Silent Nights
Night is a very strange thing… Don’t you think? Stars brightly lit and the air misty… It’s almost like a dream…
“I know we weren’t meant for each other… but I just can’t help thinking about him,” A young woman said to her friend as she made her way down the sidewalk, a cell phone glued to her ear. The cold night wind played with her loose white skirt, tossing it from side to side.
“Oh come on! You big sissy! Get over that jerk! He doesn’t deserve you and you know that! C'mon Renee! ” A woman’s voice screeched from the speaker.
“I know! I know already it’s just… He’s got a 24 pack!” Renee said in protest. A dreamy look passed her eyes as she imagined the heavenly sight.
“A 24… You are such a dunce! It’s a 6 pack!” The speaker blared loudly in Renee’s ear quickly snapping her back to reality.
“I know but it’s so hot! And he wears Axe! It just smells so good and he looks so good… Almost like Garlic Bread!” Renee said with a happy smile.
“Oh my god! You truly are an idiot!”
“I know. I know. I just can’t get over his… Yumminess!” Renee squealed.
“That’s it. I’ll talk to you once you get over your happiness! Call me tomorrow 'k?”
“Alrighty!” Renee said merrily as she flipped the cell phone shut and jammed it into her pocket. As she continued down the street, she hugged her jean jacket closer to her body. Chills crept up her legs as the night wind blew harder, making it hard not to shiver. Looking around curiously for any sign of a person, she sighed merrily.(<-Oxymoron?) No one.
Quickly picking up her feet, she moved faster towards her destination; Home. Something was wrong tonight; it felt like she was being watched. She had walked this street at night who knows how many times but it never felt like this. She could sense it. Someone was near…but whom?
“I think I’m getting paranoid.” She mumbled as she noticed her boots were clacking on the sidewalk. Slowing down a bit, her steps became silent. But something else became noticeable. The whistle of wind was blowing about her. The shadows grew and the shivers running through her bare legs crept up to her spine.
“I feel like a kid again… afraid of the dark and all.” She said loudly to reassure herself that nothing was wrong. But her words did nothing to lift the tall shadow creeping up upon her.
“Yo! Renee!” A familiar squeal shot through Renee’s ears as her younger friend bounded towards her. Renee sighed happily and quickened her pace to meet the youngster. (something is wrong here...can't quite put my finger on it...)(What did Renee say?) (I fixed it ^_^U)The shadow on her back faded into the surrounding scenery.
“Hey squirt!” Renee said as she lifted the five year-old into the air. The little girl giggled as she was tossed into the air and captured by Renee’s hug. “What are you doing out so late?”
“Who me? I’m always up at this time!” The little girl said cheerfully as she squirmed in Renee’s grasp.
“Really now? Sneaking out while the parents are sleeping?” Renee said teasingly.
“Of course not! They’ve been up all night drinking that funny smelling stuff!” Renee froze and lightly put the girl down onto her feet.
“Well since your parents are busy I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you spent the night over at my house again. Right?” Renee said with a false smile. It was easy to figure out why she was out so late. Alli usually came over to Renee’s house when her parents were drunk. Alli being so young and naïve didn’t understand what was going on but she wasn’t so stupid to hang around when her parents started drinking the “funny smelling stuff”.
“Yay! Sleep over! That’s the third one this week!” Alli said overly joyful. Renee smiled and took Alli’s hand.
“C'mon squirt. Let’s go get you tucked in. You have school tomorrow! You don’t want to be falling asleep before its lunch now do you?” Renee said as she led the bouncing girl towards her house.
“Alright! Can I have some milk when we get there?” Alli said almost pleadingly as she looked up at Renee with big round eyes.
“Of course! How are you to get to sleep with out it?”
“You can have some too! I bet you can’t sleep with out it!” Alli said as her house started to come into view. Renee looked up to the large grey house. Through the closed window, Renee could see what was going on, a fight. Quickly scooping Alli up in her arms, she hurried past the house. Alli was completely oblivious to what was going on, that was a good thing.
“Want me to take you to school tomorrow? We can take my new Cooper!” Renee said drawing Alli’s attention off a flowerbed they were passing. Alli Gasped.
“Really! That would be so cool! I love that car!” Alli squealed. Renee laughed then nodded.
“Of course! I’ll take you there and you can have a break from the bus!” Renee smiled at the squirt, which was shaking with anticipation.
