03-Confusion

I opened my eyes slowly, the sight confusing I was lying on a couch with red carpet on the floor, a small wooden coffee table sat in front of another couch, a bright electric light shone bathing everything in a yellow glow. Confused I sat up, too fast, the world started to spin, I waited for it to stop as my memory returned,

“Ah my child I was wondering when you would wake,” A voice said, to me soothingly, I looked around for the speaker, he was sitting on the couch opposite to me, dressed exactly the same as he was the night before. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the sleep I asked groggily,

“How long was I out?”

“About two hours,” he said smiling,

“Oh, sorry father,” I exclaimed,

“Never mind that now, can you survive a few minutes while I make you another tea?” I nodded,

“How do you like your tea child?”

“Black,” he nodded and went off to the kitchen, I got up and went over to my bag, he may be a priest but that doesn’t mean he won’t rummage through my stuff. But it seemed he hadn’t because everything was there, I closed the bag and walked back over to the couch.

“So why did you leave home Aldis?” the priest called out to me, I paused for a moment before answering trying to find the right words.

“Mother, she…she hit April,”

“Why?” he asked,

“She was on the drink.” I stated simply, he walked out with two mugs full of steamy hot tea and set them on the coffee table I took mine eagerly and sipped it feeling the warmth spread down my throat and the rest of my body. I sighed with relief.

“So my child why did you come to see me instead of one of your friends?”

“Because you can help me get rid of my mother so she can’t hurt my brother and sister anymore Father.” I said hopefully making it more of a question than an answer,

“Will you help me?” I asked,

“I will talk to your mother,” he stated.

“Thank you Father,” I whispered, he nodded.

“Finish your tea; you can stay here for the night.” I nodded gratefully,

“Thank you so much Father. You have no i-” he held up a hand,

“Don’t thank me I’m just doing what I should do as a man of God child,” I nodded slowly not sure what he was getting at,

“Pray with me child then I’ll go to bed,” he raised an eyebrow at me, “As you should too,” I nodded then lowered my head to pray. He used the usual Lord’s Prayer, except he said it in Latin which thankfully I knew because of visiting his church every Sunday,

“Pater noster, qui es in cœlis;

Sanctificatur nomen tuum:

Adveniat regnum tuum;

Fiat voluntas tua,

Sicut in cœlo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:

Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:

et ne nos inducas in tentationem:

Sed libera nos a malo.

Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et Gloria,

In saecula.

Amen.” I crossed myself and looked up; the priest was smiling at me,

“Not many know that version these days, well done.” I smiled realising that he was testing my faith and picked up the mug taking another big sip, the priest just picked his up and downed it like water,

“Have a good sleep my child,” he said standing slowly his joints creaking, he smiled, “I’m getting old, I think I’ll retire soon.” He said softy almost to himself instead of me,

“See you in the morning Father; you have a good sleep too.” I told him, he looked at me as if remembering I was still there,

“Do you need a blanket?” I shook my head,

“I have one in my bag Father, but thank you all the same.” He nodded and walked off. I sat there for a while looking into the tea as if trying to find something, I couldn’t find anything. I finished the drink, placing it quietly on the table then heading over to the cloth bag. I opened it and rummaged through to find my diary. I pulled it out; it was an old diary small and handmade, in the side was a silver pen completely metal. The ink for it was in a small glass vial which Lucas had remembered to take too. I smiled and took them all over to the table to prepare to write. I thought about what to say for a second then put the pen to the paper and dated it.

_{Dear Diary,}

_{Mother hit April for the last time, I’m at the church tomorrow morning after Mass the Priest will call social services, all of this will be over an done with I’ll find a job and rent out a house where I will look after my brother and sister. The priest is letting me stay at his church for tonight but tomorrow I’ll have to stay somewhere else, I have a friend from school I can stay with if his mother will let me, she never liked me for some reason. I know God will show me the way, what he wants will happen. I’m tired now so I’m going to sleep, I won’t use the poor priests couch though, because the floor is much more comfortable for me.}

_Aldis

I put the pen down, and closed the diary. Ignoring the fact that I had a blanket stashed in my bag I lay down on the floor and closed me eyes. Within a few minutes I drifted off into a deep sleep.

