A/N: Thanks for all the feedback! Thank you for all the comments, constructive criticism, and everything else! I hope you guys enjoy! And yes, I know the name for Maman's place is really stupid but it needed a name, so that's what we got!

We lived there for a few weeks, recycling whatever we found. Many other children lived there, too, surviving the same way we did. Salim led us through the city, guiding the kids to the different farmer's markets in the area. None of us dared to go to the same market two days in a row. The days slowly grew longer, hotter, harder. Farmers began remembering our faces, limiting our food sources. The sun pounded down, burning our skin. Arguments arose of stupid things, like whose turn it was to stay up and watch for police. The three of us stayed together, though. Something bound us together, keeping any of us from leaving the other two.

I sat up in our little tent, unable to fall asleep. Jamal slept to my right, totally out. Quietly, I crawled out of the opening. I squinted against the harsh sunlight, searching for Salim. The sun beat down, warming my already burned skin.

"Salim," I called, looking around. Finally, I spotted him a few meters away, picking through some papers and bags. The boy looked up, startled. He shook his head with a faint smile, and continued his search.

I walked over to him, and sat to his left. "Want some help," I asked, digging through the papers.

"Thanks," He said, shuffling through the mess in front of us. We worked silently, just wanting to make it through the day.

"Does today feel different to you," I questioned, looking at him through the corner of my eye. Ever since I had woken up that morning, something seemed different. The air was filled with a different energy; something was going to happen.

Salim shook his head. "Not really," He yawned, stretching his arms up.

"Do you want me to take over? You can go get some sleep," I said to him, not feeling the least bit tired. Salim shook his head and suppressed a second yawn. "Come, go to sleep," I said whilst tugging his arm. "You're sleepy. I can go through this. Whenever you wake up, you can come back."

"But, it's your turn to sleep," Salim argued.

I shook my head quickly. "I can't, though. So, just go. I don't mind." I smiled at him and waved over to the tent. "Go. It's fine."

Salim stood and looked back at me. "Are you sure?"

I gave him a slight push towards the tent. "Just go," I smiled, and returned to my work.

The sun beat down on my back, making me feel like I was on fire. I worked silently, letting my mind wander from topic to topic. I thought of my mother, how her hair would look on a day like this. It would have been a lovely, glossy black. Her bangs would have fallen from the bun she always wore. A smile would have been on her full pink lips. She would have worn a bubbly blue sari, perhaps, or a bright green one. I smiled slightly, remembering how she always seemed so beautiful, and striking when she had her hair up, and her favorite sari on. My smile broadened as I remembered how my mother always held a smile on her pink lips, no matter how difficult the day had been.

I stood, done with the all the papers around me. Grunting, I grabbed the massive white bag, full of papers and various bags we had found. I snapped my head to the right, hearing the low rumble of an engine. A yellow van pulled up to the dumpsite. Faded red letters adorned the sides, saying 'Maman's Home for Displaced Children'. A smile broke out on my lips. Maybe they were here to help; maybe they were here to take us to a family that could take care of us! I let go of the bag and yelled at the top of my lungs, "Jamal!"

As quickly as I could, I ran over to the tent. I watched the van, making sure it wasn't a trick. Two men emerged from the van. One of them carried a white sack, which looked to be like it was holding something heavy. The two men walked over to our tent. The one with the bag bent down, and put one hand inside our small, little house.

I ran faster, wanting to see what the man was up to. Breathing hard, I finally stopped behind the tent. I bent down, and peeked into the small hut. Jamal and Salim turned, smiles on their faces, and bottles in their hands. "Latika," Jamal smiled, and handed me the bottle. "Try this. It's good."

I looked at the bottle, then Jamal, and finally rested my eyes on the man. His smile was warm and comforting. "Hello, little girl. Take a sip. It will cool you off." The man's voice sent chills running through me. I looked at both Jamal and Salim, anxious about this man.

Salim nodded, "It's really good."

Slowly, I stretched my arm forward and took the glass bottle. It felt amazingly cold against my sun burnt hands. I looked once more at my other musketeers, still not trusting the man. The brothers nodded, smiling at me. Slowly, I put the glass bottle to my lips and tilted it upward. The brown liquid was sweet, and so cold! Instantly, I took another, long, deep swallow of the brown drink.

I stopped and handed the bottle back to Jamal. "Thank you," I smiled to him.

Jamal shook his head. "Thank him. He is the one who brought them to us." Jamal nodded his head to the man from the van.

He smiled from behind his sunglasses. "Hello." The man waved, then pointed to the van. "Do you want to live in a place where you can have those drinks all the time?"

The three of us nodded all at once, desiring more. He laughed, and whispered something to the man behind him. "If you would follow Punnoose, he will show you to the van, where we will take you to the home."

I stared at Punnoose, who had squatted to reach our level. He smiled, trying to look trustworthy. The man with sunglasses turned to face Punnoose, and stood. I nudged Jamal; liking the fact the men's eyes weren't studying our every move. "Do you trust him," I whispered into his ear. Jamal nodded,but didn't turn around. He kept his eyes locked on the big yellow van between the men's legs.

"Salim, do you trust them?"

The elder turned and nodded his head, flopping his dark hair around. "Come on, Latika, imagine what else he will give us if he gave us these drinks before he even took us to the home!"

I sighed and nodded my head. "All right. If the two of you trust him, I'll go."

The man with the sunglasses bent down again. "Are you ready to go?"

Salim nodded. "We're ready." He stood up and grabbed Jamal's arm, helping him up. I stood behind them, watching the man silently. The brothers left the tent, and began walking over to the van.

"Are you coming too, little girl?"

I stared at the mysterious man hidden behind his sunglasses. I nodded my head. "Yes."