Another Brother, chapter 4
I didn't get any sleep that night. I lay awake. Cold and feeling sick. I watched the window as the sun slowly rose. That night felt like an eternity.
When the sun came up I figured there was no point in me staying in bed. I had a look around the room. I looked out the window at the pool in the back yard, next to the tennis courts. And to think I could of lived here.
I sighed. I had to make it up to Estella, maybe if she through I wasn't such a bad guy she would give me a chance, but how could I talk to her? I was locked in here.
A letter. That was it. I scavenged around the room in search of a piece of paper and pen. I found a paper and pen by the window seal with a few lines of a song written one the top. I turned it over and began to write my letter.
Hey Estella,
I owe you an apology; I didn't mean to kill your mouse.
Clearly we got off on the wrong foot. But I would like to be friends.
And now even through I probably wont be moving in with you I wouldn't of taken your dad from you, he loves you more than anything I can tell. I also have some explaining to do. Yes I admit I took Marie's money with out asking, but I was using that money to buy you a new mouse, after I felt so guilty. I was going to pay her back, you see I'm not all bad.
But please except my apology.
-RYAN PRITCHARD-
I signed the letter. Now all there was left to do was deliver it. I had to get out of this room. I had to pick the lock. I didn't mind if I got caught. My hope of living here had been smashed last night.
I grabbed a loose bass string I found on the ground and stuck it in the key hole and filled around for a while until the door swung open. "Success" I whispered.
It was still reasonably early in the morning so every one was asleep. I snuck down the hall trying very hard not to make a sound. The door closest to the stairs had 'Estella' written on it in pink fancy writing. I carefully slid the letter under the door and turned away and made my way back down the hall.
As I passed Mike's room the door handle began to turn so I quickly dived back into the room. I just made it in time before there was a pounding on the door.
"Get up boy!" growled Mike.
Today was not going to be fun.
"I'm up" I replied. Then Mike swung open the door, confused at first. "I though I locked this door?" he asked himself. I just shrugged my shoulders. He walked over to me, with an incredibly fears look on his face. he looked down on me, he towered over he like the Eiffel tower.
We looked so much alike, apart from the fact that I was as skinny as a twig and incredibly short for my age.
"You have one chance to explain yesterday." He said plainly then left the room he stoped at the door way. "Be down stairs for breakfast in 10 minutes, this time, actually be there." He added.
I had 10 minutes to figure out how to explain what happened. I began to panic. "Wait, Ryan. Get a hold of yourself. You didn't actually do anything this time; you can just tell the truth." I said to myself.
"Who are you talking to boy?" asked a sweet girly voice. I looked up and there stood Estella by the door. Holding my letter. I just looked at her. I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I know you wouldn't have killed my mouse on purpose, I over re-acted, I'm the one that should be apologizing to you." she said with regret.
"What happens now?" I asked. It felt weird asking a nine year old.
"I need to talk to my dad. I mean I don't want him to kick you out, it would be cool having a big brother around, well you are my kid uncel" she said as she headed down stairs to the kitchen where Mike was waiting for me.
After about five minutes. Mike came up to the room. He came over to me. "Sit down" he instructed frimly, there was no messing around. "I was talking to Estella, and I think it would be better if you stayed with me, because I mean, we all stuff up. After what she said I understand what you were doing wasn't on purpose. But don't think your out of trouble now. Okay! Fuck up again, and your gonna be fucked" Mike explained calmly, very differently from the night before.
He patted me on the back. "But you're still grounded for a month. and you're still on trail, you fuck up again you get the boot, you got a month to straighten out boy" He added as he left the room. "Oh and Ryan, DON'T YOU DARE FUCK UP AGAIN!" He yelled. As he slammed and locked the door.
'Well that was better then being kicked out all together. Now all I gotta do is not get into trouble again. Coz mike seemed pretty pissed off. ' I thought to myself.
I sat on the bed for a while. Mike had locked the door, and I figures picking it twice was a bit dodgy.
