Eden

Departure

       We're designed to notice things out of the ordinary. But sometimes, they slip through undetected. Adapting, evolving, creating a camouflage to blend in, and now you might not notice. Sometimes there's no harm, just natures way of letting the weak survive. Other times, there are real dangers, there are predators, and more often than not they're the ones you won't see.  But, maybe instead you can feel it

Do you ever get that feeling that you know something you shouldn't? That maybe you've seen something that was just displaced somehow, that just doesn't fit or belong?

Often enough it was Kingsley himself that felt as though he was the anomaly, his dark skin and solemn face earning him more than a few side-glances. He learned to try to make himself appear smaller, a habit that stuck. However, it was a temporary fix as he was almost a full-grown man now.

Kinglsey Martins kept to himself, his shoulders stiff and arms close to his body. Eyes always averted down, avoiding any unwelcoming glances. 

  He's dressed in a simple shirt and jeans.  Caring little for fashion, but he was clean, the only thing he cared for was a jacket.

In his mind a good jacket was the best kind of armor it did more than protect from the elements, it was a barrier between him and those stares he would received, those glances that more often than not he could feel penetrating his skin as though looking for something that wasn't there.

            Today he is without a jacket, his mother took it for cleaning; it was unnerving to be without a one, to be left so exposed, but he has little time to dwell on his irritation as he's responsible for taking his younger sister, Damisia to a birthday party.

She walks next to him, both of her hands tightly gripped his right; she's silent, adopting her brother's quiet demeanor as they walk, occasionally looking up at him for reassurance. He grips her hand tightly doing his best to assure her.

On their way they run into neighbors, pausing a few moments to say hello. He's a good boy and he knows that his behavior will reflect well on his parents. He smiles and a listens good-naturedly to his older neighbors. Damisia is still learning, trying to mimic her brother's smile, but she's shy and listens quietly while hiding behind him.

His neighborhood is like this; everyone is out and about in the streets. It's custom here though to pause and exchange pleasantries, in way its about exchanging information like gossip. But really, at least when younger members of their neighborhood interact with older generations, it's about giving his parents pride. Pride that they raised him well; pride that is given to them when they here reports on how polite he is how kind and proper he is and the respect he gives to his elders.

Kingsley allows a small smile to pass, as he thinks about his father telling him how pleased he is to hear good news about him and how his mother wont say a word but will coincidently make his favorite dessert.

He stops a few more times while on his way. Kingsley begins to notice pattern, at first he's asked routine questions about weather and his parents and school. But the more nosey neighbors are sniffing for information on Isaac.

His cousin is usually in his fathers shop but lately he's been absent. Mysteriously disappearing for two or three hours at a time. He frowns trying to cover for him but even to him it's strange. They share everything, but this, Isaac keeps from him. Kingsley wants to know but with Isaac its best to wait, he just hopes it's not trouble.

 Finally they arrive he stops them, pausing to kneel down at her eye level. He adjusts her outfit, and wipes she crumbs off of her chubby baby like cheeks. Damasia is silent for her part but she seems to enjoy her brother fussing over her.  He checks to see if she had everything, her phone that's tucked away into her little purse and her gift for the party.