Chapter Eighteen :: Voice

[outsidehistory]

Ah...given the oddities of this week... And that it's a play week and there are visitors. [Pauses.] Lessons will be held off for however long this play week lasts. Knowing her she'll be fickle again.

To our guests... If you have questions not answered I'll try to do my best.

Comments

[pencilpremonition]

Still better than home, then.

[outsidehistory]

...How?

[pencilpremonition]

It's safe indoors and there's food. That's two reasons.

[outsidehistory]

So you're neither safe indoors or well fed in your home. Why not find somewhere else to live?

[pencilpremonition]

We can't. We've gotta stay with our mom.

[outsidehistory]

And you can't take her somewhere else?

[pencilpremonition]

She's the problem.

[Though her answers are short and evasive, Becca doesn't have to keep up the lie here. Instead, she can use her past to her full advantage and play the poor pitiful angel routine.]

[outsidehistory]

[Then...why not leave? He doesn't understand.]

Then...

[pencilpremonition]

Then there's nothing we can do. I try to make it easy on my brother, though.

[outsidehistory]

There's plenty to do, just not routes you can take.

[pencilpremonition]

[Not getting it.]

Huh?

[outsidehistory]

You could find someplace that would take care of your mom and then take your brother somewhere better.

[pencilpremonition]

You don't get it. We've gotta stay with out mom. If we don't, they'll take my brother away and I'll never see him again.

[outsidehistory]

Wait until he's old enough to stay with you.

[pencilpremonition]

I'll be dead by then.

[outsidehistory]

And you can't find someone to take care of him?

[pencilpremonition]

I can take care of him myself just fine. And he'll be fine once I die. But in the mean time, our mom beats us and doesn't buy enough food for us. I can only steal so much, y'know?

[She's doing her best to pull the 'tragic angel' routine and get him to pity her.]

[outsidehistory]

What about getting help from friends or neighbors? Or the authorities?

[Doesn't really work when there are other routes in his head yet.]

[pencilpremonition]

If I do that, they'll take my brother away and I'll never see him again.

[outsidehistory]

Some people won't, you know. Just have to find the right ones.

[pencilpremonition]

I don't wanna gamble my brother like that. The only way to find out if they will or not is to try, and if they're the wrong ones, he's gone.

[outsidehistory]

You obviously don't hold your neighbors in high esteem.

[pencilpremonition]

They'll call social services. And social services splits up kids.

[outsidehistory]

Then find someone at school or somewhere else that you trust more.

[pencilpremonition]

They're required to call social services.