Infidelity

They were six brothers and sisters. All of them huddled together as their father roared at their mother for burning the dinner. They heard objects flying around and hitting the wall. They heard sound of her mother's feet running across the room to safety . Yet that was short lived as the room to the bedroom came crashing down. Their little hearts sank as they heard a thud .. as if a head hit the wall and a scream and then all quiet. The door opened, " Children.. your mother had fallen off the stairs. I need to take her to the doctor. It looks more serious than the last time. Remember what she says, Family is important.. And to save that we must all be together, even if someday your mother leaves us. I have a feeling she will leave us today or later. But you have pizzas and some cake..okay. I have ordered them now. They will come in Thirty minutes. Remember to take the order, Thank and close the doors. Secure them. I may be away till late." I saw my sisters and brothers all nod and agree. They were hungry. Unlike me they have not been fed. Mummy always fed me first as I still was attached to a bottle. She always tucked one extra bottle by my side. "Remember Victor if I don't come back, remember to save yourself. Remember all Mamma taught. Remember to go away , far away from the six . " The Police came that night. Voices came to his cot. He stood up toddling and crawled out.  "Children what happened yesterday night?" Asked a tall man , his face looked wise like the books Victor's mother showed him to recognise faces. He looked concerned as if he did not like asking this question to the children. The six huddled together. The eldest Robin with deepest black hair spoke first, " We were sleeping." The other five nodded their little heads in agreement and whispered yes. The man tried again, " You went to sleep after the pizza or you had chicken. " The youngest of the six Agnes blurted out, "Chicken was burnt.." Robin jumped in , " So Daddy said no need to eat that, let's eat Pizza. Mummy was unhappy as she had cooked. I heard her close the door of the bedroom , I think the room upstairs, not the bedroom. "  The officer smiled at them encouragingly and said," So then the Pizza came?"  Agnes said, "Yes and it was delicious. " All other than Robin agreed. Victor saw Robin watch the Police Inspector quietly. Victor missed his Mama, his second bottle of milk was over in the night. He had biscuit stacks but this six was making him angry.  "Did the Pizza .. I mean did your parents have pizza too ? " Agnes said  Yes. But Robin spoke over her, " We really don't know.Daddy said Pizza is coming and I said I will take it as we did not want Mummy to be upset on us again for not reminding her that the chicken was burning earlier. We usually watch the clock but we forgot yesterday. She was upset on us and well Daddy came so we did not get any timeouts or the stick."  One of the Lady officers who was taking notes whispered not too quietly, I had noted that her earlier accidents were all related to anger management issues. The tall Officer shook his head sadly as if he wanted to say something but did not want to speak infront of the children.  Agnes asked," Is she not coming back ? We want her to be back but only if she wants to be back.. Daddy says.."  Robin put a bandon her shoulder and paused her and said  , " It's okay Agnes."  Victor was hungry as only a two year old can be and he was angry again as a two year old can be. Standing up near the door he shouted his fiercest cry, " Mummy good. Daddy beat Mummy. Beat the six. Keep them ..Ungry. They afraid. I not. I have biscuits." A pindrop silence. No one spoke. Till one of the twins, called Roger asked the Police," You have biscuits too?"  The lady Officer gave a kind of a broken down sob and ran out . She came back after sometime with a large box full of cookies and chocolates. The six jumped on it. Mummy would try to smuggle one or two but never quite succeed. The next day they would all fast ,except the baby. Ther father would make them write on copies Fasting is not starving! greed is bad. Fasting is good for soul. Their mother would be walking with a limp or would be holding a bandaged hand for a few days. The fast usually broke with a pizza, the biggest one there. Always the exception was the baby. Golden haired, blue eyed angel named Victor. They hated him but adored him but he only had milk and biscuits.  As the Lady Officer whose batch said Rose took notes and made the children comfortable and got more facts out of them, suddenly remember the toddler in diapers and a sleeveless top , "Let me make milk for you.." Victor said, " Nah. You give." He pointed at the tall Police Officer.  The Police Officer stood looking devastated hearing it. It seemed he had once lost someone whom he had fed milk. But he picked the boy up and said, "Okay buddy, let's get some food into you. " He touched Victor's golden curls in wonder , even as he thought of the father in Police Station and the mother in coma, both with darkest black hair and a possible Mediterranean genes..but the baby was hungry. He was sucking his thumb eagerly as he pushed him towards the kitchen and then down towards a hidden shelve to open to cartons of milk and biscuits.  He poured a tall bottle for the baby, "You will need to leave your bottle soon.." and touched his golden curls again. Then he found some more glasses and poured milk into six more glasses for the other kids all the while Victor grumbled, "Mine." He patted his hand on the child's thin but broad back. You will never be in want food little ones. "