So I sat and waited. I grew hungry, time ticked slowly by. I sat. I had a very hard time not going insane, I had a very hard time keeping still. My fingers where twitching. But I didn't want to get up. I knew if I tried to entertain myself, that usually meant getting into trouble. Mintues turned to hours, hours, to more hours. each second wasted away like a year of schools gone by. I sat and waited.
Lunch time came and passed. I sat.
I had a feeling Mike had forgotten I was here. Or went out to band practise and just forgotten. No matter how pissed off he got he wouldn't leave me here starving on purpose.
Then there was a tapping on the window. I went over, and there was Estella, up on a ladder. With some food in her free hand and the other was gripping tightly onto the ladder. I pulled up the window.
"What the hell are you doing??!!" I exclaimed.
"Bringing you food. My dad left for Billie's an hour ago, I didn't want you to stave your already a twig. And besides I feel so guilty about all this." She explained.
"Get off that ladder you're going to fall!" I said looking down at how far it was.
"Oh so I see I'm not wanted." She joked leaning back I automatically grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked pulling her hand away from mine, that's when she lost her balance, for real this time, I launched myself at her to grab her but just missed. She went toppling to the ground. Her face with such a look of sheer terror. She screamed as she feel from a three story window. I watched helplessly as she hit the ground and blood instantly poured from her head. "ESTELLA!" I yelled. As I gazed down at her mangled body. "Fucking hell!" I exclaimed. I jumped out the window and slid down the un-stable ladder. I knelt down my Estella's side. "Estella? Can you hear me?" I spoke softly. And held her hand. She was nine years old for fuck sake, this wasn't fair on her.
"You need an ambulance." I said to her. Her eyes where open, although no words came out her mouth, tears came out her eyes. She looked at me. I rushed inside the house and grabbed the nearest phone I could get to and brought it out to Estella.
"What's the number for an ambulance???" I asked her in a panic, I couldn't read or write, all I could do was play music really.
Estella couldn't answer me for all I knew she had a broken back. But I had to move her, go to the neighbours house. I delicately lifted her bashed body.
I carried her arcos the back lawn, out the front and across the front yard of the neighbours to the front door, I struggled to reach the bell and hold her at the same time.
Music was playing loudly. It stopped when I rang the bell, the kid from the pet store opened the door. He nearly faited when he saw me holding Estella.
"Oh my fucking god, when she said you we an ex con I didn't think she meant a murderer! Oh my god! I didn't want to do it! She made me!" the kid whimpered
"I didn't touch her, fucking call an ambulance!" he nodded and ran off. That's when the kid's dad came up from the base meant, where the music was coming from. Followed by Mike.
"Holy fucks!! What the fuck happened!" Mike exclaimed and he grabbed Estella from my arms. He back cracked as he moved her. "Fucking hell, her back's broken!" he exclaimed he put her on the ground softly.
"What did you do!!" he yelled at me. "I didn't touch her, she fell." I explained.
"Then why the fuck did you bring her here!!??" he exclaimed as he ripped of his jacket and placed it gently under her head.
"I wasn't just gonna leave her there while I came here was I?" I yelled back, the tensions where very high.
"No you could fuck call an ambulance from my house!"
"I cant fucking read I don't know the number!" I yelled.
"Shut up you two!" yelled the guy with black hair. "Joey give me the fucking phone!" he called to the kid. Joey handed him the phone. He spoke to the operator. He shoved me back from Estella and knelt down by her side, he poked around her neck a bit with two fingers.
"Don't tell me... .don't tell me she's gone?" Mike said, tears began to pour from his eyes. He lent over her, Billie didn't answer. He hung up the phone and looked down at Estella. Who lay there, covered in blood, her face as white as snow. She didn't twitch or even move the slightest, she showed no signs of life.
The room went quite.
Dead cold silence. We all stood around her. Just looking. Tears in nearly every ones eyes.
"She was nine years old for fuck sake." Billie whispered.
"Estella baby! Please, oh god please! Wake up! Talk to me!" he lay across her bloody body. Sobbing uncontrollably "Hero!" he yelled. "Hero! Hero! Wake up baby please!"