“Yay!” Renee laughed. She loved making the squirt happy. Slowly a large white mailbox appeared on the side of the road. Next to it, a concrete driveway lay black by a pair of large black bared gates. Walking over to the mailbox, she flipped open a box cover to reveal a number pad. Typing in the four-digit number, she flipped the box shut and the large black gate creaked open a few feet. Briskly walking through, the gate closed behind her. Hefting Alli up a bit higher, she continued down the long driveway. After a minute of walking in silence, they finally arrived at Renee’s house. Walking up to the front step Renee set Alli on her feet and pulled a house key from her pocket. Shoving it into the doorknob she turned it and shoved the door open. Holding it open for Alli who walked through immediately, she grinned and walked in herself.
“Well you know where the kitchen is. Go ahead and pull the milk out. I’ll be there in a second.” Renee said as she walked into the other room. Alli nodded and headed for the kitchen.
Walking slowly over to the mantle of the fireplace Renee placed a hand on the picture frame infront of her. “Hey mum… hey dad… I’m doing what you told me to do… so please rest in peace. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her. Just like I do every day…”
“Renee! There’s something wrong with the fridge!” Alli’s voice rang from the kitchen. Renee turned to look in the direction then rushed to Alli’s side.
“What’s wrong? It looks fine to me…” Renee said as she took a knee next to the five year-old.
“I can’t open it! It’s like a suction cup” Alli complained looking up at Renee with innocent eyes.
“Oh! Well that could be a problem.” Standing up Renee looked at the door acting like she was sizing it up. After a second of staring down the door she grabbed the handle and easily heaved it open.
“Whew! That was hard.” Renee said as she grabbed the jug of milk and closed the fridge. “Let's get you some milk for strong bones!” Alli giggled then dashed over to the microwave. Renee chuckled then followed her. Reaching up into the cupboard beside the microwave she pulled out two glasses and filled them with milk.
Opening the microwave door she put the glasses in and set the timer for 20 seconds. Smiling down at Alli she put the milk away and pulled the 2 glasses out of the beeping microwave.
“Mmm! It smells good!” Alli said as she curiously peered up at Renee. Renee grinned.
“Of course that’s what it's supposed to do! Smell and taste good!” She said as she shooed Alli along. Alli giggled and ran around the corner towards the double staircase. Renee sighed and followed her towards the rooms. Up the stairs they went and around the corner into the hallway. Alli already at the door to the bedroom, quietly pushed it open and trampled into the room. Renee shook her head. What a cutie Alli was, so naïve and innocent. She was lucky to not have experienced the world as it really was. As Renee walked through the door Alli had already changed into a nightgown and was sitting on the bed waiting patiently for Renee.
“Well that sure was fast.” Renee said with a laugh as she set the two glasses of milk onto the nightstand.
“I was in a hurry! Milk is my favorite drink!”
‘That’s good.’ Renee thought with a silent sigh. Her parents were drinkers. If it wasn’t already obvious by the fights they had late at night and the occasional peeling coming from the car tires in their driveway. Renee pulled the covers away from the pillows, letting Alli slip into the soft sheets.
“Well cheers.” Renee said as she handed Alli her glass. Alli smiled and drank her milk slowly. Renee followed Alli’s example and chugged her milk. Seconds later Renee put her glass down and walked over to the window.
“What are you doing Renee?” Alli asked taking a second from her milk drinking to look up.
“I was going to close the drapes. Or do you want them open?” Renee said as she started to fiddle with the curtain ties.
“Open please. When I can see the stars I dream of dancing!” Alli said excitedly as she finished her milk and set it down next to Renee’s. Renee smiled and nodded. Walking back over to the bed she crawled over to Alli and sat down beside her.
“So what story would you like tonight?” Renee said as she looped an arm around Alli’s shoulders. Alli voluntarily leaned into Renee’s warmth and rested her head on Renee's shoulder.
“How about… The One from Mar Heaven!”
“Alrighty. I knew you would want to hear that one. Let’s see… Once upon a time in Mar Heaven there was a princess of great beauty…”
About half way through the story, Alli had fallen asleep. Her chest moved in rhythm to her steady breaths. Renee stopped telling her story to peer down at the sleeping Alli. Smiling softly she lifted Alli from her side and laid her down lightly on the bed. Pulling the covers to Alli’s chin she quickly climbed off the bed and walked to the door. Looking back at Alli, she grinned.
“Sweet dreams squirt.”
Backing out the door Renee silently shut it. With a click she left the door and wandered towards the balcony. Pushing one of the double glass doors open she walked out onto the windy midnight air. Stopping at the railing she sighed and slouched over it tiredly.
End Chapter 1
So, what you all think? Comments, corrections, and whatever are welcome and wanted.
**this post edited by Bomber319 for spelling and grammar** blaugh
**this post was edited a second time, by Aurelia Cane, for minor spelling and some grammatical errors. Second edits are in blue.** blaugh
