It was getting late by the time that they got home from selling and running around. The apartment was empty and you could see the sun setting through the window. It was a pretty one that night, with lots of oranges, pinks, and purples. But they knew that their dad would be home soon, so Hayden decided to start cooking up the dinner. If they were going to try and be good, they had better get some food for their dad. Lissy was watching Hayden work, nothing special, just some grilled cheese sandwiches. When they had been walking home one of their friends selling in a fruit stand a few streets over had given them some cherries. They didn't usually eat things like that because Hayden didn't make all too much money. And even if a little was missing, his father would want to know what he had bought. So it was a treat.

"Mmm...These are good!" Lissy said after taking a bunch of cherries into her hands and stuffing them in her face.

Hayden laughed. "Slow down there ya little pig, I only have so many!"

"Yea, and I am gonna eat 'em all!" She giggled making oinking noises.

"Well at least let me have some before you do." He said grabbing a few. For a small and skinny five year old, she sure could eat a lot!

All of a sudden they heard loud and uneven footfalls on the stairs leading up to their floor, and then come toward the end of the hall where their apartment was.

"Looks like dads home." Breathed Hayden.

"Remember, we are gonna act good right?"

"Yea, act good. Yea." The both had their eyes glued to the door, waiting for the doorknob to turn.

The footsteps stopped right outside their door. They heard a key scraping against the knob, and a slight swear. Hayden supposed that his father couldn't fit the key in the hole....That meant that he had to quite drunk tonight. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that their plan wasn't going to work, not if he was going to be like that. Finally, they heard the key slide into the hole, and the click as it was turned. The knob was turned and the door swung in ward to the apartment. Their dad staggered in and closed the door, not even bothering to take the key out of the hole. Hayden could smell the alcohol on him and watched his father as he stopped and tried to focus his eyes.

"What are you looking at? And where the hell is my dinner?" he slurred, still trying to focus.

"On the table." Hayden said pointing to his dinner.

He looked at the table, and stumbled over to his seat, almost falling over when he tried to sit down. He saw the cherries and looked at the confusedly for a while.

"What are those?"

"Oh, nothing. Just some cherries…" Hayden answered cautiously.

"Where did you get them? Did you pay for them with my money?"

"No. Someone gave them to us."

"People don't just give away things you stupid boy! You have to pay for things! That was my money!"

"I didn't use your money." Hayden was frightened; he never wanted to see his father like this. He hated how the alcohol made him trigger so easily. He was like a loaded gun when he drank. And Hayden was always the one he shot.

"Are you calling me a liar? Are YOU calling ME a goddamn liar?" he yelled starting to get up. Hayden backed away, his mind racing. His father was being so irrational it was pathetic.

"No." he stammered, there was no way of getting out of it now. Dammit, he thought, if only I had just gone into the other room when I heard him! How could I have been so stupid? He always ended up thinking things like this and blaming himself. He knew it was his father's fault, but he still partially blamed himself.

His father advanced on Hayden, raising his arm, when they both heard a squeak.

"No."

Their father turned around to find Lissy standing behind him, tears already in her eyes.

"No daddy, please don't. He didn't do it."

"What is this? Trying to defend your damn brother?" He asked in a pouty voice.

"I..I…I.." she stammered as he raised his arm.