My days returned to normal after I came back from Vermont

Well normal for me

Most of the time I would be home and the rest was spent doing odd jobs for Demitri they were not big nor good work but it paid and that was about all I cared for, even if it did not pay as much as the first one did

I was basically his personal muscle

After I had lost everything that I knew in life there was no way I was every going to be able to go back and this was all I knew

So, I was going to do it, do what I knew, no questions asked, at least until I had made enough that I would not have to do it again

Little by little I was getting closer to my goal

On the times I would not be on jobs I would be home, but I would not be alone

Most of the time Alice would be there as for the reason why, she said that she was keeping watch over me

She was in her own way, which was funny to me, waiting for me to slip up so that she would finally have dirt on me and having nothing else to do I was happy having company even if that company was a ten-year-old kid there to spy on me

Today was one of those day

“Here” I said handing her a bowl of popcorn as I joined her one the couch

We would spend our days mostly just sitting in front of the tv when she came over and she would leave only return when Clara came home late in the afternoon before dinner

She may say she was here to spy on me but to me it just looked like she was just lonely too

“Hey Cain can I ask you a question”

“shoot” I reply with my eyes and my attention on the tv

“Where are you from”

“Midwest”

“Midwest huh that’s ok if you don’t want to tell I’ll find out eventually and do you have family there”

“Nope no one there”

“You too huh”

I didn’t know why but today she did not have the proud I don’t trust you feeling, it looked like her mood was down I would go far as to say she looked depressed

“Come on” I said making up my mind

“huh”

“Where going out”

“Where?”

“Anywhere but here”

I managed to drag her out of the apartment

“Come on get on” I said as I got on my bike after we got out the building

“Na uh I not going anywhere until you tell me where”

“Look sitting inside is not helping you so why not go outside you might find out something”

I smile and made up an excuse and baited her

After some more convincing I finally got her to climb on

I got on the road and drove us to an amusement park

“What you’re planning won’t work” she said as we reached the park gate

“What’s that” I asked as I was paying the entry fees

“You’re trying to score points with me but it’s not going to work” she said with a confidant look on her face

I didn’t reply anymore and just gave her a smile, she was really persistent wasn’t she

We get in and walked around

She said it was not going to work but like any kid she quickly started loosen, I could see the curiosity and hesitation on her face as we passed the various rides and stalls

I stopped at a stall with a target shooting game

“How much” I ask the guy

“$3 for 3 chances bro” he replies

I hand him the money and take the gun it was chained to the table

I take aim and shoot but I miss on purpose

I purposefully miss the other two shots too

“One more” I say to the guy paying him again

But I do the same again and miss the first too shots

“You got to aim higher” she suddenly said as she broke her silence and she advised me, looks like she finally could not take it anymore

“Sure kid” I said with a grin on my face

“No, you’ve gone too high lower”

Bang, I hit a bullseye

“Yeaaa!” be both let out an exited shout

After she had broken her character, she became a lot more active

We went on rides ate junk food and played a lot of games

We had a great time the whole day exploring and I really like to think I bonded with her, maybe

By the time we started our journey back the sun was already starting to set and it was getting dark

After we got back, When I tried to get off, I found out she had fallen asleep on the ride back so I carefully got out without causing her to fall off and picked her up

I carried her into the building, up to the floor, straight into her room and tucked her into bed

As I got up after putting the blankets on her I noticed someone was at the door

“Oh, you’re back I took her out and she fell asleep on the way” I said turning to Clara in a low voice trying to not disturb Alice as I took a few quiet steps towards her

“That was very nice of you” she replied back

“It’s ok I had a fun time myself” as I got close to her, I noticed something wrong “Are you ok”

I could see marks across her cheek like she was hit by someone “Was it those guys again”

“It’s alright I actually fought back and gave them a piece of my mind this time I don’t think they’ll be troubling me no more” she said confidently

“You sure”

“Yeah”

There a sound and we both turned to look but it was just Alice turning in her bed while hugging a bear we won at the park probably trying to get comfortable

“Today was her birthday you know I tried to make it but I wasn’t able to” Clara suddenly started speaking as she kept looking at her with loving eyes like a mother would “life with me hasn’t been easy but she has never complained not even once, so, thank you for doing what you did today she off all people deserved it”

It was dark already so I soon took my leave

When I realized I had lost my family it was hard even for me to accept reality knowing that something I took for granted everyday was gone forever and no matter what I did could change it

It changed my whole life, my whole perspective, how I looked at everything and she was nothing but a child, no kid should ever have to go through that, no one

Early next morning there was someone at my door

I stumbled out my ned to answer it and when I opened it, I found it was Alice

“Here” she handed me a piece of paper and without giving any explanation just ran off, she was carrying a bag pack so most probably to school

I closed the door again half sure of what just happened and turned my attention back to the paper

I was a card and inside it read

“Hello Cain

I wanted to Thank you for yesterday, and to inform you that

after doing a lot of thinking I have come to the conclusion that

you may not be too bad after all, but don’t think you’re off the hook yet

I am still watching you.

Alice”

Reading it I just smile