Promise
Dec 29, 2020 17:00:34 GMT -5
Post by therunawaygirl on Dec 29, 2020 17:00:34 GMT -5
(This is a "short" story, and I plan on sharing more of these to help build my characters. So please, enjoy!)
Pitch black-darkness greeted outside of the window, as a starry sky spread out in the middle of the night. The few streetlamps that were still on glowed dimly, creating a contrast of large and rather ominous shadows against the walls of buildings and the streets. A few windows were just as black as the outside, while others still had a warm light shining from inside, the silhouettes of people moving to their own rhythm as the night continued.
Tall skyscrapers with small white lights etched to the entrances and some floor limits compromised more than half of the visible buildings from a certain boy’s bedroom, as he looked with an unamused stare outside. The rest were the neighboring houses of people he knew about, some even close friends of his, although by the time, most were dark and silent, with their inhabitants sleeping peacefully to start a new day by dawn break. The only light still on from the neighborhood’s buildings were Jack’s lights, as he stared outside unable to cope with sleep.
The 10-year-old had been unable to sleep soundly, as there was something at the back of his head. There were whispers, coming from the next room —his parents’ room. They were quiet, sure, but they had a sense of urgency Jack hadn’t heard about before. While his dad’s words were firm and serious, his mom’s whispering had a hint of worry, unwilling to continue with the argument, by the look of things.
Once more, he heard his mother opposing his father’s opinions, and his curiosity continued to grow. What were they talking about, and why were they so heated about it? It seemed serious, but the boy couldn’t understand why that was. He glanced towards the slightly ajar door, where the noises continued to come from.
Maybe he could have a better listen, if he was quiet enough to sneak nearby? The thought caused him to smile, eager to give it a test. The worst he would have was being scolded by eavesdropping —but Jack was already trouble enough.
What was another one to the list?
Dropping down from the chair he’d brought towards the window, and leaving the desk lamp on, the boy sneakily walked out of his room and to the small hallway, closing in on his parents’ room. He knew that his sister wouldn’t be joining, since by that time the girl would already be asleep —always a goody two shoes for everyone, complying with things and keeping quiet to endure whatever came her way.
Not Jack, though —he was vocal, ambitious, and rowdy. Nothing could force him into following rules to a T, or even guarantee he’d follow them through. He was marching to the beat of his own drum.
“Please, try to understand already —I need to go.”
Jack stopped as he neared the door to his parents’ room, the slightly orange light peeking through the opening. He could see them —both of his parents sitting on the bed, with a complex expression the boy could understand. Was it worry? Sadness? Perhaps he could understand his mother’s expression, but not his dad’s. It was the same look he had whenever he scolded him.
Were they actually arguing? But they never did that —not in the house, at least…
“This will go the way it is if we don’t do anything, Marya” Jack’s father continued, “It’ll be okay, I promise. We’re just going to talk —nothing’s going to happen. The executive director already told us how it would go.”
“But is it even approved?” Jack’s mother continued to debate, “No workers’ meeting has been approved since this begun —and you think now they’ll listen?” she sighed, shaking her head with evident stress, “Why not just stay here with the kids? I’m sure things will see themselves soon enough.”
“But what if not? What do we do then?”
“I…”
“Marya, listen —we can’t let this project be approved. It’ll make our lives worse —and not just the common folk. How exactly do you plan on telling the kids we’re doing okay, if we can’t even give them the basic things to live by? If this continues on, we’ll have to leave the house. Do you really want to see them on the streets, begging for scraps?”
“I don’t, but I also don’t want you to get caught in trouble!” Jack’s mother puffed her cheeks, bitter yet persistent, “How am I supposed to tell them? I can’t possibly tell them their father got arrested for trying to speak up!”
“I’m telling you —that won’t happen.”
The argument continued on, with Jack looking through the small crevice that the door allowed, his breathing the most silent he could muster. Even if most of it was lost to him, he could understand the outline of things —and it wasn’t good. Living in the streets? Not having even the basic necessities covered? That all seemed bad enough, but he didn’t want to see his parents go through it alone.
Wasn’t it fair for him to step up and let them know? But the longer he thought about it, the less sure Jack was about it. They were his parents —the people who brought him into this life, right?
It was natural for them to refuse whatever help their children offered, if they felt like it wasn’t needed —that it was their job to do it, not the kids’. Not only that, but if he spoke up, then his mom and dad would evidently figure out that the boy had been eavesdropping.
He didn’t want unnecessary trouble, seeing how troubled the adults were already.
“Then, I’ll go with you” his mother said, firm, “If you really think it’s safe, and that everything will work itself out, then let me go with you.”
“Marya, I’m not going to— What of Jack and Alice? You plan on leaving them here, alone?!”
