt confused what she had meant. Was she talking to him? He wasn't sure but wished he could somehow help his mother.
It took a bit for his mother to gain enough composure to stand up and lead Alfred back to bed. She tucked him again for the second and last time that night. She kissed his head and cheeks.
"I love you my darling sunshine. I always will." She said with a weak voice and tears brimmed her eyes again.
"Don't be sad mommy." He said touching her face with his small hands. She gave a sad smile and took his hands and kissed them both.
"I love you." She whispered and kissed him once more.
"I love you mommy." Alfred said back with a bright smile and leaned back onto his bed. She just smiled and kissed him again, her lips lingering on the crown of his forehead. She the slowly stood and went to exit the room. She pulled the door mostly closed as she looked at her sons resting form.
"My beautiful baby boy. I'm sorry." She whispered before shutting the door never to open it again.
That next morning Alfred woke to a clean and silent house his bunny was gone but was probably just outside roaming.
"Mommy?" He called out as he looked around the house. His mother was nowhere inside. He stood on his tiptoes to unlock the front door and looked outside but only saw his bunny eating in his mothers garden.
"Ah! No no bunny!" He shouted as he raced barefooted outside to stop the animal from destroying their garden.
He swooped the small critter in his arms and went back inside. His mother would usually give Alfred a few pieces of lettuce and carrots to feed his pet with at breakfast. But he was not waken for it nor was it even starting to be made.
He figured she went into town then. But he was never left home alone so he was worried.
His sniffles back tears at the prospect of being alone. He then races back to his room and sets his bunny down. He figured she would be back with some ingredients she needed and would start a late breakfast then.
He then went to his dresser of clothes. He would get ready by himself then. He thought of how proud she'd be if she came home and he was all ready for the day ahead. He giggled and then struggled with the drawers.
He pulled out a pair of clean gray slacks from the lowest drawer. He peered over the second drawer and grabbed a clean pair of socks that unfortunately were two different shades of white.
His clean shirts were to high to reach so he figured he'd wear his shirt from yesterday. It wasn't that dirty.
He pulled of his nightwear with minor struggle. He than pulled his socks on not perfectly aligned. He then went to get his pants. He put each foot into the different slots like his mother would tell him.
Nearly slipping he tried to tug the pants up from his feet. He then successfully got them up to his waist but had no clue how to button them. Frowning and staring at his pants he had an idea. He quickly grabbed his shirt and put it on with less struggle albeit inside out.
He dug around his bottom drawer and found his small suspenders. He then wrapped the elastic around his waist like a belt. He then fussed with the tough clamps. He then got the ends and tried to clamp them together only to have them unsnap but lock onto each other like grappling hooks.
He smiled at his success. A tad sweaty from the concentration. He than took a glance at his shirt and its many many buttons. He then had another idea he grabbed his black coat that he often refused wearing. He took off his shirt only to put it on backwards covering his front but leaving his back exposed.
He then pulled on his coat and struggled to get his arms through the holes. He then stood proud at his being completely covered with his clothes that he accomplished himself. He giggled at his happiness and left his room to be ready to show his mother when she came back.
He sat in their living room softly petting his bunny as it rested on his lap. He grew calm with the stroking of his soft pet which led him to getting sleepy. He tried to fight it but soon caved in to his slumber.
When Alfred awoke again he saw the sun had moved quiet a bit as it was well into the afternoon hours. He looked around and saw no sign of his mother in the dining area. He got up only to feel that his suspenders shifted up onto his torso. He tugged them down back onto his pants before leaving to scope out the house again.
He scuttled into the kitchen to find it empty. He frowned but felt quite hungry as well. He shook his head. Once he found his mother she would make him a late lunch surely. And he didn't want to spoil his appetite. He raced off to her bedroom. It was empty as well everything was clean and in their place.
His tummy began to bubble with worry. He went and looked in the guest room but like the last room it was empty. He dashed off to his room and found nothing but his slightly messy room untouched since his last being there. He then remembered about the out house and bathing area. He hastily put his shoes on and went to check both. They were both unoccupied.
"Mommy!...Mommy!" He began calling out. He spotted his bunny by the barn. Of course how could he forget the barn. Although he wasn't allowed in there.
"Mommy?" He asked as he heard the horses inside stir kicking and itching to get out. Alfred wonder if they wanted out. He knew mommy had a helper on the farm but he was sick right now.