02-The Holy Man

“She’s going to be so sad when she finds out I’m not seeing her that often,” I said to Lucas, we were in the hallway and I’d just put my coat on. My mother was still ranting and raving but we’d closed the door so she couldn’t wake up April,

“And I’m not going to be sad?” I looked at him, my brother was so strong nothing ever got him down so when he said that it made me want to start crying again, so instead I ignored it,

“Don’t let mother rule your life,” I told him, then slightly embarrassed about what I was going to say next I looked down at his bare feet,

“I love you,” I mumbled only just audible,

“Love you too sis,” Lucas said strong enough for the both of us, and handed me the bag. It was an old cloth one made years ago but it seemed to have survived the ages. I’m not sure what the original colour was but now it was light mustard.

“There’s snacks, $200, a blanket, two changes of clothes, your diary, and a toothbrush, I couldn’t find any toothpaste so I’m afraid you will have to find some,” I nodded grateful,

“Oh there is also dad’s old knife in the side pocket, I thought about giving you the sword but it would look a little awkward walking around with that on your belt and you might get told off so I thought that would do,”

“You shouldn’t have got me that Lukie, but thanks.” He smiled,

“Go before mother calls the police,” Lucas walked over to the front door and opened it, the darkness outside gave me a small inkling of fear but I shut it out, and walked into it. Once outside the rain fell onto my hair wetting it, I cursed realising it would go frizzy when it dried and flicked the hood of my jacket up.

“See you Lucas,” I said to him and walked down the driveway

“I hope you’re making the right decision Aldis.”

“I do too” I thought as I walked, but I didn’t look back.

The white streetlight lit up the grainy world casting shadows all over the ground, fighting all the while to push through the light drizzle. Small puddles lay all over the ground reflecting the light, I caught sight of myself in the reflection of one, a wet and miserable version of my normal self stared back at me, water dripped off the hood of my jacket and onto my nose, blue eyes looked at me sadly. A small scuffling sound gave me goose bumps and sent my heart racing as my imagination supplied me pictures of things that it could be, I took a deep breath and ignored it telling myself that it was probably only a hedgehog or something. I looked up, in front of me stretched a small graveyard, watched over by a proud stone church. The shadows of the gravestones spread out towards the church as if they all wanted something in death that they never got in life. Two sturdy wooden doors loomed over the gravel path; a stain glass window presided above them making it seem less daunting to approach the church, but doubts still started to enter into my mind, Why was I here? Why wasn’t I home? The thought of home brought images into my head of my mother, hitting April and Lucas in one of her angry drunk moments, hitting Bobby, hitting me. My resolve bolstered by the anger bubbling inside of me I straightened balling my hands into fists and walked quickly towards the doors. Gravel crunched loudly under my feet. I was so focused on getting to the door I didn’t pay attention to how far away it was. I stopped almost skidding on the ground. A took a deep breath calming myself, the fires of anger were still alight in my gut but at least now they were just small flickers to keep warm instead of a wild fire that threatened to consume me. I closed my eyes raised my hand and knocked on the door. A deep boom reverberated through everything; echoes of it chased each other down the path to the street bouncing off gravestones as they went. Inside the church I could hear them doing the same. I waited…and waited. Just before I was about to turn around and leave a light turned on inside the church, shinning out the window, a path of light cutting through the darkness, a small patch of brightness in an otherwise dreary and sad world. A key turned in a lock at the door opened slightly inwards, a small sliver of light escaping out of it. A wrinkled face appeared, long curly white hair hung to his shoulders.

“Oh my lord,” he exclaimed as he recognised me, his brow knotted with worry,

“Aldis my child, what are you doing here this late?” before I could answer he opened the door wide and stepped back ushering me in, I stood there for a moment as the warm glow washed over me.

“Come in child, get out of the cold,” I did as he said only just noticing I was shivering. The brilliant white marble floor lay out before me, wooden seats faced the alter and lectern. I took in a deep breath and crossed myself,

“Come child take off your bag and jacket.” I did as told and passed held them in my arms,

“Father I-”

“I think you can tell me why you are here over tea don’t you?” I nodded grateful,

“And while we do that I’ll put your jacket in my drier-”

“You don’t have to do that Father,” I butted in, he smiled at me,

“It’s the least I can do child, now come.” he walked off leading me into a small side area. I took my shoes off at the door and place my bag next to them  The place was bare apart from a few small items like a coffee table and couches. Red carpet spanned out through all of what I could see. He pointed to the couches,

“Have a seat child I’ll be out in a second just let me boil the jug,” I nodded again, and closed my eyes. Within a few minutes I was asleep.

