Those Who Remain

Three - Safeguard

- to keep secure from danger or against attack...

"Are you excited about your birthday?" Cash asked, smoothing a braid down Yani's back. Cash smiled at her work. It had taken her several Youtube videos and practicing to get the cornrows right. She curved the parting pattern around the crown of Yani's head so the braids could be worn in a bun or down. She planned to redo them before Yani's birthday.

Yani shrugged, picking at her slice of pizza but did not say anything verbally. She'd already moved all the pepperonis off and now focused on the cheese. Cash sighed, not even surprised.

For the better part of a year, Yani hadn't said much of anything. Staying at Granny Rietta's house wasn't a walk in the park. Most days the girls had to fend for themselves. Granny Rietta began to get mean once they all realized Jonathan and Mina weren't coming back. She threatened to give the girls up to CPS every time she got mad. If they made a little bit of noise or the other kids got in trouble, Cash and Yani got the punishment.

When she turned 14, Cash faked a worker's permit and got a job after school at a local grocery store that paid her under the table. The little money she got went to feeding her and Yani, until Granny Rietta realized what was going on. Now she took half of Cash's pay because they couldn't stay with her "rent free" anymore.

"You're not excited to turn 8?" Cash asked, smiling and elbowing Yani until she grinned a little. Yani pushed her away and laughed.

"I want a cake," she whispered. Cash nodded.

"We're going to get cupcakes for your class," she whispered. Yani nodded and continued to eat her pizza. Cash looked around the park, noting the time on her watch. She had to go to work soon. The park was so peaceful that she didn't want to leave. The air was chilling but fall hadn't quite hit yet. Although the park was full of people, there was enough space that the picnic table area they sat at was not full at all. They'd come after school and both did their homework. Cash's shift was 5-9 that day.

"You need me to walk you to the house?"

Yani shook her head. "Can I go to work with you?"

Cash sighed. "Why you want to go with me all of a sudden? You said you got bored in the backroom?"

Yani bit her lip and looked around the park. "I packed a book today...I just...don't like being there when you aren't there."

"Why? Cash snapped. Yani jumped a little.

"No..no reason."

Cash pushed her shoulder to make them face each other. Yani immediately started crying.

"Don't lie to me. Is it Ronnie?" Yani didn't respond. "Kayani!"

She nodded. "He's mean."

Cash's nose flared before she looked up at the sky and tried to calm down. She already knew what Yani meant by that and it caused her blood to boil.

"I'm going to whoop his ass."

"Can I just go to work with you?" Yani pleaded. Cash nodded before she began packing up their things. "Go throw the box away."

Yani hopped off the bench and snatched the empty pizza box off the table. She skipped over to the metal trash can and stuffed the trash inside, spinning around a few times before heading back to her sister. Cash chuckled, holding her backpack out before standing up and dusting her jeans off.

The two walked out of the gates of the park and turned right to head down to the grocery store. Cash took Yani's hand, pulled her to the inside of the sidewalk and then held her hand. Yani kicked out a rock while looking around the street.