Claimed by my Unexpected Protector

Chapter Four

Eralia’s POV

Breakfast turns out to be one sliced banana that is over ripe, shared between the three of them, with some yogurt that didn’t yet smell weird while I went without. Then, I got the trio into their coats and shoes, forced them to have their teeth and hair brushed, and ushered them out of the door to our trailer, locking it carefully behind me.

I hold Tanner’s hand tightly in my left, Austin’s in my right, as Liberty holds the six year old’s other hand, the four of us walking in a line down the dirt track as the early morning sunshine trickles down on us through the trees. The park is devoid of people; the only sound is the growling barks of a dog from the trailer two doors down from us. The frantic scratching at the door with its paws grows louder as we pass, causing me to hurry my steps as I head for the entrance and turn right.

The road is light on traffic, few cars come out this far, most decent people wanting to stay as far away from our home as they can. I nod to Liberty, who moves behind Austin as I swap sides with Tanner, joining the two boys together. We walk in single file along the edge of the road, stepping over the pot holes that litter the cracking asphalt, hugging the verge as there is no sidewalk here.

It's twenty minutes before we see our first signs of houses, the one story, modest, wooden buildings are still veritable palaces compared to our own residence.

‘Look at their yard’ Tanner whispers behind me in awe, and my feet find the sidewalk, and I breathe a sigh of relief that we are off the road again. I glance over to our right to see what has caught the little boy’s eye and find us next to a surprisingly well kept lawn with large pots full of colour, placed decoratively around the space, a chain link fence wrapped around the owner’s property.

‘I wish we had a yard’ Austin mutters sadly, ‘we could play catch and tag outside.’

I force a smile as I look back at him, ‘maybe one day we’ll have one’ I reply, ‘when I have my GED and I can work full time.’

Austin grins back, nodding, ‘yeah! When you finish your school time, you can get a house like this, and then me, Tan and Libs can live with you!’

My chest aches as I nod back at him, the fact that he doesn’t even flinch at the thought of leaving our mother and living with me.

As the sidewalk widens, we can now walk two abreast, so I take the lead with Tanner whilst Liberty follows behind holding tightly to Austin’s hand. I can hear her murmuring to him as we walk, her voice stern.

‘You have to walk on this side Aussie, I’m the oldest, I go by the road, not you, I have to keep you safe.’

It is another thirty minutes before we reach the elementary school, I turn toward the entrance, and usher Austin and Liberty toward the door, the two children holding each other’s hand tightly, as they walk toward the grey building that looks more prison like than educational facility.

‘Bye guys, I’ll see you after’ I call out to them, my siblings turning to glance back at me, Austin waving before my little sister tugs him onward and they disappear inside the building where I know Liberty will make sure he gets to his class before heading to her own.

Glancing down at the little boy beside me, I hitch a grin, ‘so, shall we head to pre-K?’ I ask, pumping as much enthusiasm into my voice as I can.

Tanner’s lips droop downward as he looks down at the ground, his scruffy shoes kicking at the ground not answering me.

‘It will be so much fun’ I continue quickly, ‘you can play all day and then have snack time! Oooo I wonder what snack it will be, maybe cucumber slices? Yum!’

‘I don’t want to go’ he mutters softly.

‘Come on, it will be great’ I try to cajole him, ‘maybe they’ll have the paints out today, you can paint a cool picture! We can put it on the wall of our room!’

‘Can’t I just come to work with you?’ he asks in a small voice.

I sigh, hitching my bag more firmly on my shoulder before crouching down to his level.

‘I’m sorry baby, but I can’t take you to work, it gets really busy in there, and I won’t be able to watch you properly’ I reply.

His troubled eyes meet mine, his teeth sinking into his lower lip, ‘I’ll be good’ he whispers, ‘I’ll sit really still and not be naughty, I promise.’

I shake my head, guilt gnawing at me as his face falls, tears starting to fill his eyes.

‘I don’t like it there’ he mumbles, ‘the other kids are mean to me.’

I swallow thickly, ‘in what way?’ I ask gently.

Tanner’s lips tremble slightly, ‘they don’t want to play with me, I have to play by myself or with Miss Harriett.’

His words are like a gut punch, as I struggle to find a way to make this better for him. ‘I don’t think they mean to be nasty baby, maybe they are just shy? Like you? Maybe you should ask one of the other kids to join your game instead?’ I offer lamely as he’s been at the facility for over six months now, it’s not like he’s the new kid.

My brother shrugs his shoulders at my words, ‘yeah, maybe’ he mumbles, pushing a pebble around with the edge of his shoe.

‘So . . . shall we go?’ I push gently, ‘give it another try?’

Tanner nods, though I can tell he still doesn’t want to go, but doesn't want to upset me by fighting further.