That moment the clock seemed to stop, 3.21pm. I memorized the time. For that time would be left in history in our life's forever.
When the sun came up I figured there was no point in me staying in bed. I had a look around the room. I looked out the window at the pool in the back yard, next to the tennis courts. And to think I could of lived here.
I sighed. I had to make it up to Estella, maybe if she through I wasn't such a bad guy she would give me a chance, but how could I talk to her? I was locked in here.
A letter. That was it. I scavenged around the room in search of a piece of paper and pen. I found a paper and pen by the window seal with a few lines of a song written one the top. I turned it over and began to write my letter.
Hey Estella,
I owe you an apology; I didn't mean to kill your mouse.
Clearly we got off on the wrong foot. But I would like to be friends.
And now even through I probably wont be moving in with you I wouldn't of taken your dad from you, he loves you more than anything I can tell. I also have some explaining to do. Yes I admit I took Marie's money with out asking, but I was using that money to buy you a new mouse, after I felt so guilty. I was going to pay her back, you see I'm not all bad.
But please except my apology.
-RYAN PRITCHARD-
I signed the letter. Now all there was left to do was deliver it. I had to get out of this room. I had to pick the lock. I didn't mind if I got caught. My hope of living here had been smashed last night.
I grabbed a loose bass string I found on the ground and stuck it in the key hole and filled around for a while until the door swung open. "Success" I whispered.
It was still reasonably early in the morning so every one was asleep. I snuck down the hall trying very hard not to make a sound. The door closest to the stairs had 'Estella' written on it in pink fancy writing. I carefully slid the letter under the door and turned away and made my way back down the hall.
As I passed Mike's room the door handle began to turn so I quickly dived back into the room. I just made it in time before there was a pounding on the door.
"Get up boy!" growled Mike.
Today was not going to be fun.
"I'm up" I replied. Then Mike swung open the door, confused at first. "I though I locked this door?" he asked himself. I just shrugged my shoulders. He walked over to me, with an incredibly fears look on his face. he looked down on me, he towered over he like the Eiffel tower.
We looked so much alike, apart from the fact that I was as skinny as a twig and incredibly short for my age.
"You have one chance to explain yesterday." He said plainly then left the room he stoped at the door way. "Be down stairs for breakfast in 10 minutes, this time, actually be there." He added.
I had 10 minutes to figure out how to explain what happened. I began to panic. "Wait, Ryan. Get a hold of yourself. You didn't actually do anything this time; you can just tell the truth." I said to myself.
"Who are you talking to boy?" asked a sweet girly voice. I looked up and there stood Estella by the door. Holding my letter. I just looked at her. I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I know you wouldn't have killed my mouse on purpose, I over re-acted, I'm the one that should be apologizing to you." she said with regret.
"What happens now?" I asked. It felt weird asking a nine year old.
"I need to talk to my dad. I mean I don't want him to kick you out, it would be cool having a big brother around, well you are my kid uncel" she said as she headed down stairs to the kitchen where Mike was waiting for me.
After about five minutes. Mike came up to the room. He came over to me. "Sit down" he instructed frimly, there was no messing around. "I was talking to Estella, and I think it would be better if you stayed with me, because I mean, we all stuff up. After what she said I understand what you were doing wasn't on purpose. But don't think your out of trouble now. Okay! Fuck up again, and your gonna be fucked" Mike explained calmly, very differently from the night before.
He patted me on the back. "But you're still grounded for a month. and you're still on trail, you fuck up again you get the boot, you got a month to straighten out boy" He added as he left the room. "Oh and Ryan, DON'T YOU DARE FUCK UP AGAIN!" He yelled. As he slammed and locked the door.
'Well that was better then being kicked out all together. Now all I gotta do is not get into trouble again. Coz mike seemed pretty pissed off. ' I thought to myself.
I sat on the bed for a while. Mike had locked the door, and I figures picking it twice was a bit dodgy.
So I sat and waited. I grew hungry, time ticked slowly by. I sat. I had a very hard time not going insane, I had a very hard time keeping still. My fingers where twitching. But I didn't want to get up. I knew if I tried to entertain myself, that usually meant getting into trouble. Mintues turned to hours, hours, to more hours. each second wasted away like a year of schools gone by. I sat and waited.
