What Happened in Between

Vocal Doctors and Speech Teachers

(WARNINGS: Murder mention, Panic attack)

The first day of homeschooling went well considering that all Mitch wanted to do was sleep because of how tired he was. He didn't know how to explain, but he kept yawning every five minutes. The day eventually ended when Mitch fell asleep while working on his math work and Esther didn't have the heart to wake him up so she just carried him to his room and put him in his bed. She smiled when he cuddled up to his teddy bear that was given to him when he was a baby and walked into the kitchen, sighing quietly to herself. 12:00 flashed back at her, reminding her that Avi will come back at this time. The second she thought that, Avi came in, papers in his arms. He set them down and smiled his sister.

"Eight to twelve is possibly my favorite times of the day," Avi admitted, flipping through the papers. His biweekly paycheck just came in and he get excited. He got payed a decent amount, but it was enough for the kids to go what they wanted. "How did it go?"

"It went well," Esther answered, nodding towards the work. Mitch's sloppy yet eloquent writing stared back at her, making her think deeply for her next sentence. "He's a smart kid. I just wished that he could communicate with children his age more."

"Adults are essential, too," Avi murmured, organizing his papers. The music store was surprisingly not busy today. People like to come in the morning because that's when the new instruments and songs come in. "He's just so shy. I can't do that to him."

"I know," Esther acknowledged, getting some lemonade out of the refrigerator. She poured Avi and herself a glass and handed a glass to her younger brother. "He only talks to Kirstin and Scott. He doesn't have the social opportunities that his older siblings received. Scott and him are complete opposites. Kirstin is in the middle, but she's more of Scott than Mitch. Maybe you should put into day care or something."

"And have kids make fun of his disorder?" Avi almost yelled, his green eyes turning dark. His sister jumped, not expecting his sudden anger. "Es, I know that's what seems best for him, but kids are mean. They'll make fun of him for something he can't change. They'll make fun of his disorder. That's not fun!"

Esther sighed to herself as she sipped her lemonade, a flashback occurring. Carson's first born, a beautiful girl called Vic. Vic was a gorgeous ten year old. She had beautiful grey eyes and red hair. She had a love for music and animals. All of that was taken away from Carson. She saw him abuse and murder poor Vic.

She told everyone that she had no idea that Carson was capable of that, but she lied. She lies. She knew that Carson would abuse and even murder Mitch because he had the same personality that Vic had; however, she did not tell anyone of his terrifying past. Why?

She loved him too much.

And she still loves him, despite the fact that he hurt her sweet and fragile nephew.

~~~

September ended quickly and October came in like it was nothing. Leaves began to fall from trees and it was windy. Scott and Kirstin were still in school and enjoyed the third and fourth grade. Mitch loved homeschooling, mostly because it was only three days per week. Other than that, he usually went with Avi to help in the music store or stayed at the house. It was boring, but he survived. His schedule, however, will be changed and he will not like it one bit.

"Mitchy, do you want to go the park?" Kevin asked, looking into the room. Mitch had just woke up and was playing with one of Kirstin's Barbies. Kevin smiled when he saw his younger son attempt to braid the blond hair of the famously beautiful doll that children love. "You could bring Barbie if you want to."

"O-oo-ok-kay," Mitch answered, hopping of his bed. He hugged the plastic doll, straightening out the purple dress. "Da-ad-ad-ddy, wh-h-y do I ta-a-alk like th-hi-is?"