"Mommy?!" He asked louder as he then tried to pull the heavy doors open. His eyes began to water with the lack of response. Perhaps she went horseback riding. She was very sad last night after all and riding the ponies always made Alfred happy.
There was only one way to find out though. The horses then seemed to have been sent into a panic by something as they scrambled out of there when a horse burst from the barn easily pushing the boy and door aside.
Wide eyed he watched the horses scramble out most spooked others merely happy to be out. Alfred stood shakily as he adjusted his suspenders again. He than looked inside noticing the strong stench of horse poop. That's when he saw the body.
The beautiful red dress and messy soft blonde hair hanging from the wooden fixtures on the roof.
He stepped closer to the body as to try and see the face when a rattling caught his attention. He saw a snake resting under the hanging body. He stepped back and made a safe distance between the snake and himself.
He then looked back at the body. That was his mothers dress. That was his mothers hair. That was his mother. She wasn't responding. Could she be asleep? Or was something else wrong. He saw the rope as it was tied around her neck. He remember the cowboy who worked here. He would wrangle the animals with a rope around the neck. She was stuck!
"Mommy!"
His mother wasn't safe. But he needed to help her. He couldn't get up there by himself. He needed an adult. He felt the tears brim his eyes again as he tore his stare from his mothers hanging body. He made a mad dash to his neighbors farm. They were a ways down the road but if he followed the path he was sure to find someone.
His mother would surely scold him for going out alone later ran as ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He spotted the house as he neared it. He ran up the path way onto the porch. He began knocking lots as his heart was beating a mile a minute.
"Good god what is it?!" A voice yelled as the footsteps approached the door. The owner of the farm was Mr. Carols and his wife. He was a nice man but hated being interrupted during anything of importance and was considered quite strict. He was most likely fixing his leaking roof at the time.
He opens up the door at first not seeing anybody but looking down to see a very shaky looking Alfred.
"Alfred? What are you doing here?" He asked confused why the boy randomly popped up banging on his door.
"M-mommy! My Mommy's stuck! Help Mommy!" Alfred began trying to explain as he pulled at the mans dirty pants.
"What's going on here?" Mrs. Carols came from inside towards the two.
"What? Your mother?" Mr. Carols held a hand to his wife as to listen to the boys shaky words.
"Mommy's stuck! Help mommy! Please!" Alfred pleaded as tears pooled in his eyes. The Carols looked at each other with worried and confused faces but reacted quickly. Mrs. Carols bent down to pick up the panicked boy as she followed her husband to the horse pen.
She was helped onto the back of his horse as they all rode down the rode to the Jones' farm. They quickly arrived at the farm.
"Where's your mother son?" Mr. Carols asked as he dismounted and helped his wife off as well.
Alfred wiggled from her arms and led them to their barn sprinting passed his bunny who was happily eating their garden up.
"Here! Up here!" He pointed at his still very still mother as she moved slightly due to the new breeze let in. When the couple arrived Mrs. Carols gave a horrified shriek.
"Good god." Mr. Carols whispered as his wife turned away from the sight.
"Please mister...help mommy." He pulled at his vest seemingly wanting him to hurry and get her down.
"Lilian take Alfred home. I'll call the sheriff." Mr. Carols ordered as his face grew grim. Mrs. Carols nodded and took a handkerchief from the apron she was still wearing and wiped her tears away before doing so.
"Mister please help mommy! She's not good!" Alfred pleaded not understanding why he wasn't getting her down already.
"We will son but I'm going to get help from the sheriff and perhaps a doctor. So be patient okay? Your a brave boy right?" Mr. Carols answered.
Alfred was silent for a bit but relented and nodded his head in response.
"Good boy. Lilian-"
"Yes yes." She quickly answered already bending down to pick the boy up.
"My goodness. You look ready for the circus silly boy. What happened to your clothes?" She asked pinching at his collar.
Alfred didn't respond but merely stared at his mother. She followed his stare only to turn him away and started their way to their house.
"Come on now let's get you fixed up shall we." She said as she turned his head towards her and walked a tad faster. Mr. Carols was already mounted on his horse and off towards town to retrieve the sheriff.
"Poor baby..." She said without thinking as tears stung at her eyes again. He looked at her confusedly.
"...those clothes must be terribly uncomfortable." She continued to quell his confusion and covering up her words real intention.
