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GARAD
***
Kieth flinched when he heard a commotion in the hallway. His room was downstairs while the upper floor was his dad's to use the rooms as his bedroom and business place. Kieth had a little idea that his dad was a drug dealer, had a small business of his own to make it big in the black market. Kieth's dad was waiting for just the right opportunity to strike; at least that's what he kept saying to Kieth whenever something went wrong.
"Where's your kid man." A loud, scratchy intoxicated voice asked from the living room.
"Fuck if I know. Let's go upstairs." Kieth's dad replied.
But Kieth knew what that meant, his dad and his friends would check the house for him, punch him a few times then push him out of the house on the streets. Like always. But Kieth had learned to survive, it was better to run away than let those bastards beat him into pulp.
Kieth was already up when he heard footsteps coming closer to his room. He threw his backpack with his school homework for tomorrow on his shoulder and sneaked, jumping out from the half-open window of his room. He closed the window from outside just to be safe. He knew his dad and his friends were pissed drunk so they won't check the window or just to make Kieth's life miserable, won't think about locking it from inside.
***
The church where Kieth always went was ten to twelve blocks away but he didn't care about the walking. His stomach was empty for the past three days. The scrap food he had at home, he had used it to make Bentley's family a delicious pizza. So maybe he won't get anything for the next few days until Kieth's dad realized he can't survive on beer only and maybe go grocery shopping.
"Oh, honey you are back." The woman who works shelter for various causes on church ground greeted Kieth with warm eyes.
"Hello Ms. Williams, how are you?" Kieth asked politely. He had hidden his bag at the entrance behind a tall tree in the dark, he ran his hand in his hair and on his cloth to look more normal so no one in the church would ask questions.
"I am splendid. Thank you for asking." Ms. William undid her apron and said apologetically. "I am sorry we don't have anything left for you. It's cold so more people stopped by than normal."
Kieth smiled, it was okay, he can survive without food. "That's all right. Do you mind if I join you guys?"
"Are you sure honey?" Ms. Williams looked over at his thin frame and what looked like clothes double his size. She would have called cops, Kieth had assured her that he had family and was just volunteering like other older kids. Kieth was always so nice, but also so secretive that she didn't know if it was okay to interfere in his personal life. But she wanted to, Kieth was only 13, he shouldn't be living this life.
"Please, Ms. Williams I would love to." And Kieth was already picking up a few water bottles that were scattered around the area with other volunteers, he even helped in the kitchen, swiped floors, then bid his goodbye after three hours of work.
