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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 16:03:47 GMT
They had traveled on buses, walked through shady parts of town. Gotten distracted, lost, and turned around. But the papers they had on them were straightforward, and good Samaritans had pointed the two young children on their way, if not with a bit of reluctance and worry.
And now they were here. A hot summer morning, where the sun already beat down with harsh, hot rays, and cicadas cried. There was laughter around them, and Rook glanced around, muttering to himself. Gale had the other boy's hand while he held the bag with the important stuff in the other. A huge house, whitewashed and pristine with stained glass windows, a perfect green yard, and a shiny metal fence.
Is this where they were supposed to go? Surely it was wrong. But that's what the lady had said. And if they were wrong, they would just keep going, like they had been.
Gale's stomach growled. He hadn't eaten breakfast that morning. As he pushed open the gate, Rook's hand still in his, he hoped these people would maybe give them food before making them go away.
He hopped up the steps to the house, glad to be in the shade. If the look from Rook was anything, the heat was getting to him. He pulled at his t-shirt and groaned and huffed. Gale squeezed his hand. He understood. His own clothes were itchy and uncomfortable, and his shoes too tight around his toes. Rook rubbed at his forehead, and shifted his weight uncomfortably.
The faster they did this the better. Gale quickly knocked on the door, and waited impatiently.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 7, 2015 16:19:21 GMT
Omaron was walking back from the kitchen with a sandwich and a glass of grape juice in hand. It was a boring sort of summer day. He'd have helped his mother in her orchard, but she was with his father doing something important and businessy at the moment. Maybe he could get a real job for the next month or so just to give himself something to do--
And suddenly there was a knock at the door.
He looked up at the front door in surprise. Were they expecting visitors? Somehow he didn't think so. Frowning slightly, he cracked the door open.
Two grubby little children were standing at the threshold. His pale brows rose up toward his hairline.
"Where are your parents?" he asked, unsure of what else to say.
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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 16:24:56 GMT
Gale frowned, not wanted to attempt to say anything. This boy looked like a pampered kid, and Gale was sure he would be mocked for the messy slurred words that would come out of his mouth. Especially when Rook was looking at him with wide eyes, slack jawed mouth and was slowly inching himself behind Gale, bottom lip quivering.
Gale reached into his bag and pulled out a piece of paper.
These two children are called Gale and Rook, it said. They are biologically related to Omaron Fenning, and their present care-takers are unable to provide the care necessary for them to flourish. We pass them off to you and pray that you do what you think is best for these two children. Inside the bag is documentation - birth certificates, social security cards, citizenship forms - and medical documentation. Gale has Verbal Dyspraxia, and will not speak easily. Rook has a learning disorder. They will be grateful for whatever care you are willing to give, and will be equally grateful if they are put somewhere else if you do not think adequate care can be given. Thank you.
The letter was unsigned, and there was no address.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 7, 2015 16:30:58 GMT
Omaron took the paper, feeling completely bemused, and began reading it. He had to go back over it a second time just to make sure he hadn't missed something.
"You... you're my brothers?" he asked blankly. They didn't look much like him, but then... well, they probably had a different father. Possibly different fathers. He shook his head, feeling a little dazed.
"Ah... why... hm. Just. Come inside, and perhaps I can get father and mother."
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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 16:41:16 GMT
Gale squeezed Rook's hand, shrugging at Omaron's question, and led him inside behind the older boy. The cold air was refreshing, and he sighed, shivering. Rook stuck close, hovering behind him as he watched Omaron closely, concentrating on the hand that held the letter.
"Th-thank you," he whispered, eyes shifting to stare at the floor. His free hand fidgeted, and he tugged at the hem of his shirt. Gale rocked on his feet, looking to a space to the right of Omaron's head. "What do?" Rook asked, eyes unmoving from the floor. Were those voices he heard?
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Post by Buggy on Jun 7, 2015 16:54:06 GMT
Omaron glanced back to Gale and Rook as he closed the door. There was really only one course of action to be taken.
"Come on, I'll take you to meet my parents. Is that okay?" He offered Gale his free hand. "They're not too far away."
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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 16:57:10 GMT
Gale hesitated. He reached out, and drew back slightly, watching Omaron's hand as if it were a snake that wanted to bite him. After a moment, he nodded, and took his hand. It was soft and cool, and Gale's fingers were probably making it dirty. But he didn't think of that. The boy stepped closer to Omaron, Rook following suit.
"Go go," Gale muttered quietly, Rook nodding. After all, they may be inside the house, but his parents would probably just kick them out.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 7, 2015 18:51:39 GMT
Omaron was utterly bemused at how timidly the children reacted. "I'm not going to hit you or anything," he told them before setting off into the house. It was very clean. The kitchen they passed through had marble counter tops.
Voices got louder as they went up a sweeping curved stairway. An ostentatious door stood at its top, and Omaron knocked on it.
"Can I come in?" Omaron asked before anyone responded. "Something, er, something's come up."
The door swept open, and a stout man and woman with dark hair greeted him enthusiastically.
"Hello my boy, what's the to-do? Are you feeling well?"
"Pumpkin, what is it dear, did you need--?"
His mother cut herself short as she looked down at the two children Omaron had in tow. Her expression was comical in its surprise, and his father soon matched it.
