Lost

Chapter 3 - Night Time

Almost like the day was repeating itself, by 5pm the two Chambers siblings were walking from Jodee's school back to their home. Ace had Jodee's backpack slung around his shoulder as she trotted next to him, her little hand clasped in his big one.

They were on the sidewalk and Jodee was five years old already, more than trustworthy not to run away so Ace wouldn't force her to hold his hand. But for some reason, the little girl was the one wanting to. At this age most kids never want to be picked up or holding someone's hand, but Jodee was the exact opposite. She loved her brother's affection and had no desire to be independent.

This was something Ace loved. Even though the boy wanted his little sister to be a strong and independent woman one day he also wanted her to still want him to be around. To need him like he needed her. So right now, Ace had no thoughts of pushing her to be on her own right now. Maybe when she got older...

"What do you want for dinner, Joes?" Ace asked, peering down at the mop of curly brown hair that had come completely out of the braid he had woven into her hair that morning. 

Jodee's lip stuck out into a pout, thinking long and hard. "Do we have pasta?"

"Yeah, I'm sure we do." Ace nodded to himself, trying to recall in the back of his brain if they had pasta or not.

That reminded the 16-year-old that he really needed to go to the store as they were running low on groceries. But that also meant he needed to get some money which he didn't have. Ace pushed the thought out of his mind, he needed to focus on groceries and not the black hole that was his life if he thought of all the basic necessities he and his sister were lacking due to many different reasons. His fault.

Ace told his brain to shut up — he was not going to be having this debate with himself while he was with his sister. 

He had a mini rule with himself; any time he was with Jodee everything had to be great, he wouldn't think about the hell hole that is his life. Without Jodee around he was free to spiral to any thought train he wanted to. 

"I want that."

"Alrighty, princess. Then that we shall have." Ace said, affectionately leaning down to rub the back of her head.

It was only a couple more minutes when the siblings arrived in front of their worn down house. Ace's hand left Jodee's as he fished in his back pocket for the keys. Jodee reached out to grab Ace's jean-clad legs so she at least had something to hold onto as she looked around.

Jodee was a curious kid, always looking around and asking questions. Even to things she had seen before or knew the answers to. Ace hoped that meant that she'd be smart — more than she already was — because he wanted his sister to be everything he wasn't, including making sure she stayed in school and got a good education.

It wasn't that Ace wasn't educated, he was a bright kid. It was just that he wasn't a scholar or cared for getting more than a college degree at some random one — he didn't need an expensive, big name college. Ace had other plans in the job category...

The lock made a satisfying click and the two siblings entered into the door, Ace making sure to close and lock it after them. He didn't see their fathers car in the driveway and that meant that he wasn't home ... for now.

If the old man wanted in, he better have remembered his key. The boy thought bitterly.

"Are you cold?" Ace asked his sister when they got into her room, leaning down to help her take off her jacket and shoes.

"Uh-uh." Jodee shook her head, no.

"So, no bath?"

The 16-year-old had become a parental figure when he was just 11 years old and was forced to make a lot of decisions on behalf of Jodee. But he also knew that she was a reasonable kid so he listened to her opinion on what she wanted and didn't want to do as well — within reason, of course.