Aalayah and the Stars

Chapter 1

Kates POV:

"No darling, if we wait any longer to go to the grocery store, we'll starve" I hear my wife, Charlotte, say to me as we're walking down the very snowy sidewalk in New York.

We just moved to New York from Arkansas about a month ago, I got offered a very good paying job that entails about $40 an hour. So we truly couldn't pass up this opportunity.

My hand is on the small of her back, to ensure that she doesn't get lost or feel unsafe in this unfamiliar area.

"We don't have time today, Charlotte, we have to hurry back to your job, your lunch break is almost over. It's 10 minutes till. Not to mention the fact that I work till 2 am, and by the time I get home the grocery store will be closed."

I hear my wife groan at my insistence to go tomorrow. I mean honestly, we could just go out to dinner after we finish up the at the kindergarten she works for, were not going to starve.

A loud fit of laughter brings me out of my thoughts, making me look towards the direction it came from. It was two little girls, they both looked quite young, middle school if I had to guess. Although, one thing that stood out about the two young girls was the fact that they were both in a very unfit school uniform for this environment. A white polo shirt displaying the schools name , along with a knee length skirt.

"They're going to catch a cold, they shouldn't be dressed like that in this weather, it's too cold.", my wife's worried voice rang through my ears, drawling me out of my observation. I hum at her taking a notice as well.

"I was thinking the same thing, it's way too cold out here". I shake my head in worry and disapproval.
Shouldn't they be in school? It is only 1 pm.

I shake my head and look back to the path in front of me, trying to mind my own business. But as I look over to my wife, I can see that her nosy self is still looking. I shake my head with a smile and take a quick glance towards the underdressed girls myself.

As they start to get closer I start to hear their conversation but I try to ignore it and listen to the noisy New York sidewalk

"So what'd your mom say when she went over to your house, I heard she was being a real dick towards your dad" , I hear the young girl begin to say as the other little girl agrees, "yeah, mom was saying how he's a real piece of crap and how I need to go live with her because I'm so messed up in the head and need to be taken care of or whatever."

Looking over to Charlotte I see her listening intently to their conversation, as she usually does to everyone that passes by, I tell her to stop being nosy to which she ignores me, of course.

"but you're not even that messed up, what the hell?" I hear the young girl say to the obviously shorter little one. "they think I relapsed because I didn't eat for one day" , the little girl rolls her eyes as she recalls what they had said to her.

"Psh, well that's stupid. Tell them to get out of your life, if you're not doing well you'll come to them." The little girl makes a confused but funny looking expression, "No I won't" she laughs at the young girl."Aht, well no duh idiot, I meant just say that to get them off of your back, dumb dumb." The little girl exclaims an "oh" as they erupt into a fit of giggles.

The young girl wipes the tears out of the corners of her eyes and laughs while saying "what time do you have to go grab your sister from school?"

The little girl giggles "At two, but I have to figure out a way in the house since dad forgot to leave me a set of keys." The young girl looks at the little one in shock, "he forgot to leave you keys?!" She exclaims. "He's not going to be home for 2 months how are you going to get in and out of the house?"

The little girl just shrugs nonchalantly, "I figured I would just break the window and pay to get it fixed."

"Aalayah" the young girl says loudly , causing the little girl to turn her head to look at her. "What?!" Aalayah exclaims , "it's a perfectly good idea, with good reasoning too."

The young girl wheezes and struggles to get out a "no it's not" , her laugh sounding more and more like it should be coming from an old man rather than a young girl.

I watch as the little girl rolls her eyes and looks away with a small smile playing at her lips.

I begin to take in the little girls full look as she continues to zone out in the opposite direction of Charlotte and I. She has the most adorable dark brown hair, pulled back into the cutest messy French braids, looking as if she slept in the hairstyle.