Lunch time came and passed. I sat.
I had a feeling Mike had forgotten I was here. Or went out to band practise and just forgotten. No matter how pissed off he got he wouldn't leave me here starving on purpose.
Then there was a tapping on the window. I went over, and there was Estella, up on a ladder. With some food in her free hand and the other was gripping tightly onto the ladder. I pulled up the window.
"What the hell are you doing??!!" I exclaimed.
"Bringing you food. My dad left for Billie's an hour ago, I didn't want you to stave your already a twig. And besides I feel so guilty about all this." She explained.
"Get off that ladder you're going to fall!" I said looking down at how far it was.
"Oh so I see I'm not wanted." She joked leaning back I automatically grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked pulling her hand away from mine, that's when she lost her balance, for real this time, I launched myself at her to grab her but just missed. She went toppling to the ground. Her face with such a look of sheer terror. She screamed as she feel from a three story window. I watched helplessly as she hit the ground and blood instantly poured from her head. "ESTELLA!" I yelled. As I gazed down at her mangled body. "Fucking hell!" I exclaimed. I jumped out the window and slid down the un-stable ladder. I knelt down my Estella's side. "Estella? Can you hear me?" I spoke softly. And held her hand. She was nine years old for fuck sake, this wasn't fair on her.
"You need an ambulance." I said to her. Her eyes where open, although no words came out her mouth, tears came out her eyes. She looked at me. I rushed inside the house and grabbed the nearest phone I could get to and brought it out to Estella.
"What's the number for an ambulance???" I asked her in a panic, I couldn't read or write, all I could do was play music really.
Estella couldn't answer me for all I knew she had a broken back. But I had to move her, go to the neighbours house. I delicately lifted her bashed body.
I carried her arcos the back lawn, out the front and across the front yard of the neighbours to the front door, I struggled to reach the bell and hold her at the same time.
Music was playing loudly. It stopped when I rang the bell, the kid from the pet store opened the door. He nearly faited when he saw me holding Estella.
"Oh my fucking god, when she said you we an ex con I didn't think she meant a murderer! Oh my god! I didn't want to do it! She made me!" the kid whimpered
"I didn't touch her, fucking call an ambulance!" he nodded and ran off. That's when the kid's dad came up from the base meant, where the music was coming from. Followed by Mike.
"Holy fucks!! What the fuck happened!" Mike exclaimed and he grabbed Estella from my arms. He back cracked as he moved her. "Fucking hell, her back's broken!" he exclaimed he put her on the ground softly.
"What did you do!!" he yelled at me. "I didn't touch her, she fell." I explained.
"Then why the fuck did you bring her here!!??" he exclaimed as he ripped of his jacket and placed it gently under her head.
"I wasn't just gonna leave her there while I came here was I?" I yelled back, the tensions where very high.
"No you could fuck call an ambulance from my house!"
"I cant fucking read I don't know the number!" I yelled.
"Shut up you two!" yelled the guy with black hair. "Joey give me the fucking phone!" he called to the kid. Joey handed him the phone. He spoke to the operator. He shoved me back from Estella and knelt down by her side, he poked around her neck a bit with two fingers.
"Don't tell me... .don't tell me she's gone?" Mike said, tears began to pour from his eyes. He lent over her, Billie didn't answer. He hung up the phone and looked down at Estella. Who lay there, covered in blood, her face as white as snow. She didn't twitch or even move the slightest, she showed no signs of life.
The room went quite.
Dead cold silence. We all stood around her. Just looking. Tears in nearly every ones eyes.
"She was nine years old for fuck sake." Billie whispered.
"Estella baby! Please, oh god please! Wake up! Talk to me!" he lay across her bloody body. Sobbing uncontrollably "Hero!" he yelled. "Hero! Hero! Wake up baby please!"
That moment the clock seemed to stop, 3.21pm. I memorized the time. For that time would be left in history in our life's forever.
