The doors popped open with a hiss and a flailing 3 foot tall ball of dreadlocks and contempt hit the pavement before they had fully locked open.

"School is stupid and your bus smells like doodoo. You sit down. "

He booked it across the parking lot before the driver could respond and I couldn't help but laugh. That was a bad little kid. The rest trooped out a lot more sedately. By the time my sister stepped out in a swarm of little girls, another 5 minutes had rolled by and I was getting impatient.

"Hey, Deemonica, a little hustle please."

She rolled her eyes at me then her little friend whispered something and the whole clique tittered. I crossed my arms and tried to look unimpressed. She finally broke away from her posse and met me on the way to the door.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"What's up, Chris? How come you met me down here?"

"Maybe I just want to hang out with my little sister?"

"Bubba...."

"Gang shit in the neighborhood. You need to play inside till mom gets home from work. "

"Uh, I'm going to Tina's after I finish my homework."

"Not tonight you're not. "

"C'mon, Bubba."

"Nope, when mom's not home in in charge because...."

"Whatever..."

"Nuh uh, I'm in charge because...."

"You're in charge because you can kick my ass."

"Bingo. So how was school?"

"Nope, conversation is for siblings, not for wardens. "

She sped up on the stairs then, leaving me behind. I followed her up to make sure she actually went inside and I hesitated there in the landing. Part of me thought I should stick around to make sure she didn't try to sneak back out, but in the end I decided to trust her. I had too much to accomplish and Monica was smart. Surely she wouldn't leave again before mom came home.