Faking Robin

Chapter 2 - Mysterious Letter

Chapter 2 - Mysterious Letter

Edited by Lostindreamz, thank you for your awesome work!

See you tomorrow, Robin," Cass smiled, waving me a good bye after we put the ‘Closed’ sign in front of the wooden framed glass door. 

"See you," I smiled back before we both went our separate ways. Today Cass and I worked extra hours. It's almost midnight and my body felt like it was going to break into pieces soon. Good thing home is only a ten minutes’ walk.

I knocked on the wooden door in front of me once I’d reached home, waiting for Leo to open it. The creaking sound of the door welcomed me along with a smiling Leo, "Welcome back, young lady," he joked.

"Thank you, Leo. You might want to prepare my bath," I smiled playfully at him, taking off my shoes. "How are the others? And auntie?" 

His playful expression turned into a worried one as soon as I mentioned our aunt, which made me start feeling anxious as well. "She insisted on doing the laundry today. You know her. And I think she sprained her back," Leo explained, eyeing the closed door to the room where Aunt Anne slept in.  

I sighed thinking of Aunt Anne, she is certainly not young anymore, and taking care of all of us is obviously not easy, even with Leo and my help.

Leo went to the kitchen and took two apples from the bunch we had stolen yesterday. He threw one to me and then sat beside me, turning on the small old TV we had.

"How was work?"

"Just as usual, although, there was this one customer who got mad for no reason," I bit my apple. Hmm... My favourite.

"You know, Robin, I think we should switch places. You wait at home, I’ll work," Leo looked at me. I stopped watching whatever show was going on and looked at him right in the eye.

"No. And you know the reason."

"Because you're older than me? I could understand that when I was younger, but I think this is getting ridiculous! I'm only two years younger than you. I can take care of myself, if you're worrying about me coming home late." 

I straightened myself. Leo was fifteen. He and I were the two oldest kids in the house, because the others were all below twelve. I treasured Leo like how I did the other kids so there was no way I could let him work, especially when I needed him to look after the kids and help Aunt Anne.

Leo looked at me with pleading eyes. I knew very well that all he wanted was to help. He had talked to me about this a few times, but he always got the same negative answer from me. However, this time, seeing how determined he looked, I finally gave in.

"No late hours. Come home by eight. I'll stay home on the days you work. Happy?"

Leo smiled brightly, his brown eyes lighting up in glee. "Thank you!" he gave me a bear hug, something I always loved. "Find a job tomorrow," I smiled, caressing Leo's hair.

---

Saturday morning. I had the day off today, which I was very thankful for. 

"Lily, Aaron! Don't spray each other!" I walked towards the two kids who were happily playing on the sink. I knew this would happen if I left them to wash their dishes. 

"Jake, that's MY bread!" I heard another scream from the living room and I knew for sure that Jake and Reese were fighting, again. "Leo," I eyed him, as he stirred the soup we were all going to have for lunch. Leo was very good at cooking, way better than I was.  

Leo walked out of the kitchen to take care of the fighting kids while I looked at the delicious looking soup.  

"Patience, young lady," Leo commented, probably noticing how I was looking at the soup he’d made.  

While we were busy, a soft knock on the front door was heard. "I'll get it!" I shouted, running to the door but oddly when I opened the door, there was no one. 

My eyebrows creased, maybe it was just some naughty kids, I thought but when I was about to close the door, I stepped on something: a dark brown envelope with a golden symbol on it. What is this? 

Looking at the suspicious envelope, I stepped out and closed the door. Carefully, I opened the envelope and took out the paper inside it. The texture of the paper showed that it was nothing cheap. 

I opened the letter, once again, very carefully. I recognized the same symbol on top of the page as I began reading the black ink printed on the paper. 

Dear Miss Robin Fletcher,

Oh, for me. Such formal letter? Who would send me this?

I read the letter in full speed and even when I was done, I re-read it, not being able to believe what was written in it.

"Is this... for real?" My eyes widened in shock and surprise. I shoved the letter into my pants' pocket and after I checked that no one was around the house, I went back inside. 

If what's written is true, I might be able to give them a better life! 

---

Night came. After I was sure that my sisters were all asleep, I turned on the small lamp situated on the small table in the room and started reading the letter again.  

It was an offer for me to participate in a game. I didn’t know what game though, there was no explanation of what game it was, but one thing caught my eyes: the prize. If I won, I would get a huge amount of money! 

It was written that if I was interested, I should go to this fancy restaurant near the place I worked, a resturant where I’d always dreamt of going to. The time was tomorrow, Sunday, the day I usually went grocery shopping with my weekly wage.  

I have nothing to lose. Let's try. 

I decided I would certainly participate in the game and win. For my most treasured people, I’d do anything.

---

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