David spent far too much time with his sister. School was his one reprise. For six hours a day, she was on her side of the school and he was on his, and he didn't see her until the car came to pick them up. But he knew that if worst came to worst, he'd be there in the kindergarten classroom, keeping his baby sister safe.

She'd never ventured over to his side of the school, which was so surprising when her little voice floated through the cafeteria.

"David?" a small voice called, and David looked up from his lunchbox.

"Alexis?" David said in disbelief. "What- what are you doing here? Get back over to your half of the school!"

"I need help", she hiccupped. "David-"

"What happened?" he pushed his lunchbox away, standing up.

"David, I need you to fix it!"

"Fix what?" his voice rose with worry, and she ripped her hat off her head, exposing one perfect French braid and one frizzy mess. "What happened to your hair?" he wanted to laugh, but knew that was the source of her almost-tears.

"Can you fix it?" she whimpered. "Please, David?"

"Sit down". He let out a heavy sigh, and Alexis climbed into the seat he'd just vacated.

"Mummy will be so upset!" she insisted, and David kept his mouth shut because she was telling the truth. "David-"

"Just shush, Alexis!" he picked up the loose braid, wondering where to begin.

Every morning Adelina would sit him down with his eggs and toast and Alexis with her fruit smoothie and would get to work taming her wild, slept in curls. Every morning he'd listen to his sister choose a hairstyle and watch Adelina execute it perfectly.

"Sit still", he instructed, and Alexis sat up straighter, twisting the hair tie around her bony wrist.

"Can you fix it, David? Mummy-"

"I'm trying to fix it, Alexis!"

Sometimes, when she was feeling cooperative, Alexis would let him dress her up. They had a huge wardrobe full of dress ups and wigs (nothing compared to their mother's), and he sometimes enjoyed turning his little sister into a princess. But French braiding? He'd never attempted it and he was very quickly learning he wasn't good at it.

"Give me the hair tie", he said, and Alexis snapped it off her wrist, offering it over her shoulder.

"Does it look okay?" she said anxiously, setting his fork down.

"It looks great- did you eat my cake?" he said incredulously. "Did you eat my cake and only eat the icing?"

"I don't like the icing, David!" she shrugged. "Does my hair look good? What is Mummy going to say?"

"You look beautiful".

"Will Mummy-"

"Mum won't say anything", he said firmly. "She won't even notice".

He felt a pang of sadness at that comment, knowing there was an element of truth behind it. He did his best to protect his little sister from their mother's ways, but it was only getting harder as Alexis got older.

In hindsight, it would have made more sense for him to take the other French braid out, letting her hair fall into waves, than try and fix the braid himself.

"You look beautiful", he said again, and Alexis beamed at him. "Come on, I'll walk you back to your classroom. Your photos are soon, aren't they?"

She nodded, reaching up to slip her little hand into his. "Thank you David".

"You're welcome Alexis". And he offered her a small smile, squeezing her hand gently.