“There’s people here that can babysit them for the day, right? And besides, Jack’s old enough to take care of Alice. Not only that, but didn’t you say that this ‘executive director’ was going to take his wife to this meeting?”
“That has nothing to do with you, though —she’s related to the factory.”
“Oh, and I’m not? Please, dear —I’m sure I can help in some way! And I most definitely won’t leave you alone in there!”
“Marya…”
“…Please…” Jack’s mother reached out to her husband’s hands, a calm smile written in her expression, “Let me help. I don’t want this to continue the way it is, just like you… And while I want to be here with Jack and Alice, to be there for them… I also want to help you out.”
“…”
Jack stepped back, feeling suddenly embarrassed by his mother’s words. Unfortunately for him, as he stepped back, a wooden slab creaked under his weight, his cover blown. Both adults perked up, looking at the opening the door had left, and the faint image of Jack trying to pass unnoticed.
Still with a firm expression, Jack’s father stood up, walking towards the door, opening it, and looking at his son —all the while the boy tried to look as apologetic as he possibly could. Still crouched on the floor, the figure of his father was perhaps ten times taller than usual —a giant, looking down with a mix of disappointment and stoic expression.
“Were you eavesdropping on us?” he asked, causing Jack to look away, “Look at me when I ask you something, Jack —were you or not?”
“…” the boy nodded faintly, embarrassed.
“…”
“…Were you worried?” her mother asked, concerned.
“…I couldn’t sleep —you were talkin’ a lot…” Jack mumbled, still looking away, “I got curious, so…”
“How long were you eavesdropping?” his father asked.
“…Umm… Somethin’ about you going to a… Meeting? And mom saying no ‘n’ all…”
Silent, both adults crossed a look between them, equally concerned. Jack continued to avert his gaze, not wanting to be reprimanded for the obvious invasion of privacy that his curiosity had led him towards, embarrassed now after being caught. A heavy sigh from his father caused him to look upwards, feeling an incoming reprimanding response.
But it never came. Instead, Jack’s mother knelt down, placed one hand on the boy’s shoulder with a pain-filled smile, trying to mask it underneath a concerned look. While his father looked at his wife with a hint of worry, Jack’s mother seemed to have something in mind.
“Mom…?”
“I need you to promise me something, Jack” his mother began, “Alright?”
“I mean, sure… But… What were you and dad talkin’ about?”
“…” his mother sighed, looking down, “You know how things have been… Tough, as of late, right? Even when we’re getting paid the same amount… I’m not bringing as much things as I used to, or we’re not taking you for a walk every weekend. You’ve noticed all this, right?”
“Yeah… I’m also aware that things have been getting tougher to get… Like… Alice and I tried to grab somethin’ on our way back from school, from the usual bakery, but they didn’t have anything…”
“Yes, exactly.”
“But what does that have to do with anythin’…?”
“…Your dad thinks that the upcoming workers’ meeting could help calm things down. If he ends up going, I’ll be there to accompany him —and that means you’ll be left alone with Alice.”
“Yeah… What of it?” Jack pouted, “That just means I’ll be babysittin’ her, right?”
“…” Jack’s mother giggled, “True —you’ll take care of her, right?”
“Of course!”
“Promise me one thing, Jack…” his mother offered a pinky, “You’ll protect your sister, right? From anyone and anything —no matter what?”
“No matter what.”
“Then… If by any chance, both your dad and I are not around… You’ll keep her safe for us, right?”
“…” Jack looked stunned, his mouth slightly agape, before nodding with a little hesitation, “Yeah, but… Why would you… Not be around?”
“…Who can say? But… You can promise me that, right?”
Jack’s mother held her pinky forward, waiting for the boy to reply the same way —a pinky promise, like the many promises they’d made before. The boy looked at the waiting finger, hesitant to actually accept the promise.
It felt like a lot of pressure, for someone so young —but hadn’t he protected Alice until then? Standing up for her, whenever she was being bullied? Or keeping her company whenever she was alone? Walking with her back home, waiting for her classes to finish just to make sure of that? Wasn’t he always making sure Alice was happy?
So why was that promise so different? The sudden swell of pride surged from Jack’s heart, as he nodded with vigor while crossing his pinky with his mother’s —sealing the promise. Smiling pleasantly, Jack’s mother kissed his forehead, still smiling.
“Don’t you forget it, okay, Jack?” she asked.
“I won’t! I promised —I’ll keep Alice safe, always!”
“That’s good… Now, go to sleep —you have class tomorrow, right?”
“Ehehe…” sheepishly, the boy scratched the back of his head, “…So, I’m not grounded?”
“You are” his father said, a cocky smirk in his lips as he crossed his arms, “Eavesdropping is not nice, Jack —we’ve talked about this before.”
“What you did was wrong, partially…” his mother continued, “You don’t eavesdrop on people —regardless of what it is they’re talking about.”