"Where did they come from?" he asked, astonished.
"This, er, is for you, I suppose." Omaron handed his father the letter. "It explains things."
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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 19:01:20 GMT
Gale nodded when Omaron spoke, but didn't move too far from his side. He had a loose hold on his hand, and it didn't hurt or squeeze his fingers too tightly. His tiny legs moved quickly to keep up with the taller boy. Rook stumbled behind, his eyes wide and mouth open as he looked around. Everything was so... so perfect! So sparkly and clean and it smelled so nice, like a fresh breeze. He tripped on the first step of the stairs, but Gale quickly helped him up.
When Omaron's parents opened the door, Gale found himself looking down again. They were just a little bit loud for him, and it stung his ears.Rook had moved back behind Omaron, and muttered something quietly. It sounded like a hello. Gale heard the shuffling of the paper, and quickly removed the bag from his shoulder, handing it out to the father.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 7, 2015 20:11:17 GMT
Mr. Townsend looked thunderstruck.
"Here, Margaret, you'll want to read this." He handed the letter to his wife and looked at the children, completely at a loss for words. His wife made up for that as soon as she'd finished reading.
She gasped. "Alistair! He... he has BROTHERS? How did we not know about this? They're so young, and where is their case worker? Did they walk here by themselves?"
"They weren't with anyone when they got here," Omaron put in. "They just walked up to the door."
Mr. Townsend shook himself. "All right, I will call DHS, and Omaron, if you could take them to the kitchen and see if they need anything, that would be very good. Margaret, could you go with them?"
Margaret nodded, looking very shaken. "Yes, yes, of course."
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Post by Unokins on Jun 7, 2015 20:42:45 GMT
Gale and Rook exchanged glances as the adults talked, worried looks in their eyes. They had heard of a DHS before, but no one explained what it was. They waited quietly, and Gale shifted to get a better look at them. They didn't SEEM angry. But that frantic, fast talking, and the shaken look. It always spelled trouble.
Gale kept quiet as the conversation tapered off. But Rook, eyes still down on the floor, muttered quietly. "Thank you," he whispered, rolling his shoulders slightly and picking at his nails. "Thank you." They were just talking fast and probably upset that they were here, but they didn't hit them or talk angry at them and Rook just hoped it stayed like that. Gale let him pick, opting out to stay behind Omaron. They mentioned kitchen. So that meant food, yes? He hoped so.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 8, 2015 4:27:44 GMT
Omaron led the way back down the stairs, feeling oddly detached from the situation. It was a little too much to wrap his head around just yet. He had half-brothers. And they were here. And they were related to him.
It wasn't long before he and his mother and the children were back at the kitchen. He let go of Gale's hand before turning to face them.
"Uh... so..." he began, but he was cut off.
"You poor things must be starved!" his mother said a little shrilly. Immediately she began digging through the pantry. "Imagine sending two children out by themselves to walk along the road! Well I just can't understand some people, they are just-- are either of them allergic to peanuts Omaron? I was going to make them peanut butter crackers and perhaps get them some milk, but if I don't know their allergies and they react to something I give them I just do NOT know how I will be able to live with myself! Do they have their medical records in that bag they left with your father?"
"I, uh, don't know? Maybe?"
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Post by Unokins on Jun 8, 2015 4:38:03 GMT
When they got to the kitchen, Gale shifted awkwardly when Omaron looked at him. Rook climbed up onto a stole on the marble counter top, running a finger over the cool smooth surface. He was positively enraptured. Next came the tapping with his nails, especially with the shrill statement from Omaron's mother. His mother, too, now? Rook didn't know, he just liked tapping his nails on the counter in a pattern that was only discernible to himself. He hummed quietly, rocking back and forth slightly as he watched the others.
Gale watched the mom go through the pantry, looking from her to Omaron and back to her. She was... nice? Liked to talk. But she was thinking about them. And what they needed and wanted. Gale shifted his weight and pointed. "S..." Oh boy. "Saut," he said, butchering the word 'that.' But perhaps his pointing finger would be enough. Especially when it was a can of tuna fish that was right there on the shelf. That, he wanted that. Fish, delicious fish. "Peash," he said. Gale shook his head. "P.. Ple... eease." he worked out.
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Post by Buggy on Jun 9, 2015 2:13:41 GMT
Omaron didn't quite know what to make of Gale's statement at first. What had the letter said about him? That he had verbal something or other? Well... perhaps it was best just to figure out what he wanted and not make a big deal of it.
"The.. the tuna? Is that it?"
His mother spun around. "What was that Ronnie?"
"Nothing, I just. Ah. I think Gale would like some tuna fish."
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Post by Unokins on Jun 9, 2015 2:36:44 GMT
Gale nodded enthusiastically. Tuna, yes! Tuna. He clapped his hands together twice and flashed Omaron a thumbs up, grinning. But his eyes didn't quite reach the older boy's. He stared at his chest and off to the left. Eye contact was so hard. What eye was he supposed to look at? Which eye? And it was so unnerving and it just made him anxious. Gale had stopped trying long ago.
Rook looked over at the conversation, the tapping pausing for a moment before picking up again. "Fish," he said carefully and very, very quietly. "We. We like fish. Gale likes - likes. A lot of fish." He nodded and began fidgeting again.
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