Little Sinclair (Moonlight Tales Presents)

Bullies Everywhere

Leah got better over the course of the week.

She slept longer than usual and it pleased her parents, but Sinclair often caught Prim and Honey muttering their worry over her health. He had accompanied them to the hospital twice, but nobody said a word about the results.

With Prim's permission, Matilde took Leah out into the yard to play, with Sinclair tagging along, of course. They took long strolls and he discovered that there were even bigger mansions than the Hopkins's scattered about the vast estate, but with smaller yards. To Sinclair, they looked empty and imposing, like big bullies, although Matilde did clarify that they could flood with such large amounts of people on certain nights that one would be shocked at the liveliness.

"The Woods live there." Matilde pointed to a tall white building, slowly pushing Leah's stroller.

Today, Leah was awfully quieter than normal, dressed in a bright blue tutu and soft pink shoes. Her hair had been flattened against her scalp, exposing colored cheeks and teary, watchful eyes. She had been wailing right before they walked outside. Sinclair often glanced at her and felt a pang of sadness if their eyes met and she did not smile. He knew she was very sad and sick too, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Unlike adults, she could not say more than a few familiar words, and so, there was no way for her to communicate how she felt. Sinclair would have loved to know what she was feeling. He dearly wished she would grow up quickly and have conversations with him – like Matilde did. That was the only way he could truly know what was wrong with her.

"That one belongs to Mr Aaron Brooks." Matilde continued, lifting a chin toward a different mansion. It was flanked by very vibrant vegetation. "His wife used to be a dear friend of Mrs Hopkins until, sadly, she passed away two years ago."

Because she held on to his leash in the same hand with which she gripped the stroller handle, Sinclair had to walk at her pace. He could barely see the mansion because of its tall fence, but appreciated the fact that Matilde had considered him enough to describe what it looked like.

"Mrs Jillian Brooks loved to garden," She went on. "So when she passed on, Mr Brooks let all her plants grow wild. It's why the place looks like a little jungle. I pity him. He's barely moved on. He always looks a little wistful and a little sad. You can see it through his smile whenever he says good morning. He wears a hat half the time so you rarely ever see his eyes. Boyd says they're a vibrant blue."

At that point, Sinclair glanced up at Matilde because she suddenly seemed to be speaking to herself and not to him.

Uninterestedly, he threw his gaze to the other end of the asphalt where light poles stood in a sequence. Several street signs were stationed at every corner, leading into a different street. Each was green with words written in bold white letters and an arrow serving as a guide, pointing at said direction. There were pleasant looking bushes here and there, with flowers peeking out of them and bees perching in them. Sinclair flinched at the thought of being stung by one. He once knew a dog who had experienced a bee sting before. Malika. She was just as young as he was, spent two weeks at the vet and never came back. No one really discovered what became of Malika, but he still hoped she was alright.

"Ah, look who it is!" Matilde exclaimed, making Sinclair turn.

Coming up to them was a blonde teenage girl leading a tall dog by its leash.

"Eloise." Matilde halted with a large smile.

"Hello and good morning, Matilde." Eloise's bright face brightened some more as she lowered herself to peer into the stroller. "Oh, hi, Leah. I haven't seen you since New Year's party."