The Old Man That Stole Dreams

Chapter 1- It is Not You Who Kills, It Is Him

As I walked through the gate that guarded our house a couple yards away I remembered what all I had to do for homework and my shoulders sank. I pushed the large wooden door out of my way to reveal a small wooden table in the middle of a kitchen that people would mistake for an old house. I placed my backpack on the table and sorted through my mess to find my math and History homework that I had to do by tomorrow.

After finishing the front of my math homework I hear the familiar sound of a bus honking at kids after they do stupid stuff right in front of the bus so the bus can't leave. The good part of that is that a bus means school kids are here which means Layla is home! I rush out to greet her and see her in a beautiful knee-length dress that has a pinkish undertone that makes her tan skin look lighter. She holding her book in her arms and I can tell that she has her afternoon full of homework too. I rush straight to her and help her set her stuff down

"Let's go outside" Layla suggest to try and lighten the mood.

"Are you sure?" I asked

"It will be fun I promise!" She smiles so big it was hard to say no too.

"Fine," I answered.

The large wooden door was easily pushed out of the way in the excitement of not doing the dreadful school work that was to come. As we climbed across the large trunk of a fallen tree that fell over the tiny river that wound around the back of the house. I explained all the new gossip about how Lucy and her boyfriend and more gossip that is not related. You may think that we would just walk around talking then go home. Well not really, we climbed trees and made new paths like we do every time we are out in the woods. All the sudden Layla stopped and paused to listen. I listened to but I didn't hear anything, but apparently, she did.

"Hurry, go! We have to go back now!!" She exclaimed.

"What is the big deal? Do you have to pee or something? You know there are trees all around us right?" I asked jokingly

"No I don't have to pee but I will have to pee out of fright if the punishment dad is going to give us when he figures out we are not home!" She answered.

"What? Dad isn't supposed to be home for another hour and a half." I stopped to listen and what did I hear, the sound of dads old pickup truck making its way along the road to our right! "Shooooot! Dad is going to kill us!"

As we crossed over the river my heart started to pound so hard as the noise got louder and louder. We decided to bolt right after my dad passed us so hopefully he wouldn't see us. The only problem was that the door was right next to where dad always parked his car. We were halfway through the door when our dad yelled "LAYLA!" He was already out of the car and walking to the back to get the groceries he bought.

"Yes, sir," Layla replied so timidly.

"Come here" he replied. "You and I need to have a small chat. As for you Angel, go inside and do what you need to do."

As I walked inside I thought the very same thought that I always do whenever Layla gets in trouble. I never get in trouble even when it is my fault. Dad always blames Layla since she is older. Before you say that that is so unfair let me finish. I always do whatever Layla's punishment is with her, no matter how bad. That is what sisters are for right? Dad doesn't care that I do the punishment too. He really doesn't care about anything unless it breaks one of his rules. The one we broke, No Going Outside to Play Unless All Work is Finished."

Dad may have told me to go inside thinking I would not be able to listen but our windows aren't for say soundproof.

"Layla, I am very disappointed in you. This is the 4th time I have caught you taking Angel outside and playing."