“Aww…”
“…Still…” patting his head, his mother smiled, “What did we do to deserve you…? You cheeky troublemaker…”
Pitch black-darkness greeted outside of the window, as a starry sky spread out in the middle of the night. The few streetlamps that were still on glowed dimly, creating a contrast of large and rather ominous shadows against the walls of buildings and the streets. A few windows were just as black as the outside, while others still had a warm light shining from inside, the silhouettes of people moving to their own rhythm as the night continued.
Tall skyscrapers with small white lights etched to the entrances and some floor limits compromised more than half of the visible buildings from a certain boy’s bedroom, as he looked with an unamused stare outside. The rest were the neighboring houses of people he knew about, some even close friends of his, although by the time, most were dark and silent, with their inhabitants sleeping peacefully to start a new day by dawn break. The only light still on from the neighborhood’s buildings were Jack’s lights, as he stared outside unable to cope with sleep.
The 10-year-old had been unable to sleep soundly, as there was something at the back of his head. There were whispers, coming from the next room —his parents’ room. They were quiet, sure, but they had a sense of urgency Jack hadn’t heard about before. While his dad’s words were firm and serious, his mom’s whispering had a hint of worry, unwilling to continue with the argument, by the look of things.
Once more, he heard his mother opposing his father’s opinions, and his curiosity continued to grow. What were they talking about, and why were they so heated about it? It seemed serious, but the boy couldn’t understand why that was. He glanced towards the slightly ajar door, where the noises continued to come from.
Maybe he could have a better listen, if he was quiet enough to sneak nearby? The thought caused him to smile, eager to give it a test. The worst he would have was being scolded by eavesdropping —but Jack was already trouble enough.
What was another one to the list?
Dropping down from the chair he’d brought towards the window, and leaving the desk lamp on, the boy sneakily walked out of his room and to the small hallway, closing in on his parents’ room. He knew that his sister wouldn’t be joining, since by that time the girl would already be asleep —always a goody two shoes for everyone, complying with things and keeping quiet to endure whatever came her way.
Not Jack, though —he was vocal, ambitious, and rowdy. Nothing could force him into following rules to a T, or even guarantee he’d follow them through. He was marching to the beat of his own drum.
“Please, try to understand already —I need to go.”
Jack stopped as he neared the door to his parents’ room, the slightly orange light peeking through the opening. He could see them —both of his parents sitting on the bed, with a complex expression the boy could understand. Was it worry? Sadness? Perhaps he could understand his mother’s expression, but not his dad’s. It was the same look he had whenever he scolded him.
Were they actually arguing? But they never did that —not in the house, at least…
“This will go the way it is if we don’t do anything, Marya” Jack’s father continued, “It’ll be okay, I promise. We’re just going to talk —nothing’s going to happen. The executive director already told us how it would go.”
“But is it even approved?” Jack’s mother continued to debate, “No workers’ meeting has been approved since this begun —and you think now they’ll listen?” she sighed, shaking her head with evident stress, “Why not just stay here with the kids? I’m sure things will see themselves soon enough.”
“But what if not? What do we do then?”
“I…”
“Marya, listen —we can’t let this project be approved. It’ll make our lives worse —and not just the common folk. How exactly do you plan on telling the kids we’re doing okay, if we can’t even give them the basic things to live by? If this continues on, we’ll have to leave the house. Do you really want to see them on the streets, begging for scraps?”
“I don’t, but I also don’t want you to get caught in trouble!” Jack’s mother puffed her cheeks, bitter yet persistent, “How am I supposed to tell them? I can’t possibly tell them their father got arrested for trying to speak up!”
“I’m telling you —that won’t happen.”
The argument continued on, with Jack looking through the small crevice that the door allowed, his breathing the most silent he could muster. Even if most of it was lost to him, he could understand the outline of things —and it wasn’t good. Living in the streets? Not having even the basic necessities covered? That all seemed bad enough, but he didn’t want to see his parents go through it alone.
Wasn’t it fair for him to step up and let them know? But the longer he thought about it, the less sure Jack was about it. They were his parents —the people who brought him into this life, right?
It was natural for them to refuse whatever help their children offered, if they felt like it wasn’t needed —that it was their job to do it, not the kids’. Not only that, but if he spoke up, then his mom and dad would evidently figure out that the boy had been eavesdropping.
He didn’t want unnecessary trouble, seeing how troubled the adults were already.
“Then, I’ll go with you” his mother said, firm, “If you really think it’s safe, and that everything will work itself out, then let me go with you.”
“Marya, I’m not going to— What of Jack and Alice? You plan on leaving them here, alone?!”
“There’s people here that can babysit them for the day, right? And besides, Jack’s old enough to take care of Alice. Not only that, but didn’t you say that this ‘executive director’ was going to take his wife to this meeting?”
