리틀팍스

It was not before dawn when I woke up. The sun was already up, and mom had gone to work. The house was bare and silent.

 I got up from my bed, washed my puffy, red eyes at the sink and sat down at the table. Mom had made apple sandwiches for me - my favorite. As I nibbled at the sandwiches, I tasted some saltiness. I guessed my had cried her eyes out as she cooked. 

 I put down the half eaten sandwiches and got up. I didn't have an appetite. I went to the phone and following my instincts, pulled out a small paper from my pocket. I dialed the number and waited. 

 Just when it seemed like forever, Jane picked up the call. "Hello?"

 I felt my throat welling up as I heard my sister's voice. I missed her voice so much, even though it had only been a day since she and I were separated. I sniffed, brushing away the tears that started to roll down my cheek.

 "Annnemarie? Is that you?"

 "Yeah," my voice cracked.

 "What's the matter? Are you okay?" Jane sounded startled.

 I brushed away more tears. "Yes, no, oh, Jane..." I could hear Jane calling Alice over the phone. 

 "What's wrong? Did something bad happen?" Alice was now speaking. She sounded bewildered.

 I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I couldn't bring myself to tell the truth. How could I. I promised them that I'd take care of Hannah. I promised I'll be in charge. How could I tell them, tell them that they'll never see Hannah again? 

 "Annemarie?" Jane was speaking now.

 "No...I..." I stifled a cry. "I'm, I'm okay. I...just missed you." I heard someone calling for Jane and Alice. 

 Jane shouted something back, I couldn't make out for sure, though it sounded something like "We're coming"

 "We miss you too," Jane said hurriedly. "We - have to go now. Promise me that you'll be okay."

 "I, I will." I said.

 "That's my sister. Oh, and tell Hannah that we love her!" Alice blurted out the words quickly.

 I started to respond, but Alice had already hung up. I stared blankly ahead.

 Mom came home around eight in the afternoon. She bustled in, her clothes all messy from the work and her wild black hair pointing at every direction. I had cleaned the house twice and washed by then, so I was ready to meet mom. We talked about our day, and I told her about the house top from the bottom and how there were spiders creeping along the walls. I left out the call with Jane and Alice. Mom told me about her work. She worked at some house called the Bradbury's as a part-time nanny and after that as an assistant to the town's baker. I didn't really think that job suited her but I kept quiet. 

 We ate the bread and the chicken mom had got from the Bradbury's. The bread was hard made some time ago, but the chicken was good. After that, I laid down in bed and went to sleep.