Charlotte's Law

"Mind if I take a seat here?"

The next week went by slowly for Camden. In his boredom, he swiped more food than he could get away with. Two days before he was due to leave, he swiped half a loaf of bread, three apples, and a jug of milk. It was the most he'd ever been able to get.

Unfortunately, his father was home when he got back.

"Where'd all this come from, Camarilla?" he asked. He had come home early because of an accident at the factory, and wasn't in the mood to deal with Camden's antics. His hand seemed to be bleeding as Camden's mother dressed it with papers.

"I, er, I," Camden stuttered. "I stole it. I'm sorry, dad."

"That's what I thought," his father sighed and stood up, brushing his mother away. Camden's dad started taking his belt off, and Camden gulped, knowing exactly what would ensue.

That night, Camden got an awful lashing that left him with bruises and gashes all over his back and legs. The belt clip even caught his eye at one point, and it was swollen and infected the next day.

Camden was out in the marketplace, trying to kill time until Rome came to get him. He had swiped a few things from various produce stands. He got an entire loaf of bread without even being noticed, and he was able to swipe a glass of wine for his parents. His eye still throbbed and he knew it wouldnt get better anytime soon, but he'd had to deal with bad injuries before. On his way back home, he ran straight into Rome. She was waiting on his street, and she steadied him with her strong arms before he could fall.

Rome shot him a curious look and took his bag from him. She checked the contents and clicked her tongue, looking at him in disappointment.

"Stealing is not something we tolerate at Quirks United, Camden," Rome shook her head and slung the bag over her shoulder.

"'Opefully, I won't 'ave reason to steal at Quirks United, ma'am," Camden shot back indignantly.

"Fair point, but please don't stoop to stealing anymore," Rome gave back his bag. "This is your last escapade."

"I got it, thank you," Camden rolled his eyes. "I gotta take this back to me mum. Then, we can get outta this place."

"You don't have anything to bring?" Rome inquired, making Camden stop in his tracks.

"I never 'ad me own belongin's really," Camden shrugged. "All I got is this 'ere ring." He pulled a long, silver chain out of his blouse, where a silver ring hung with a large, ruby red crystal set in the middle. It was his most prized possession. It had been a gift from his father when he was very small, and it was really too big for his finger, so he wore it on a necklace instead. He never took it off; not even in the bath.

"It's beautiful," Rome admired. "Alright, I'll wait here. Do be quick, please. I'm on a schedule."

Camden nodded and hurried down the street and into his small cottage, where his mother waited for him.

"Camarilla!" His mother exclaimed. "I told you not to steal! Have you not yet learned your lesson?!"

"But look there, mum!" Camden argued. "I got you and dad an 'ole jug o' wine! Good wine, too, and some bread and fruits for Charles. I was on'y tryin' to 'elp."

"I swear, sometimes you are just as if I was raising two sons instead of one," Camden's mother shook her head, chuckling to herself, but she didn't realize just how true her statement was.

"'Ey, mum?" Camden took a seat hesitantly and his mother looked up curiously. "'Ave you ever 'eard of someone bein' born in the wrong body? Like, a boy born in a girl's body? So, everyone thinks 'e's a girl, when 'e's actually been a lad the 'ole time?"