SteeleKizz, Inc

Unusual Request

Sean

A couple of weeks had passed since Sean and Cara seen Nina request for a grocery delivery. This gave Sean enough time to come up with a well planned scheme to get the delivery man’s attention. Using his skillful antics, he’d planned to get his attention long enough to pass along a note. His only concern, would the guy throw it away or ignore it. Cara was still unsure what his plan was when the guy came.

In the mean time, the twins went about their new educational routine, not unlike how it was normally just didn’t require dressing up. Frequently, they were starting the morning studies in their pajama’s until Nina demanded that they change during a resting period. Nina and Anna synchronized their routines so that it felt more like school than studying at home constantly. The kids quickly were burning out on not being able to go out and do anything, even visit a different park.

It’s not like their father was home enough to even really notice their absence. Since their arrival, about three months at this point, they had only seen him twice. The leaves were starting to change and fall in the back yard. The air was becoming cooler with the changing of the season. Typically, the children would be unnerving their mother with what costume they wanted for trick or treating. This year, not only did they know they wouldn’t be able to go out trick or treating, but they often thought about their mom and recalled about her wild ideas for costumes. Many previously enjoyed holidays and events were just another day to the twins, they started losing interest in what they loved doing before. Soccer or ballet, playing in the park with other kids, or book club night for them and their mother at the local library, were fleeting thoughts.

After so many times of begging to just go out to the street to ride bikes, or take a hike down the hill to the beach, had become one more broken promise. They grew hopeless from being couped up for so long. Sean counted the days until things would get better or change. He itched to just run down the drive way and keep going, seeing if he could run passed the guards and escape, even if it was just for a little while. If he knew that Cara would be safe, he’d do it, but he knew she was not the best or quickest runner compared to him. She was really good at climbing trees.

A new treat they gave themselves after testing it many late nights, they’d learned how to sneak out of Cara’s bedroom which faced the front of the house and viewed the ocean on the roof from her window. Lately, they’d grabbed blankets and just watched the stars fill the sky and try to point out the different stars and constellations that they were learning about. Sometimes, they’d even drift off to sleep with the early morning light waking them soon enough to get back to their own rooms before being caught by Nina or the patroling guards.

One day, Anna had declared that it was a no school day, and didn’t come. Nina was planning a special meal for the kids. Erick had called and spoke with her saying he would be returning over the weekend for a couple of days. He expected her to plan meals those days including him. She rushed about the house that day doing a bit more cleaning and prepping, even calling to place an order for groceries to be delivered.

Sean had caught the tail end of the delivery call, but not enough to know what was being delivered. He brushed it off and went about his day reading the next chapter of his school book. That day he spent his time in the corridor between their rooms. They’d made a small cubby hole where they could sit without being in one room or another.

Cara had been in her room working on an art project when he heard her footsteps rush to him and she bent down shook his shoulders to get his attention.

She kept her voice low. “Does he have jet black hair and a quirky grin?”

Sean was not sure what she was referring to, he’d been focusing on his book and forgotten that he’d briefly described the delivery driver to her at one point.

“Who?” he asked.

She smacked his arm. “You know. Him? ”

It took a minute while she mimed someone carrying in items and bags on their arms. He had to jog his memory as she kept trying to describe who it was she seen outside. As if something came to her, she dashed into his room and came back with the hidden piece of paper and put it in front of his face.

“That HIM?” she declared.

“Ohh?” Sean finally answered realizing what she was trying to relay to him. “Yeah. Why?”

She pointed with her finger out her window. “He just pulled up and is getting stuff from his vehicle.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to a part of her window where they wouldn’t be spotted, but could see the driveway. Sean stood amid her pink gauzy curtains watching the back side of the guy pulling bags from the van and putting it in a wagon of sorts. When he turned to face the house, Sean confirmed it was him. He looked over his shoulder at Cara.

“Yep, that’s him,” he said.

She gave a quick jump for joy and headed downstairs as casually as she could, even though he could tell she had an unexplained excitement in her steps. He clenched the note in his hand and said a silent thank you to the powers that be for this moment.

He waited a few minutes as the younger male brought in the wagon of food and helped unload the bags of food, placing them on the counter. Cara sat on the stool out of the way watching quietly. The younger male looked over at her and gave her a pleasant smile.

