When They Cried

Chapter 1- Tears of the Forgotten Children

What's the point of waking up everyday? When you know you have nothing to look forward to? That is what June Macashire thought everyday when she felt her littlest brother's, Jeremiah, body pressed against hers. He had terrible nightmares all the time and would often climb into June's bed if they were that bad. There are two other boys in the Macashire family. Nathanial and Lucas. Nathanial seven years old and Lucas five. Jeremiah was the youngest, he was only three years old and barely knew what his mother looked like expect for the sweet face of his older sister.

June had brown hair and blue eyes. Her skin so soft and gentle. Her long legs were long enough to run all over the world if she wanted to. Nathanial had dark silky hair falling into his face. His eyes as brown as his old winter jacket. Lucas had unkempt blond hair and blue eyes just like June's. Jeremiah looked a lot like June too. Jeremiah actually had some issues with nightmares and his speech. Their mother was Audrey and she had blond hair and her eyes a sweet quiet midnight blue. Audrey was only home when she needed to be home.

"Hurry up!" June yelled outside the bathroom door. Her brothers were taking too long in the bathroom. They would, for the second time this week, be late for school.

"We are coming!" Lucas gurgled as he spit toothpaste into the sink. "When is mommy coming home, Nathanial?"

"Tonight. She is going to cook us some real nice dinner. June said so." Nathanial was missing a tooth and was happy as he brushed his little white teeth. The thought of a hot meal made the smile wider.

...

Once the kids were safely in their seats at school, June walked Jeremiah to his daycare program. The most expensive one around. She kissed little Jeremiah's head and told him goodbye. Jeremiah began to tear but the teacher handed him a plate of eggs and toast with ketchup. Jeremiah's favorite. June paid extra just so Jeremiah could get hot meals everyday. Plus the attention he needed. From there June walked to her school.

"Look its poor Macashire!" A girl who an hour glass body mocked.

"I wonder if she is still wearing yesterday's underwear!" A guy slapped five with his friends laughed.

"Oh is that last Monday's spaghetti sauce on her sweater?!" Another guy mocked right after the guy who made such nasty remarks to her.

It was cold and her jacket was old and ripped. Holes laying everywhere. She carried her books as she headed to her locker. Tristan was rich, smart and popular. He never did take two looks at the girl he stood by every time the bell rang. All he knew was the kids teased of her misfortune. Tristan just flipped his golden brown hair, closed his locker and moved on. He didn't have time to see this girl or notice the little marks on her neck. Or how much she had been hurt. But for some reason today, he was tired of them bothering her. And today, he noticed how pretty she was even in her old ugly clothes.

"Why do you let them rip on you like that?" Tristan asked packing away some textbooks and pulling out next period's homework sheets.

June wasn't sure if he was talking to her or some other person. June rarely spoke at school. Unless it was to raise her hand or excuse the bruises that paraded her neck. She looked up at Tristan and blinked.

"Because fighting back makes it worse and painful." June whispered softly to her locker. Tristan barely heard her but he understood what was coming out of her tiny mouth.

"Painful how?" He noticed the bruises on her neck and shivered. "They hurt you for real?"

"Just ignore me like the rest do." June closed her locker and walked away. Her head not even listening to the mean remarks. Her body not even feeling the pokes, stares and shoves. But she could see Tristan was following her down the hall.

"I don't ignore you." Tristan said softly. "I just don't talk to you. I don't know you all that well expect for that time in third grade when you wet pants and everybody made fun of you. I didn't though because that happened to me in second grade and I had sympathy."

A single tear fell on June's shirt. She was sad and afraid. He was just like Ryan. He would only hurt her and cause her pain.

"Mr. Windaski may I ask why you are bothering Ms. Macashire this cold but beautiful day?" Mr. Dane asked standing in his doorway just as June made her way into the room.

"I wasn't botherin-"

"I am tired of you rich punks picking on her. She is the only kid in this school who past her tests like this!" Mr. Dane snapped his fingers. "You rich punks pay your way into good colleges while Ms. Macashire earns a scholarship like she is supposed to!"

Tristan tipped his head and walked off. He would just leave her alone. After all, she was trash like the kids said she was. Wearing clothes like she came from a trash can.

...

Lucas was eating his cookies, which he rarely had for lunch, when Sammy grabbed them and ate them. Sammy was nine years old and still in the second grade! He was supposed to be in third grade now. Sammy threw the empty wrapper at Lucas. Lucas was sad but just kept his mouth shut. He took his juice out only for it to be pried out his hands by Sammy. His five year old fingers feeling empty for the fifth time this week.

"Why don't you ever say anything? Maybe if you talked more, maybe the kids would talk to you!" Sammy drank the juice up like a greedy boy. Lucas' eyes began to pour. He wouldn't have another juice like that one until the next two weeks. He prayed that mommy would come home for dinner.

"Look at the retard praying. You praying to God, retard. God isn't going to help you!" Sammy shoved Lucas to the ground.

Lucas got up and sat down at his seat again. They were outside and the pavement had struck Lucas's face. It would leave a little scratch but Lucas didn't mind. Sammy shoved even harder.

"Hey!" Nathanial had appeared and shoved Sammy. "Leave my brother alone!"

"Get away you freak!" Sammy's fist collided into Lucas's face as he ran to stop the fight.
...

June got out of school with a sense of happiness. Homework had been unusually small tonight. Tristan had not leave her alone just yet. He followed her again as she went to pick up Jeremiah.

"Kids wouldn't rip on you if you didn't look so dirty." Tristan claimed walking alongside her. His bag hitting against his thighs. "Plus, I didn't know you had kid."

"He isn't my son." June said no longer holding her tongue. "He is my brother."

Jeremiah was holding a dish of cake when he walked out. June hugged and kissed him as she took the dish from him.

"Mrs. Stone say I c-ca-can keep the cake!" Jeremiah stuttered. "S-sh-she said I was doing bet-bet-better in my sp-sp-speech."

Jeremiah had trouble with his talking. It was a lot worse last year. It had improved greatly. Tristan was sad inside as he saw her brother struggle to make one word right on his tongue. Jeremiah looked at Tristan and waved.

"Hi. My name is Jeremiah." The little boy said slowly. "I h-h-have a problem with my speech. My mother told me to be a goods boy for June while she was gone. I a good boy. I be good boy for June!"

Tristan smiled at Jeremiah. June gave him a look to see if he would mock Jeremiah's speech but he didn't. Deep down, he was sorry June had to deal with this. He couldn't relate to that struggle but Mr. Dane was right. June worked hard for everything she wanted. Not like he had. Always having money on hand. He stuffed forty dollars in June's back pocket of her hand-me-down jeans from last year before he silently disappeared. Jeremiah still talking about his day with his little stutters.

"I-I-c-can't w-wait for the c-c-cake tonight! Mommy going to be happy when she see cake. She will love the cake! I helped make it!"

"I know you did. You are a good little boy." June looked at the money in her hands. She would pay it back after she spent it on some food for the boys. They needed a hot meal. Deep down, June needed it even more. Maybe she should just let Tristan help the forgotten children as they begged for their mother to save them. Or should she just admit how cute he was in his white t-shirt and black jeans?