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The four Himble children slept quietly in their beds in the attic of the house. Dust covered the walls, and one window was broken, fixed by covering three pieces of duct tape over the hole. Hannah, the oldest sister, tossed over and bolted upright. She looked around the room. Two beds were on the left side, and two beds on the right. Hannah and her sister were on the left, and her two brothers on the right. Jimmy slowly opened his eyes as a faint purple streamed through the window and danced across the dirty hardwood. Jimmy sat up. He looked over at his brother, Sam, gently shaking his shoulder. "Sam? Com'on Sam. We gotta get to work." Sam bolted up. He pulled his clothes on, and he looked over at Jimmy, throwing a shirt his way. Jimmy pulled the shirt on and pulled his pants over one leg, then the other. Hannah started to get her clothes on, and after wards she gently shook her little sister, Magdeline. "Maggie. Maggie, sweetie. Time to get up." Maggie groaned as she rolled over and stuffed her head underneath the dust covered pillow. Hannah sighed and picked Maggie up. Maggie's nightgown flowed down, as she put her feet on the ground.
Maggie stood about four feet tall, skinny and a sickly pale color. Maggie was six, Hannah was fourteen, Sam was sixteen, and Jimmy was twelve. The four children didn't have the life of luxury, but they had each other, and they tried their hardest. Sam and Jimmy mowed lawns, Hannah cleaned houses, and Maggie made things to sell, including her own toys.
Maggie rubbed her eyes sleepily, and Jimmy looked down at her. Hannah opened the door, her steps creaking across the floor, careful not to wake her mother. Their mother worked so hard to support her family, even if she was barely supported herself. Hannah continued to walk across the floor, quietly opening the door. Maggie had changed into a red shirt and a pair of overalls. Jimmy was in shorts and a dirty yellow shirt. Sam wore a blue shirt and a pair of jeans, just now pulling a jean jacket along his arms. Hannah wore a purple dress her mother had made her. It was adorn with a few silver and flat sequines, and it had a little jacket to go along with it. Maggie pulled on a red jacket and a pair of worn gloves, with barely any fabric covering her fingers. Hannah trudged down the splintered steps, and she turned to her right, opening the kitchen door. The tile was clean and sparkling, all the dishes clean and scattered among the counter. The fridge had been wiped down, and the cabinets, even though some had a door hanging off by the shingle, or holes in the door or bottom, they too had been wiped clean.
Hannah dazzled at the work her mother had done when she came home from work that night. Her mother had probably already left for work, beings it was five fourty-five in the morning. Hannah walked through, and rumaged through the cabinets. There was little to eat, but a few cereal boxes were nicely laid out, even though you had to check them first. Hannah grabbed a couple boxes and laid them on the counter. She grabbed the last two, a total of five boxes in all. Sam gently pushed Hannah out of the way, inspecting each box. The coco puffs had a few dozen moths in it, and the lucky charms had a hole at the bottom left corner, indicating the arrival of mice. The last two, frosted wheats and frosted flakes were almost empty, but they supplied enough food for each child. Maggie pointed to the frosted flakes, and so Hannah poured her a bowl. Sam walked back to the fridge and opened the door. He hung his head and sighed. "No milk left." He said, gloomingly. Hannah looked at him and rumaged through her dress pocket, scraping together two dollars. Hannah rummaged through the pocket on the front of Maggie's overalls, finding a dollar and fifty cents. The boys rumaged through their pockets and found five more dollars, and twenty-six cents. Hannah pulled her jacket on and walked over to Sam. "Sam, I'm going to get milk, and possibly more cereal. Watch Maggie, and James, and make sure they don't get into the basement, or moms bedroom." Sam nodded at Hannah and put his hand on Maggie's back as the three children, Jimmy, Maggie, and Sam watched Hannah leave through the stain glass door. The September air was cool, and crsip, and the wind sent a tingly chill through your body, but Hannah continued through the low income neighborhood.
When Hannah got to Dollar General, she hugged her body tightly around her. The warm air sent goose bumps up her arms and legs, and made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She closed her eyes in sensation, but quickly moved along, for she had a task ahead of her. She walked through the produce department. The milk was two dollars, and one box of multiple quantity cereal cost a dollar and sixty-five cents. Four boxes of cereal, and milk. That was about all they needed. Hannah walked up to the counter and patiently waited as an elderly woman purchased a large amount of oats, peanut butter cookie batter, and a red coat. The red coat had leopard print fleece around the head and tips of the sleeves, and around the bottom, too. The coat looked warm and comfortable. Just looking at it put a warm sensation around Hannah, so she directed her line of gaze elsewhere.
