Third chapter, big accomplishment. I wrote the first chapter yesterday!!
So get your tissues, my friends!!
(#0#) scene break
-- mini story break
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We did make it to Winchester. Thank god. It took a while to find our footing there, but we were fine within a month. The hardest part was adjusting to living on the streets. It was cold at night. That made a problem.
But the good part was, if I left Lawliet with a used coffee cup, we got tons of change. It made life a little easier. But Lawliet and, I admit, even I was often upset over everything. It was better than it was. I would admit to that, but the fact made it all the sadder.
To start telling the tale of life on the streets, we should start from the start. The day we got off the train, we walked into the downtown. Wandering the bustling streets, I told Lawliet the next step.
"Alright, we need to find somewhere that you don't mind sitting for a long time. That way we will have I temporary home."
Lawliet thought quietly for a moment, and then pointed to a small sheltered area in front of a large music store. It looked warm. I liked it.
"Good choice!" He beamed with pride, and smiled up at me.
We wandered across the cross-walk, and walked right towards the music store. I stood looking at it for a moment. I smiled and nodded my head in silent approval. I crouched down, placing the bag on the ground. I pulled out the blanket I had stolen from my dad and spread it out on the ground.
"Is this where we're gonna stay?" Lawliet wined.
"Yes, we don't have enough to rent an apartment right off the bat." I replied.
"Hm…" Lawliet studied the area, and I looked on, doing the same. The ground looked hard, cold, and open. Not the best. "We absolutely can't do anything else?"
"No. But how about instead of complain, we settle into this thing?"
I didn't wait for an answer, but just went and sat near the corner of the large blanket.
"Next question." I continued. "Should we ask for money?"
"You brought some money." Lawliet said. "We don't need any." He sighed before coming to sit by me. This was out new home.
--
Only two months later, we had our first major encounter with home-sickness. Unfortunately, it was also our first encounter with something else.
I was looking through CDs at the music store, one of the things we did for fun now. I passed a few Queen CDs and it almost hurt that I couldn't afford or use it. Queen was one of my favorite bands.
Sighing, I went towards the doors and home, but lingered just inside the door, reluctant to leave the heated building. It struck me then that it was December 24th. Bracing myself against the cold, I walked out and sat beside Lawliet.
"Tomorrow is Christmas." I stated plainly. "Want to go steal something from a garden to use for a tree?"
"I would." He replied. "But Father Christmas won't bring anything for us."
"Don't be silly!" I shouted, attracting unwanted attention. "Father Christmas brings something for everyone." I made a mental note to spare some cash to go buy Lawliet something before tomorrow.
He remained silent for a moment.
"I miss home." He said.
I sighed. "You miss being beaten and neglected?"
"Stop being mean!" He shouted back at me. "I miss not sleeping outside! I miss eating warm meals! I'm sick of this! Take me home!"
"Are you STUPID!? We can't go home! You know that!" I yelled, not paying attention to those staring. "He'll KILL YOU if you go home! LITERALLY!"
Pissed, Lawliet stood up. I could no longer see his eyes, hidden behind his bangs. "I don't care." He said. "I'm going home." He walked off towards the near by train station.
"Fine, go. You take after dad anyway." I muttered.
It took me several minutes to let the anger wear off. After that, I let the conversation sink in.
"Oh shit, he's going back to London." I murmured quietly.
I stood up and ran with all my might towards the train station. He couldn't go back to London. He would get lost and if dad ever found him, he really WOULD kill him. Dad was a cruel man. I couldn't let Lawliet get on any train…
And thank goodness for me, I saw a short tuff of messy black hair near the door.
"Lawliet!" I called. "Get back here!"
He turned his head, and stayed put for a moment, but eventually wandered towards me.
The minute he was close enough, I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around him. I squeezed.
"Stop it. You said 'fine, go.'" He muttured.
"I was mad, Lawliet. I can't let you go. Your just a kid. There is no way you could find your way home. Even if you did, you couldn't fight off dad."
"Well…"
"I promise, we'll get an apartment. We can beg for the money if we need too."
"By the way, you're a kid too. You're only eleven."
"I'm ten Lawliet." He replied with a laugh.
"You forgot your own birthday! On the 13 of November!"
"Let's go you little jerk." I backed up and stood up, taking his hand and walking towards the music store.
