mockingbird ; h.s

year one

*lower case intended*

age: 6

"harry, are you allowed to spend the night?" young victoria asked her best friend, harry, on the bus. harry looked up from his lap and into victoria's light green eyes. he nodded excitedly with a large smile.

"my mommy said that since i've been a good boy, i can spend the night! i just have to go home and get my stuff." victoria clapped her hands, smiling at harry. they've been friends since they were four, and they are finally old enough to sleep over at each other's house. sure, they have had play dates a lot, but never a sleep over.

the large bus stopped in front of harry's house, victoria's two houses away. they both walked off and stopped in front of harry's fence.

"see you in a bit, harry!" victoria said, wrapping her short arms around his small frame. harry hugged her back, fixing his back pack afterwards.

"bye!" he ran to his house, waving at victoria when he reached his front door. victoria waved back and started her very short walk to her house, where she heard faint screaming coming from behind the light blue door. she opened the door, only to see her mother sitting on the ground crying and her father storming down the stairs with a suitcase. the anger in his face faded away with just a look into his child's eyes.

"where are you going, daddy?" victoria asked, putting her backpack onto the ground and walking to her father. she noticed the tears in his eyes, causing tears to come to her own eyes.

"daddy," her dad stopped to clear his throat. "has to go.. on a vacation. just know this, when im gone just carry on. don't mourn, rejoice. promise me that you will be good." he got down on his knees to give her a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"i promise." victoria whispered, feeling her father's tears seep through the thin material of her t-shirt. he stood up and opened the door, walking outside. walking away from his home, his life, and his daughter.

~

victoria was in her room, staring up at the ceiling. her mother told victoria everything that happened and why her father left. harry was on his way to victoria's house.

harry knocked on victoria's front door with a big smile on his face. mrs.carter wiped her tears, knowing it was her daughter's friend.

"hi, harry!" she chirped, looking down at the little boy. he nodded. "victoria's upstairs in her room. have fun!"

harry ran up the stairs and opened victoria's bedroom door. victoria jumped when the door opened, sitting up and looking at harry. she almost forgot he was supposed to come over.

"are you okay?" harry asked, walking to her bed and sitting on the edge, his short legs dangling. not trusting her voice, she only nodded.

"no you aren't. remember what ms.smith told us? lying isn't nice." harry frowned, hating that his best friend would break such a big rule in their class.

"i know." victoria sighed, feeling the tears come to her eyes once again. harry noticed this, and did what he sees his mommy do to his big sister when she is sad. he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, rubbing her back softly.

"what happened?" harry asked, pulling back and sitting on his knees. victoria didn't want to tell harry, not because she didn't trust him, only because it was too hard for her to talk about.

"nothing, let's go play outside!" she faked a smile, causing harry to smile too. they both ran downstairs and stopped in the kitchen where victoria's mother was.

"mommy, can we go outside?" victoria asked, both children looking up at mrs.carter. mrs.carter stopped chopping up the lettuce for the salad and smiled down at the kids.

"sure, i'll get you two when dinner is done. be careful!" they nodded and ran to the glass doors where the backyard was. since harry was a bit taller than Victoria he reached up and opened the door, holding it opened for her. they ran to the swing set where victoria sat down first.

"can you push me?" she asked harry, her flats hanging off of her heel as her feet dangled. harry nodded and got behind her, grabbing the chains and stepping back.

"hold on tight!" he said before letting go and quickly pushing her lower back. victoria giggled, swinging her legs to go higher.

"higher! higher!" she chanted. harry laughed and pushed her back a bit harder. victoria made sure to hold on tight, knowing that if she didn't she would end up falling.

"want to stop?" harry asked, pushing again.

"yes please." harry grabbed the chains to help stop her and helped her down. they were about to go to the sand box when mrs.carter walked outside.

"time for dinner, guys." she said, holding the door open as they walked inside. they ate their salads and talked about complete nonsense, saying whatever came to mind.

~

it was bed time and mrs.carter laid a large comforter on the ground and waited for the kids to lay down. they laid on their pillows and waited to be tucked in. they chose to sleep on the floor since victoria's bed wasn't big enough for the both of them to sleep in. mrs.carter put the second comforter that she found in the linen closet over both kids and leaned down to kiss victoria's forehead, doing the same to harry.

"goodnight. see you in the morning." she said, turning off the light and turning on the nightlight.

"goodnight!" they said, turning to face each other.

"now will you tell me what happened?" harry asked quietly. victoria sighed, knowing that she had no way out.

"daddy left." she whispered, closing her eyes to hold back tears. harry's eyes went wide. he was wondering why mr.carter wasn't home today, since he usually was here when both kids came home from school.

"why?" harry asked, scooting closer. victoria shrugged, swallowing the lump in her throat. a single tear came from her eye and landed on her pillow, followed by another, and another. harry wrapped his arms around victoria once again and pulled her in for a hug. harry remembered a song his mommy sang to him whenever his daddy was late at work, but this time it's different and he knew he had to change a few lyrics.

"hush little baby don't you cry.." he started softly, pushing her head up so they made eye contact. "everything's gonna be alright. stiffen that upper lip up, little lady," he stopped to poke her bottom lip, laughing lightly. he noticed that her eyes were drooping shut.. "i told ya' i am here to hold ya through the night. and your daddy's not here right now and we don't know why, we feel how we feel inside. it might seem a little crazy, but i know daddy's gon' be alright." he looked down and saw that she fell asleep. he closed his eyes also and waited to fall asleep.

"i promise, victoria, i will stay."