Riches To Rags

Chapter 6

S K Y L E R

"Mom, are you crazy?! This man could be a serial killer for all we know, and you're agreeing to this." I whisper yelled at my mom at the back of the taxi.

"He's being nice! Or would you rather I take favors from one of the women from the country club? Or do you want to ask Lana for help?" She shot back and I sighed.

She has a point, I can't take favors from anyone in this situation they would instead mock us. I just hope that my life doesn't get ruined because of all this mess.

My body felt the car come to a halt and I peeped at where it stopped. The neighborhood looked rundown and dark. The man came down from the car and opened the door but I couldn't get down because Crystal and Steven were sleeping.

They always manage to make me more irritated.

The cold breeze hit my face and i instantly feel really cold.

"Skyler wake your siblings up." My mom ordered while she and the man were looking for something in the bag.

With a sigh, I went to the other side of the door and i flicked Crystal's forehead twice before she woke up.

"Wake your brother." I say before walking away.

"This is my house," he told us gesturing to the wooden house that we stood in front of.

"Come in." He announced as he opened the door.

Steven didn't waste time before running into the house, Crystal also went in.

I'm only doing this because i have nowhere else to go.

I walked into the house and i immediately feel warm. I took a deep breath and examine my surroundings. The living room had two stripped sofas and a brown coffee table and a TV. The other part was the kitchen, the stove, dining table were all placed there.

"Where's mom?" Crystal asked and asked if on cue she came in with just one suitcase.

"Do you live alone?" Steven asked the man.

"Steven, don't talk to strangers!" I scolded and Steven moved away from him.

"Skyler, He's helping us, don't be rude." Mom scolded me.

Rude? I'm rude? Whatever.

"Of course. I'm rude, rude Skyler is always causing you problems." I mocked her and she glared at me.

She thinks she's the only one that can glare? I glared back at her.

"It's okay. And to answer your question, I do live alone." The man that caused all this answered Steven.

"Then why do you have extra rooms?" Steven asked to satisfy his stupid curiosity.

"The extra rooms were for my kids." he answered in a lower tone.

"Were? Did they move out?" Crystal asked.
"No, they died alongside my wife two years ago." He said and the room fell silent.

I wonder why, I mean his wife and kids just died, it's not like they were slaughtered.

"They didn't mean to intrude, I'm sorry." My mom apologized.

That's a first.

"It's okay..." He trailed on, probably just realizing that he doesn't know mom's name and i chuckled.

"Pearl." Mom said in a bid to stop my chuckling.

"Pearl. I'm Jasper. So, what are your names kids?" Jasper asked.