How We Left The Community

I sit in my spot on the dock thinking about the rest of the day's work that has to be done. I have to make supper tonight for Ma, Pa, and Alex. Usually Alex helps but he's probably gonna be tired from working hard today. At least I won't have to do any butchering. I can just use the meat in the freezer.

A smile crawls on my lips as I dip my toes into the murky water of the lake that sits a stone's throw from our house. The slight film that sits on the dark swampy water moves and covers my dirt clad feet.

This must be heaven; I sign as lay down on the rotting dock and roll my shoulder blade under myself as I try to get comfy. I hear the slapping of feet against the dirt path that leads from the driveway to the dock. The purposeful and strong footsteps echo in my ears and I immediately recognize them as Alex's. I sit up and fix my bird's nest hair. I purse my lips, trying to suppress a smile.

"I caught us another one. It's in the cellar." Alex says with his southern drawl. The smile I was trying to hide vanishes. When I don't respond he taps me lightly on the shoulder. "Fel-"

"Yeah, I heard ya." I say tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I use the back of my wrist to push them away angerly. "I don't wanna do it again." I turn to face Alex.

"But, Felicity, you know what Ma and Pa said." He says with a look.

"Don't call em that." I say bitterly. "They ain't even your real parents."

"This isn't the time to be doing this kinda thing." I know, with one of them tied up it's not good to be wasting time, but I don't move from my spot on the dock. I see Alex's face soften a bit as he offers me a hand. "You know I'd never let anything happen to you." Then after a pause. "I'll do it. You just gotta hold 'em down. Okay?"

I nod my head thinking that this is better than nothing. I forcefully wipe away my unspilled tears in an effort to look stronger than I feel, and I take his outstretched hand and pull myself up. I walk towards the cellar; the lump in my throat already making it hard to breathe.

I'm glad that Ma and Pa decided to keep Alex. He's a lot of help here, and he's always real nice to me. Though, I don't know why he doesn't just run off. I mean, I'm sure he's got somewhere to go, he did have a life before he came here after all. I was born into this family though, and that means I got nowhere to run to. I don't like doing what we do, even though I was raised this way. I don't feel as different and alone though since Alex came here roughly a year ago.

I remember that the day had started out strange. We were running low on food because game hadn't stumbled onto our property in over a month, so Pa got into the beat-up red pickup that I like to call Becky and drove an hour north to go hunting.

Becky has always been an escape for me. When I'm angry at Ma or Pa I can hide in her bed. Sometimes I like to try to find pictures in her rust covered body.

Usually Pa would never leave me and Ma alone. He's always been real over protective. I remember a few years back I met this girl from in town and started skipping chores to talk to her. Pa was so mad. His face was almost as red as a beet. That memory always makes me smile. Sometimes it can be fun to push Pa's buttons, but you have to be carful not to go too far. Pa can snap faster than a whip cracked.

The day I first met Alex, Pa was all smiles when he pulled into our dirt driveway with Alex riding shot-gun. Pa yelled for me and Ma to come outside. Of course, I was real scared. You see, we aren't used to outsiders, so I was all skittish and kinda lingered behind Ma. Also, Alex being a man and all, made me feel all hot in the face. I must have been blushing something fierce.