“Hi there!” he said.

Cara giggled at the attention. Nina looked at Cara and motioned for her to go outside and play so that she could put things away. Cara hopped off the stool and trudged her way passed the guy. She stretched her neck back at him and waved with a smile as she left the kitchen area.

“Byyeee!” she laughed darting down the hallway to go outside and play. All the while, he was sneaking down the stairs and hiding out in the chair by the doorway. He was able to pay attention to what everyone was doing and when the delivery guy would exit the house.

“Cute kids,” he said to Nina.

“You have no clue,” she replied laughing. “They are the boss’s twins. Lost their mother not long ago.”

“Ah,” he said and hefted the biggest back on the island counter top. “I’ve got a couple more bags still to go. I’ll be back, senora.”

Nina had to give her own girlish giggle at his comment. She fluffed her hair, adjusted her shirt as he turned his back to head to the van. She then turned to put things away without realizing that Sean was not in the house.

Sean snuck out the front door behind him. He watched as the guards kept a close eye on the driveway and entry. Sean tiptoed up to the van as the driver loaded up more.

“Hi,” he said to him. The dark haired guy sensed that someone was near him and looked over his shoulder as he placed the next load on the wagon.

“Hi, back,” he said politely. “I guess your the brother to the other one inside, right?”

Sean held his hands behind his back, rocking back and forth watching him. He gave a nod.

“Yep. That’s Cara. I’m Sean.”

“Nice to meet you, Sean,” he said putting the last bit in the wagon. “Want to help?”

Sean became bug eyed when he was allowed to do something new. “Sure!”

“Alright,” said the man.

“What’s your name?” Sean asked.

The guy was quiet for a moment as he hefted the heavy wagon onto the porch. Sean wondered just how strong that guy was. The wagon seemed to be pretty heavy.

“Call me Jack,” he finally commented. “That easy to remember?”

Sean shook his head. He walked in behind Jack as the last load was brought in. Sean was surprised when Jack didn’t mention finding Sean outside. He went about unloading the remaining bags and gave Nina the invoice.

“Looks like you’ve got a busy day ahead of you, Senora. Hope your weekend is a beautiful one. The weather I hear is suppose to be a pleasant one.”

“Thank you, senor. Adios!” Nina said but was busy with putting stuff away.

Jack pulled the wagon out of the house making sure that nothing was left behind. When he was outside, he lifted the wagon up and folded it for easy carrying. Sean contineud to trail behind.

“Looks like fun,” Sean spoke up.

“What’s that?” Jack asked.

“What you do? It looks like fun.” said Sean.

Jack loaded the wagon in the van and looked over the clipboard. He looks around the area and at the sky and partial ocean view.

“It can be, Sean,” he said. “When you don’t think of it like a job, it’s certainly more fun. You have a good one you hear.”

Jack had closed the van door and walked around to the driver’s door. He opened it and sat there for a moment determining his next stop on his route.

Sean stood there momentarily. He extended his hand out to Jack.

“Yes, nice to meet you, Jack.”

Jack looked down at the younger boy and smiled. He accepted the handshake and felt something in the boys hand. He looked down at the small piece of paper folded like origami. Sean had already took his hand back and rushed back in. Waving at the door at Jack before Nina ushered him in and waved herself.

Jack took the note and put it on the clipboard. He’d been warned not to spend much time here. In and out. He buckled up and headed out of the driveway, waving at the guards politely as he left. They replied with a sombre nod.

Once he was a bit away, he took the note from the clipboard and opened it. It had a lot of information on it for such a tiny piece. However, with his keen eyesight, he could make it out. The smell of the boy lingered on it. There was something tickling at his senses about him.

The note had him nearly tear up. Sean had written that he hadn’t spoken to his mom’s grandparents since they left California. Him and his sister are worried and know that they are too. Please call them and let them know they are safe, love and miss them. He even wrote down their real names and their phone number. At that moment, Jack longed for his own mother that he hadn’t seen or talked to in almost a decade. If for nothing but the memory of his own mother’s constant worry, he’d call those kid’s grandparents and let them know that their grandchildren were fine.