After the groceries were paid for, Hannah walked home as it began to drizzle lightly. She pulled her beige shoulder jacket over her head and began to run home. When she got to the porch, she slammed her body against the door, the hinges creaking. Her hands were full of food and milk, so it made it hard for her to open the door. The longer Sam took to open the door, the wetter and soggier the bags became. One of the brown paper bags began to split open, the milk beginning to sink towards the porch. Maggie ran around the side of the house and skidded across the porch to cath the glass bottle. They always got glass ones so they could reuse them, or recycle them. Most of the time they reused them. Maggie raised they bottle in the air just as Sam opened the door. "Maggie, are you okay?" He asked, taking the bottle from her hands. Maggies elbows and knees were softly bleeding, as result of sliding across the splintered wood. Sam picked Maggie up. "Lets put the food away, and then we can get you fixed up." Sam said, readjusting Maggie's position in his arms. He slid by the door and let Hannah through. Hannah made her way to the kitchen and set the bags of groceries down, and Sam set Maggie down, pouring milk into her bowl. He gave her the bowl and she trotted across the kitchen to the table. She sat up high and ate like she would never get another piece of food again, savoring each bite delicately. Hannah poured the rest of the frosted flakes into a beige china bowl, slightly worn, with a triangle crack at the top. She poured a bit of milk into it, pouring some water in it to last longer for the milk. If it did rot, there was other produce the milk could be made into. Jimmy and Sam poured the frosted wheats into their bowls, also pouring in a bit of water. They all sat down at the table, saying grace and starting to catch up with Maggie. The kids were thankful for what they had, and even though they hadn't been blessed with much, their faith and hope laid in the hands of Jesus Christ, their savior.
After breakfast had been finished of delicately, being sure a single crum of bubble of milk wasn't left behind, the kids went onto their daily routine. Jimmy went around with his mower, offering a trimming to the higher income neighborhoods, Sam went around painting houses, waxing cars, and fixing appliances, Hannah sat animals and cleaned houses, and Maggie either shadowed her brothers, or she sold some of her things from house to house. This day, she sold her toys and some dolls she had sewn together.
Sam was the first to leave for his home and try to make a bit of money. He went to the McDaniels, who shook their heads. Instead, they gave him a cresent roll, and shood him away. He waxed one Chevy Malibu, and then painted house accents, but that was about it. 'Stupid Home Depot and their proffesional painters assistance.' Sam thought.
Jimmy had a stroke of luck, beings it had just rained, and everyone wanted to mow their lawns. He mowed four lawns, until a boy walked by and kicked the motor. The motor stalled, and stopped working. It sputted, and shot lawn trimmings out across the sidewalk. The current customers weren't thrilled. The gave Jimmy a dollar for working, but then they made him clean their sidewalk.
Maggie managed to sell a doll to a family that was currently expecting, and another doll to a three year old. She sold a couple toys, like her favorite stuffed bear, one eye missing. The bears fur was ruffled from many a wash, and some stitch was slowly coming loose, but she still sold it. She sold a sock monkey to another family, who then threw it out to their german shepard puppy. Maggie shed a single tear, but she managed to move on. It was for her family, and she was willing to sacrafice anything for a warm meal, or a nice house and a bed without holes in it, and possibly one that was big enough.
Hannah walked the regular dogs, and then she cleaned a couple houses. She fed a white tabby cat, a black splotch around it's left eye. His name was Kitkit. He loved Hannah. He lived in a higher income home, maybe the middle class. He had a nice home, pampered lifestyle, and a nice plump belly. With no one to share his home with, except his owner, Ms.Hocurdary, he was at ease.
After a long day of work, but little salary, the kids were tired. They were chilled to the bone, and there clothes were wet after a cold drizzle. Hannah wrapped a quilt around Maggie, who's short sandy brown hair was stuck down to her head. Hannah's long blonde hair was too soggy and wet. The boys hair hung in front of their eyes like a mop. Hannah and Jimmy's lemon blonde hair was enherited from their mother, and Sam and Maggie's hair was enherited from their father. He died in Irac, with the stupid and unnecessary war. Maggie was shivering, and her teeth were chattering behind her plump light pink lips. Sam rubbed Maggie in the blanket until she stopped shivering and most of her body was dry. Hannah dried her blonde hair, and sam and Jimmy just shook their heads off like a wet dog. After sleeping for two hours, Hannah heard the door open. She shook her siblinges awake, and the crept downstairs. Their mother was home. She looked tired, and brown and purple spots were formed under her icy blue eyes. But, she put on a perfect smile that stretched from ear to ear when she saw her children enter the room with open arms. Their faces were dirty, and the embraced their mother heartedly. Tears streamed down their cheeks, making a streak of clean skin through dirty brown skin. Their mother held on for dear life, kissing each child on the top of their heads. The children huddled together on the couch. Their mother sat down on her chair and kicked her shoes off. She pulled on the handle of the brown over stuffed chair, and a brown cushion swung up under her feet. As she laid back, her back popped like bubble wrap. She soon sat up, however. She had a cheerful grin on her face, as she took each childs hand in hers. "Hannah, Sammy, Jimbo, Maggie. I love you children so much, and I thought you'd be the first to hear, I met a man. He seems nice, and he wants to go out to dinner tommorow with me. He is the only chance we have," Mrs.Himble's voice broke at the end. "I would really appreciate it, if you guys could make some dinner for youself." The childrens face lit up in hope. They might get a second chance, and maybe, a new life. Maybe even their own rooms! The kids all nodded at their mother in unison. Maggie climbed up onto her mothers lap. She hugged around her neck and sat her raggy head of hair on her mothers shoulder. "Okay, Mommy." She said. The children all smiled Hannah stood up and took her mothers hand. "We can do it, Mom." The kids mother smiled gently. Her heart was warmed by the truimph her children put up, and how hard they would will themselves to go.
