Appointment with Julius Vanderwall @ 0930. Set up by Alana Westford.

“So then I was all: “I just want to go home!” and they were like: “No one cares that you want to go home!” Then we got into a fight. They kinda beat me up but I escaped.”

“Were you scared?”

“Oh yeah. I’d never been in a fight in my life. And that lady was mean to me too. I’d never been by myself before ya know? My mom has always been there for me.”

“What about your dad?”

“My dad…my dad isn’t very nice.”

“Yes, I’ve met him.” I bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying something else.

“Yeah, everyone gets that voice when they talk about him. Everyone but Caine. He lets everyone know that he hates him. Caine doesn’t like him but I know why he doesn’t like him.”

“And why’s that?”

“‘Cause my dad killed his dad. And he’s still sad about it.”

“Who? Your father?”

“No, cousin Caine. He gets a sad look in his eyes when he thinks about his dad. He must have loved him a lot.”

“I’m sure.  I like your hair cut.”

Julius ran his fingers through his hair then shrugged. “It’s just a trial hair cut. Miss Alana said she’s going to style it better today.”

“How come, how come you’re not writing anything down? Cousin Caine said said you always write stuff down.”

“I’m always writing things down with Caine because he’s always saying so much. You and I are playing a game though.”

“Yeah, don’t Wake the Llama is always fun! Me and my mom always used to play it before my dad said it was for babies and threw it away.”

“Have you spoken to your mom yet?” I carefully placed a stick down and watched it wobble before it stilled.

“No…I want to but I don’t wanna worry her even more.”

“Why would knowing where you were worry her more?”

“‘Cause then she’d want to come after me and I don’t think cousin Caine likes her either. And then I don’t know if she’s still with my dad. I don’t want to go back home if he’s still there.”

“Why not?”

“You sure do ask a lot of questions.”

I laughed. “That’s my job.”

“Maybe I should get a job like that. Caine says if I’m not eating then I’m talking. Miss Alana sure can cook.”

“Is that right?”

“Uh huh. She cooks all the time and she always makes enough so I can have seconds. And she smells good too. And her skin is soft. And she’s smart.”

“Really?”

“Uh huh. Caine likes her too. Alot.”

“How can you tell?”

“He’s always looking at her and sniffing her. And he calls her princess…but she likes him too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure! When he’s not looking at her she’s looking at him. And she always gives him double portions at the dinner table. And she doesn’t move away when he touches her.”

“Yeah, that sounds like they like each other.” I placed another stick and watched as the whole thing collapsed.

“I win!!!!”

“Again!” Laughing, I picked up the sticks. “So Julius. Why don’t you want to go back home if you’re dad is there?”

Julius scratch his head then sighed. “Because I hate him.”

I opened my mouth to say something but there was a knock on the door then Alana poked her head in. “It’s time to go Julius!”

“‘Kay! It was nice meeting you ma’am,” Julius said as he hopped from the chair.

“It was nice meeting you too Julius. Take care.”

“I will! Thank you!” She watched as Julius skipped out of the room. I waved to Alana and she gave a quick wave back before quietly shutting the door.

After putting the game away I grabbed my notepad and wrote one sentence:

Ethan Vanderwall has scarred his son, perhaps for life.