My Dawn

Chapter 29

Mr Purkles stood up and walked to a drawer. He pulled it open and pulled a thick large book out and a thinner book. Then he sat next to Dawn. Dawn scrunched her legs closer to her body. He noticed and made sure to not scare her.

“Dawn, what do you know about your parents?” Mr Purkles asked.

“Not much, just their names. I barely remember what they look like.” Dawn admitted.

“Your parents were amazing. Take a look.” Mr Purkles said.

Mr Purkles first opened the yearbook. It showed photos of them in nearly every extracurricular activity. It even had a younger Mr Purkles in it. They did everything. From chess, to choir, to band, to mathletes, to cheer, to sports, to science, even volunteer committees. There was one more she didn’t recognise. It had Mr Purkles and her parents names only.

“What’s this one?” Dawn asked.

“This one we made up. It stands for ‘Be The Light’. The BTL club was where we stood up for everyone. We made a lot of enemies. But after school we lost contact because well, as you can see, I don’t have television or a phone.” Mr Purkles explained.

“Be the light. That sounds beautiful.” Dawn said.

“Your family let me know they had a daughter named Dawn. But that was from Brutus walking to my house to tell me. He explained that they never stopped BTL and that he was afraid they went too far. He left me a note to give to his daughter if I ever found her. But he said it was a safety measure. All you need to know, is that you are welcome here anytime. You are my family as much as they were.” Mr Purkles said.

Mr Purkles opened the other book which was a photo album of all of them. It showed them hanging out together, even as he got older with them and the last photos had her mother Miriam pregnant but didn’t show any more after that. Dawn looked at him.

“Do you have any spare photos? I don’t have any of them.” Dawn said.

Dawn was starting to cry again. He hugged her as she cried in his shoulder. Once the tears eventually stopped. He went outside to get more wood for the fire. Dawn was sniffling and laid down as she looked at a photo he had given her. The photo from his mantle.

The back had ‘Be The Light’ written on it with all their signatures. Dawn cried herself to sleep while Henry was chopping wood. He carried more into the house. He locked his screen door and he started chopping vegetables from his garden as well as cooking some chicken. He put it into a pot and aimed it above the fire. Mr Purkles watched Dawn.

Tate was walking with Mark and Patrick while Jessie stayed to watch Laura. They approached to see Mr Purkles staring at his couch. He sat near a window which was near them.

“Oh Miriam, she looks so much like you. She has both of your eyes.” Mr Purkles said.

Tate froze up and gestured them back.

“What’s up?” Mark whispered.

“He knew her parents.” Tate said.

“What?” Patrick asked.

“Miriam and Brutus Rivers were her parents. He just said Miriam and then said she had both their eyes. If that doesn’t say he knew her, then nothing will.” Tate said.

“What does that have to do with it?” Patrick asked.

“All she knows is their name and that she woke up on her 7th birthday to them dead. She can get the answers from him.” Tate said.

“That’s why she hates waking up on her birthday.” Mark said quietly.

“She hates her birthday. She always asked to sleep in because It’s their anniversary.” Tate whispered.

Mr Purkles walked to the fire to stir the food again. Dawn woke up to the smell. He was making a chicken stew.

“You’re awake again.” Mr Purkles said.

Dawn groaned as she sat up. They saw her from where they were, she was holding something thin.

“What else can you tell me about them?” Dawn asked.

“Your mother had a wicked sense of humour. But somehow, I feel like she passed it down to you.” Mr Purkles said.

Dawn giggled.

“She always giggled as well.” Mr Purkles said.

“Henry, how did you meet them?” Dawn asked.

“They helped me when I was being bullied as a new kid.” Mr Purkles said.

“What happened?” Dawn asked.

Mr Purkles sat right at Dawn’s feet and spoke softly.

“Kids were assholes. They used a bat with nails to hit me. Your father was a fighter and he had a black belt. He kicked their butts and they both took me to the hospital. Their motto was to always be the light in the darkness of other people’s life. They always stood up for everyone else.” Mr Purkles said.

Mr Purkles grabbed the note he mentioned, to give to Dawn. He handed it to Dawn along with a briefcase.

“Read these alone. It explains everything you need to know about their beliefs and their actions.” Mr Purkles said.

Dawn nodded and traced her fingers along the envelope.

“Use your phone and call that Mr Bridge, or text him. I can take you to the pond after you eat something.” Mr Purkles said.

“Thank you, Henry.” Dawn said.