“That has nothing to do with you, though —she’s related to the factory.”
“Oh, and I’m not? Please, dear —I’m sure I can help in some way! And I most definitely won’t leave you alone in there!”
“Marya…”
“…Please…” Jack’s mother reached out to her husband’s hands, a calm smile written in her expression, “Let me help. I don’t want this to continue the way it is, just like you… And while I want to be here with Jack and Alice, to be there for them… I also want to help you out.”
“…”
Jack stepped back, feeling suddenly embarrassed by his mother’s words. Unfortunately for him, as he stepped back, a wooden slab creaked under his weight, his cover blown. Both adults perked up, looking at the opening the door had left, and the faint image of Jack trying to pass unnoticed.
Still with a firm expression, Jack’s father stood up, walking towards the door, opening it, and looking at his son —all the while the boy tried to look as apologetic as he possibly could. Still crouched on the floor, the figure of his father was perhaps ten times taller than usual —a giant, looking down with a mix of disappointment and stoic expression.
“Were you eavesdropping on us?” he asked, causing Jack to look away, “Look at me when I ask you something, Jack —were you or not?”
“…” the boy nodded faintly, embarrassed.
“…”
“…Were you worried?” her mother asked, concerned.
“…I couldn’t sleep —you were talkin’ a lot…” Jack mumbled, still looking away, “I got curious, so…”
“How long were you eavesdropping?” his father asked.
“…Umm… Somethin’ about you going to a… Meeting? And mom saying no ‘n’ all…”
Silent, both adults crossed a look between them, equally concerned. Jack continued to avert his gaze, not wanting to be reprimanded for the obvious invasion of privacy that his curiosity had led him towards, embarrassed now after being caught. A heavy sigh from his father caused him to look upwards, feeling an incoming reprimanding response.
But it never came. Instead, Jack’s mother knelt down, placed one hand on the boy’s shoulder with a pain-filled smile, trying to mask it underneath a concerned look. While his father looked at his wife with a hint of worry, Jack’s mother seemed to have something in mind.
“Mom…?”
“I need you to promise me something, Jack” his mother began, “Alright?”
“I mean, sure… But… What were you and dad talkin’ about?”
“…” his mother sighed, looking down, “You know how things have been… Tough, as of late, right? Even when we’re getting paid the same amount… I’m not bringing as much things as I used to, or we’re not taking you for a walk every weekend. You’ve noticed all this, right?”
“Yeah… I’m also aware that things have been getting tougher to get… Like… Alice and I tried to grab somethin’ on our way back from school, from the usual bakery, but they didn’t have anything…”
“Yes, exactly.”
“But what does that have to do with anythin’…?”
“…Your dad thinks that the upcoming workers’ meeting could help calm things down. If he ends up going, I’ll be there to accompany him —and that means you’ll be left alone with Alice.”
“Yeah… What of it?” Jack pouted, “That just means I’ll be babysittin’ her, right?”
“…” Jack’s mother giggled, “True —you’ll take care of her, right?”
“Of course!”
“Promise me one thing, Jack…” his mother offered a pinky, “You’ll protect your sister, right? From anyone and anything —no matter what?”
“No matter what.”
“Then… If by any chance, both your dad and I are not around… You’ll keep her safe for us, right?”
“…” Jack looked stunned, his mouth slightly agape, before nodding with a little hesitation, “Yeah, but… Why would you… Not be around?”
“…Who can say? But… You can promise me that, right?”
Jack’s mother held her pinky forward, waiting for the boy to reply the same way —a pinky promise, like the many promises they’d made before. The boy looked at the waiting finger, hesitant to actually accept the promise.
It felt like a lot of pressure, for someone so young —but hadn’t he protected Alice until then? Standing up for her, whenever she was being bullied? Or keeping her company whenever she was alone? Walking with her back home, waiting for her classes to finish just to make sure of that? Wasn’t he always making sure Alice was happy?
So why was that promise so different? The sudden swell of pride surged from Jack’s heart, as he nodded with vigor while crossing his pinky with his mother’s —sealing the promise. Smiling pleasantly, Jack’s mother kissed his forehead, still smiling.
“Don’t you forget it, okay, Jack?” she asked.
“I won’t! I promised —I’ll keep Alice safe, always!”
“That’s good… Now, go to sleep —you have class tomorrow, right?”
“Ehehe…” sheepishly, the boy scratched the back of his head, “…So, I’m not grounded?”
“You are” his father said, a cocky smirk in his lips as he crossed his arms, “Eavesdropping is not nice, Jack —we’ve talked about this before.”
“What you did was wrong, partially…” his mother continued, “You don’t eavesdrop on people —regardless of what it is they’re talking about.”
“Aww…”
“…Still…” patting his head, his mother smiled, “What did we do to deserve you…? You cheeky troublemaker…”