Broken Strings

Let the torture begin..........

Keenan brought me some bandages and a cooling cream for burns and applied it gently with his soft fingers. He then wrapped the bandage around my ankle as gently as possible while trying to keep his tears from falling onto my leg. He helped me get up from the floor and placed me comfortably on the sofa. He went and got changed into his uniform while bringing me my clothes.

While I was getting changed in the bathroom I could smell the heavenly chocolate aroma from the bathroom. When I walked out extremely quietly avoiding creaky floorboards, I made my way to the living room to see Keenan reaching for the microwave and trying to take my bowl of milk out. He reached for the cereal but couldn’t reach so dragged a chair which he could stand on and then got the cereal. It was insanely cute. He poured the fruit slimming cereal into my bowl and chocolate hoops into his. I eat fruit slimming cereal to get rid of the layers of flab growing under my skin. It’s hideous. He then started making our sandwiches. It’s hard imagining a five year old child preparing sandwiches. But that’s my Keenan.

He looked up at me and ran to me with a hot bowl of cereal. He told me to sit down and eat, so I did. As I started eating he came and sat down beside me and ate his bowl of cereal. He munched on the cereal hoops and filled his mouth that he couldn’t open his mouth.

After swallowing the mouthful he said, ‘Hurry up, we’re going to be late!’ I looked up at the clock instantly and tried to get up; we put our coats on and rushed out the door.

As we were crossing the road Keenan turned to look up at me and said,

‘Angel, are you okay?’

‘Angel? Why are you calling me angel Keenan?’

‘Because you look after me, you keep me safe and you love me. And I also think you’re an awesome sister, you keep me protected. That why your new nickname is Angel.’

I could feel my throat clogging up and eyes tearing up, his words surprised me and made me feel special and warm. My brother was and I s my world, he is 60% of the reason on why I tolerate the bastard (my step-dad). Keenan was so smart for a five year old, he is so considerate, he has never once asked for any toys or clothes or anything. I still feel bad that I can’t supply my brother the biggest branded trainers or branded clothes. I feel like I let him down, but Keenan doesn’t mention these things, whenever I try and explain why I cant get him branded things he stops me and says,

‘I don’t want them, I don’t need new trainers or clothes, I know we cant afford them, its okay, as long as i see you every morning smiling and by my side im happy.’

I replied, ‘you’re my only awesome brother, cause im gonna love you and look after you, now listen, you go to school and concentrate in class okay? I want you to be my superman when you’re older, but to be superman you have to do well in school, understand? If you are going to call me angel then im going to call you my Superman, because I wouldn’t be able to survive a day with out you. I love you. Study hard and be good. Do me proud ‘Kay?’

He hugged me tightly and didn’t want to let go, but I bent down and detached him from my waist and gave him a kiss on the forehead. It hurt me inside to unclench him from me, but I had to. I watched him run into school as he waved bye.

~ ~ ~ ~

I limped my way in through the school gates only to have Vanessa and her crew to approach me. ‘I did not need this drama today’ I thought to myself, for some reason Vanessa had to pick on me and point out my flab and tease my hair and my facial features. She hated my guts. I didn’t like her. She always looked for something to pick on me about.

Trying not to be rude I said ‘excuse me’ as she stood in my way, as always she had something to say back. I looked up at her with a straight face.