The walk was long and silent, but pleasant. But when we got to the street, to the store, I began to shake. Lawliet noticed. Lawliet knew.
All of our things were gone. Someone had taken them. We had no more clothes, food, warmth, and most importantly, money. We had a few hundred dollars left, and it was gone.
I sat in the empty space and stared blankly at the street, my eyes seeping tears.
"I went after you… and someone took our things…"
Lawliet stared in disbelief. "What…? I-I'm… sorry. It's my fault." He began to sob as well.
"No, Lawliet." I interrupted. He looked up at me. "I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" He asked, wiping his face in his sleeve.
"Father Christmas isn't coming this year."
--
Of all the horrible things that happened while we lived in front of that store, but the most horrific thing that happened to me, never happened to Lawliet. He likely never knew what happened.
In July of 1987, after more than three years on the street, I was thirteen, and Lawliet was eight. We had shortly before moved from in front of the music store to an area behind a small shop. It was better for the summer because it provided much needed shade.
We were happy.
We lived in the back, and pan-handled in the front. I mostly left Lawliet with a coffee cup, and people took pity on an eight year old boy who couldn't afford to eat, but I also often sat with him and when the cup was full of change, I added it to the bag of money in our living space.
So, one day, a rather warm day, I sat half-asleep beside Lawliet watching the used coffee cup fill with change and small bills. It was a slow day, but a comfortable one. People were also being generous. We could probably eat out that night.
I felt Lawliet's head on my shoulder, and I could tell that I wasn't the only one feeling sleepy in this heat. It didn't take long for him to be fully asleep. And I was fading quickly.
I hadn't slept the night before. There was something going on and a lot of people means more noise. So I inevitably found myself dreaming of a bright ocean within the next half-hour.
It was when I woke from that that I began to swear.
"Shit… somebody took our change." I complained.
Lawliet sat up and yawned. "Who took our what?"
"We need another coffee cup. You got one?"
Lawliet nodded quietly and dug though a bag he carried, finding another empty paper cup. "It's getting dark." He mumbled.
"Yeah… you can to take a nap or something. I'll stay here and we can go by dinner when this cup's full."
Lawliet agreed. He ran through the small alley, and went to sleep.
Another hour later, it was dark, the street brightened by the street lights above. I bid thank you to a woman who threw a pound into the cup. I decided it was full and picked it up, tucked my mat under my arm, and began towards the alleyway.
This alleyway, it was rather dark, but it protected us. It made two turns because of the odd shape of the buildings on either side. It had a comfortable silence about it.
As I began the walk, I heard a few foot steps behind me, and chose to ignore them. When I rounded the first corner, they continued to follow me. I turned to face my pursuer, to find a man of about 40 standing in the alley.
"Hey kid!" He called. "How old are you?"
I was a little off set by the question, but answered anyway. "I'm thirteen, sir."
"You don't have a home, you need some money, right?"
"Um, no and yes. But I'm doing alright. I actually have to go get my brother so-" I stopped.
The man was walking towards me. I freaked out a little, but stayed calm.
"I asked if you needed money."
"I-I do, did you want to give me some extra change or something? It would really be appreciated."
"Small change?" He laughed. "Small change isn't gonna do you any good in the long run. I have some friends I can introduce you too. Some jobs I can get you to do. A few hundred dollars."
"Are… are you asking me what I think your asking me?" I was shocked and disgusted. I turned to leave. "Sorry, but I have too much self respect. I'll stay on the street thanks."
I kept walking but stopped when the man grabbed my wrist. "Please?" He asked, as I tried to pull my arm from his grasp. "You're a pretty young lady. You'll make lots of friends, and lots of money. You could feed and clothe yourself and your brother. And live in a house!"
"I said, no… Thank-!" I stopped as I was pinned to the wall. My cup full of change fell to the ground, making clinking sounds as each coin hit the ground. "Let me go!" I yelled. As a last resort, I swung my leg around and tried to kick the man.
Keyword: TRIED.
(#0#)
I shook slightly as I wandered towards Lawliet, sitting beside him and putting my arm over him. I felt him wake up as I pressed myself against him.
"Time for dinner?" He asked innocently.
"I'm sorry, Lawliet." I said into his ear.
"What happened?" I didn't respond, as by then I had fallen asleep.
--
I think that's just horrible. But it happens in real life.
Okay, maybe not cry-worthy, but whatever.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, The Inventor!