The Crutch's Sister

Rewind

Kicks' POV

~Le Flashback~

9 months.

9 months since my big brother had disappeared from my life.

9 months that I was alone and scared.

I sat in my room, looking at an old picture of my brother. His front teeth were missing and he had a hat on that was too big for his head. In his arms was a toddler Katie. My thin brown hair was tied in small braids and I was in a soft pink dress. I gave a light smile to the picture and gently placed it back in my dresser. I heard the front door slam and my mom whisper. I jumped off my bed and pushed my steamer trunk in front of my door. I crawled through the hole in the closet and mimicked my actions, but with my brother's trunk. We both had one to hold our belongings in. I looked in my brother's dresser for any memories of him. I opened the top drawer and saw a map of all of New York. I opened it and spread it out on the floor. I looked over all of it's details.

"So many boroughs and towns." I whispered. "He has to be in at least one of them." I looked around the dust covered room. I opened his trunk and pulled out a pair of my brother's old knickers, a dirty shirt and coat, worn-out boots, and a tattered hat. I brought the clothes over to my room and placed them on my bed. I looked down at my simple dress and black shoes and sighed. I removed my dress and replaced it with my brother's clothes and shoes. 

I returned to my trunk and retrieved a pencil, a blanket, a picture of me and my brother, and all of my money, which was made up of three quarters and a nickle. I slipped those into my sack and crawled back over to my brother's room. I picked up the map and folded it gingerly. I brought it back to my room and put in in my bag. I glanced in my dusty mirror and nodded. 

"You look like him." I thought. I took a ribbon and tied my hair in a bun, just like he taught me to do. I pulled my hat over my bun and nodded at my reflection. I walked across the room to my bed and slung my knapsack onto my shoulders. I carefully opened my window and slid out. I crept around to the side of the house and crawled through a hole in the fence. I ran down the street and as far and as fast as I could. I was finally free. I stopped and took a deep breath and sighed. "Nothin' beats New York air!" I exclaimed, twirling the empty street.

"You're right." a voice chimed in. I gasped and jumped. I whipped around and saw a boy. He had dark brown hair and eyes. His red shirt and dirty hat were too big for him. He looked to be a year or so older than me. "I'm Spot." he said, walking over to me. I smiled.

"Katie." I answered, sticking out my hand.

"You get kicked out?" he asked, shaking my hand. I shook my head. "You ran away?" I nodded. "Me too. I didn't like my folks."

"I don't like mine either." I declared. "Have you evah seen a boy around here? Dirty blonde hair? Greenish-brown eyes? Has a limp and a crutch?" I asked. Spot shook his head.

"I promise, I'll keep my eye out for him." he smiled. I smiled back. "Do you have anywhere to stay?" he asked. I shook my head.

"But it's okay. I'll manage. I'm good at thinking outside the box."

"If you ever need help or anything, I live in Brooklyn. Come find me." he said. I nodded.

"Thanks for your help, Spot." I said.

"Anytime, doll." he started walking away.

"Spot!" I called to him. He turned around. "Don't call me doll!" He chuckled and continued walking. I walked down the other end of the street and entered an alley. I looked around and saw crates and slabs of wood and metal. "Perfect." I whispered. In a few minutes, I had made a makeshift crate bed with a lean-to roof. I climbed into the crate and pulled the blanket from out of my bag. I draped the blanket over my legs and used the bag as a pillow. I laid down and looked up through the holes in my little roof. I could see stars blinking overhead. I felt a comforting, warmish feeling in me. "He's looking at them, too." I thought. "Goodnight, big brother." I whispered. 

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.