01-Leaving

“Don’t talk to me!” I shouted my voice cracking, tears of anger rolled down my face,

“Aldis,” My mother sighed making her voice soft and gentle to help me see her point of view,

“I said don’t talk to me mother!” I screamed my voice seething with hatred. Our German Shepherd Bobby ran under the table and whined at the noise. Outside lightning flashed lighting up everything with a blue light and thunder rumbled not long after it, heavy rain hit the roof thudding and echoing through the roof. Bobby howled louder every time the thunder rumbled across the sky,

“Shut up!” I scalded him “You’ll wake the kids,” He whimpered looked down at his paws, the sad eyes made me want to run up to him and pat him despite being angry at my mother,

“You’ve already woken us up sister,” a sour voice said behind me, guilt ridden I turned around. Silhouetted in the doorway to the front door was a tall young man, his dark blue eyes were the same colour as the lightning in the storm outside and his dark brown hair was frizzy and pointing in all different directions.

“Go back to bed Lucas,” I said to him kindly over the storm, the thunder seemed to have calmed for the moment and there were no flashes of blue light but the rain kept up like a bongo drum on the roof,

“No,” he replied firmly, “What’s this fight about anyway?” I swallowed this was going to be hard,

“I’m…” I trailed off,

“I’m leaving,” I said in a rush, “and mother doesn’t want me to go,”

“Would you call me mum?” she said exasperated, I ignored her,

“Can you tell our sister I love her?” I asked Lucas, he nodded,

“Don’t ignore me!” my mother screeched like a wounded seagull, I ignored her and walked over to my brother, he was so tall now I had to look up to see him,

“Lukie, I’m sorry but…”

“I know sis it’ll be okay,” he interrupted with a wave of his hand, I nodded gratefully that he’d saved me from an explanation,

“I’ll visit you when she’s not around okay. I promise.” I told him,

“Is April awake?” I asked he nodded,

“I’d better tell her too,” I sighed,

“While you’re doing that I’ll get you your bag,” surprise flashed across my face but before I could ask he was gone. My mother kept yelling in the room behind me but I paid her no attention as I walked down the hall, I looked at the family photos there were some of all of us, apart from my dad, he was the only person you wouldn’t find in our hallway. I sighed and stopped looking at the photo’s they were just more incentive for me to stay. The first room was April’s; I took a deep breath I had to stay strong for her sake, and opened the door.

“Hey,” I said false joy in my tone. A green night light bathed the room in a gentle glow messy washing lined the floor, along with dolls and other toys, in one corner was a chest of drawers and on the opposite wall was a single bed with a small figure lying on top of it. I walked over to her blinking back tears and gave her a hug.

“Why are you going Ally?” April couldn’t pronounce both mine and Lucas’ names properly so when we where talking amongst ourselves we used the nicknames April had given us.

“Scoot over,” I told her gently, she wriggled over to the side of her bed away from me and I sat down.

“There comes a time when you need to leave where you feel most comfortable,” I told her gently,

“But why?” she asked curious,

“You’ll find out why when you’re older Pril,” I said,

“Well I want to be old now,” April huffed; I tapped my index finger on her nose.

“You want to stay as young as you can,” I smiled and lost my control slightly, a fat tear rolled down my cheek, I lifted my hand to brush it away but before I could April noticed it,

“Ally sad?” she asked,

“Ally is happy.” I told her smiling, “She is happy to have a beautiful girl like you for her sister,”

“Ally is happy. Means Pril is happy too,” she smiled and tapped my nose,

“Good, but it’s bedtime for Pril now,” I said softly,

“Will Ally visit Pril?” April asked,

“Ally will,” I promised,

“Good…” she trailed off and within a few seconds was breathing deeply, I was always surprised at how fast April could get to sleep, and I envied her for it.

“Goodnight April,” I whispered and kissed her forehead. I got off the bed gently and drew the covers up to her chin.

“I love you,”