Once arrived at the Carols home she took him inside a guest room to fix his clothes properly. Alfred was silent for the majority of the changing.
"When'll mommy be back?" He asked as she started buttoning his coat. She froze for a moment wondering what to tell him.
"Well she will most likely have to see a doctor. So it might takes sometime."
"Can I go?" Alfred asked figuring if she can't come that he'll go.
"Well I'm not sure hon. We'll have to hear from the doctor first okay sweetie." She said as she combed his honey blonde locks with her hand.
"Okay." He replied as he pulled at his coat.
"Such a sweet boy. Are you hungry?" She stood and asked.
"Y-yeah." He admitted as she then smiled and led him to their living room.
"Now you wait right here. I'll cut up some fruit for you." She informed as she then left to the kitchen. Her and her husband were in their early fifties and their children had not to long ago had left the house setting off on their own lives.
Alfred twiddled his fingers as he sat and listened to Mrs. Carols chopping. He wonder about his mother. And what could have happened with her. He hoped to see her again soon. He wanted to take off his stiff coat but ignored the unwanted extra heat.
He felt the need to behave even more so since his mother wasn't even around. Hoping a good relayed message to his mother would set her in a good mood once back home. And perhaps daddy would be back soon after making everything perfect.
Alfred gave a small deep breath through his nose as he stared at his shoes. They were roughed up from playing and what not.
A bit later Mrs. Carols called him to their dining room to sit and eat. He tucked a leg underneath himself to prop his body up a bit to be a tad taller and making it easier to eat. His mouth watered at the sight of the fresh bowl of fruit. He eagerly dug in very hungry from not consuming enough.
"More?" She asked with a humor end glint in her smile.
"Yes please." He responded after swallowing his last bite. After a second helping of sliced fruit Alfred felt content for the moment but also was queasy from uneasiness.
"Well my oh my it is getting dark already. And I haven't gotten the chance to prepare dinner." Mrs. Carols mutter to herself. She glanced at Alfred who moved back to the living room. He sat there on the floor resting his chin on his knee and was inspecting his shoe.
From all the times she has seen him he was usually a ball of energy. Now he seemed to be more quiet and attentive. She could on wonder what thoughts could be running through him mind. He might be bored she figured. She had kept a few trinkets and dolls from her now grown daughters.
She than moved to go get them from their stored place in the house. Alfred traced the outline of his shoe with his fingernail as he heard Mrs. Carols shuffle through the house.
"Alfred honey might you want something to play with while I make some supper?" She asked bringing in some wooden toys and rag dolls. His eyes lightened at the sight of some sort of distraction.
"Heheh here you go hon. I'll be busy in the kitchen if you need me just call me." She said as she set down the toys in front of him. She left to the kitchen leaving Alfred to chose from him selection of toys.
For awhile as the house slowly grew the sent of food Alfred tinkered with the wooden toys and admired the dolls. When the front door creaked open Mrs. Carols went to the door in a hurry to welcome her husband home.
Alfred stood holding the doll in his hands and took a few steps towards the entrance.
"Welcome back. Supper is about done." Mrs. Carols said as she took his dirty coat.
"Thanks." Mr. Carols replied as he than spotted Alfred. He frowned and walked towards him and squatted to his level. He could tell Alfred was anxious. He than raised a brow at the doll Alfred was holding to his chest and glanced at his wife who was setting the table but watching them from the corner of her eye.
He took the doll from his hand and quickly replaced it with the wooden toy. He gave a small smile as to say 'that's better'. Alfred didn't protest nor was sure what it was for.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news son." Mr. Carols admitted. He lowered his head as expectant blue eyes were glued to him.
"Ronald!" Mrs. Carols suddenly interrupted.
"No Lilian he needs to know." Mr. Carols shot back.
"After supper at least."
"And let him have nightmares? No. Now is the time he can digest it as he eats."
"He's still a child Ronald." Mrs. Carols pleaded. Mr. Carols just shook his head and turned to face Alfred once again.
"It's about your mother son. I did what I said. I got the sheriff and doctor. And I'm afraid your..." He stopped for a moment trying to mentally prepare himself for altering the boys life forever. Alfred just stared.
"Your mother can't be with you anymore."
A/N So...what do you think? There will be many inaccuracies I know. It's quiet the challenge writing for a child but it was still a good learning experience. Thank you for taking your taking the time to check this out! It means a whole lot. Thanks for reading!