Mrs. Himble brushed a stray piece of blonde hair from her forehead. Sweat was starting to lower the speed of transitioning down her peachy colored skin. Mrs. Himble set Maggie on the carpet as she stood up and walked into the kitchen from the living room. The tinkling of bottles and the sizzle of the skillet notified the making of dinner had begun. Hannah helped her mother in the kitchen, and Sam, Jimmy, and Maggie all gathered around a coffee table. With only the one brown and overstuffed chair in the room, the children all sat on the floor around the table, stained endlessly, with dark stains, red stains, purple stains. The whole rainbow, probably. Some food had been plastered on the wood for decades and decades, refusing to lighten the grip in the slightest bit. Maggie sat up a board from a box under the coffee table that added onto the Mount Everest of games. Jimmy set up the variety of cards that you picked from the deck, and Sam set up the dice and the pieces you moved with.
After dinner for the past three years, the Himble family enjoyed a nice board game together. Each night the choice of board game would rotate from youngest to eldest. Tonight Maggie got to choose the game. They all were going to play Monopoly. After the game and set-up was all prepared, Sam, Jimmy, and Maggie helped Mrs. Himble in the kitchen. Maggie cleaned tomatoes, Sam toasted bread in a pan, and Jimmy pulled lettuce apart. When getting a discount at the grocery store Mrs. Himble worked at, she was able to afford produce for BLT's for dinner. The kids were excited. However, Mrs. Himble usually brought home good food. She just couldn't get it in large quantities, so sometimes she would go unfed.
When the sandwiches were pieced together in perfect harmony, the family sat down. They held hands, bowed their heads, and Hannah began grace. "Lord, thank you for this bounty that comes before us. Thank you for our family, and the little things in life many people can't appreciate. And most of all Lord, thank you for our mother." After Hannah was finished, she toppped it off with an amen, and they dug into their sandwiches like a plow. Maggie pulled her sandwich apart, so she could savor and appreciate each individual taste. The savory and salty taste of the bacon. The crispy and watery taste of the salad. The explosion of juice as you bit into the tomato slice. All of the flavors danced on the tip of her tongue to a joyful melody. Her taste buds tingled and sizzled with each warm bit of bacon that slid down her throat.
After dinner, the family finished their game of Monopoly, with Jimmy coming out as the winner, and Mrs.Himble not far behind him. Hannah was last in the places, with Maggie rearing in as third. After the family put the game up, and they finished off the last of bragging rights, the all gathered around in Mrs.Himbles bedroom. One king sized bed filled the room, with a box of clothes sitting next to a tall and polished 'gold' lamp. Mrs.Himble got up in the middle of the bed, and the beige comforter, stiched with flowers of pomegrante red. The kids all circled her, with Maggie laying at the foot of the bed. Jimmy was behind Mrs.Himble's head, Hannah was to the right of her, and Sam was sitting in a worn down rocking chair next to the bed. Mrs.Himble was going to tell a story, like she always did before the children were washed up, and sent to bed. She began with, 'Once apon a time'. Like any fantasy story. "Once apon a time, there was a castle off the coast of a beach. Beautiful grains of golden lined the perfect blue waters." Mrs.Himble took in a dramatic pause. "But, not everyone liked this castle. There was a queen, and an evil empire. They planned to take over the castle, in the beautiful kingdom. And they suceeded. But, the people weren't giving up that easily. They fought and fought and fought, but the battles had never been won by the beautiful kingdom. So, in the castle, was a beautiful young princess," Mrs.Himble ran her fingers throught Hannah's blonde hair for visual effects. "With long strands of golden, silky hair. And she was currently upset and disappointed at the barbarity of the other kingdom. So, one day, she sneaked over to the---" Mrs.Himble was interrupted by Maggie, who raised her hand high in the air. "Yeah, Maggie?" Mrs.Himble asked. "it's snuck, mama." Mrs.Himble looked baffled. She smiled, and closed her eyes. "She snuck over to the castle of the invading kingdom, seeking out to destroy it. But, there was something else. A handsome young prince guarded the castle, and he wasn't letting anyone in, except people from the village with important matters at hand. But, when he say the princess, even though he wasn't letting her pass, he instantly loved her." Mrs.Himble looked at the clock. It read nine thirty-one. "My heavens!" She exclaimed. "Off to bed, all of you." The kids groaned. Maggie especially. "Mom, what about the story?" Hannah picked her up. "Mommy will continue the story tommorow. " said Hannah. "Yes, baby. I will." Concluded Mrs.Himble. After embracing their mother good night, and taking a bath, the four children slept soundly in their bed.
 humdudgeon · Tue Oct 05, 2010 @ 09:50pm · 1 Comments |
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