One Sunday afternoon I took my Ise for a bike ride in the park near my house. She loved those white wheels, which helped to keep her and brought her safety and comfort. Her golden hair came free, and the wind caressed her little face, full of life. Every second her feet moved faster, making full turns on the pedal.

I was sitting with my notebook, trying to get something on that blank page. When finally something came to mind. I brought the pen to the paper. I looked away for a brief moment, but enough; one of the wheels has come off. In that short period Ise lost her balance and screamed for my attention. I saw her shaking hands, I didn't understand what was happening. Until she felt insecurity and fear take over, she lost control towards a flower bed.

I ran to help her, and managed to get her out of there, but I soon realized that a terrible reddish liquid was opening a path from her knee to her heel...

** 2005 - Texas **

The sun's rays touched the heavy eyelids asking for a few more minutes. He forced it, directing his body to the other side of the bed.

Her eyes blinked sleepily, glancing briefly at the empty bed across the room.

She quickly stood up, feeling the icy wood on her feet. In the dresser she looked for the money she had saved, she was just checking to see if anyone found her hiding place. But the bills remained among her clothes, which brought relief.

After covering the bills again, she replaced the drawer and left the room, down the steps, still drowsy. Her bare feet touched the wood with less noise.

The poor boy was already in front of the stove, unfortunately Leona was screaming beside her, "teaching" how to make a breakfast to her liking:

- Where did you learn to cook boy? -she said while her words scared the boy-Leona deserves a refined breakfast, not this...

The boy wasn't a renowned chef, perhaps she hadn't realized it yet, just expected a grandiose meal from clumsy little hands.

Clara sat at the table moving her lips, when faced with that funny situation. Poor boy had a lot to learn on that farm.

- Clara, breakfast - Ordered Leona - Five minutes...

Returning to the moment, she took her place at the stove.

- Leona hopes you, young man, learn to make a decent coffee. – She said, stopping briefly at the entrance.

The boy nodded, but avoided eye contact...

Clara prepared the eggs with bacon, next to her, the boy, craned his neck to see what was inside the pan. His brown eyes followed the turns of the narrow spoon stirring. Lungs rose, while the aroma of spices was sucked in by little round nose.

At times, he would look up from behind those curly strands, and again his lips would move, but the voice always remained in his throat.

Clara left him on the stove, but she kept an eye on him.

On a tray, she arranged two plates and the guava juice. She took the pan off the heat while the hot fat crackled, finally she placed the eggs and bacon bits.

- And for us? the boy finally asked, raising his voice.

- Our breakfast is very different boy. - He replied, arranging the dishes.

He looked at her curiously:

- My name is Charlie...

- Take it to Leona, and see if you don't do anything stupid boy - said Clara handing the tray in his hands.

He looked down, receiving the tray, and headed into the living room.

A terrible crater opened in her stomach with the delicious smell of coffee, so she tried to make it right away.

When he returned, Charlie sat at the table, his eyes followed the kitchen:

- What's your name? - He asked.

Clara handed one of the dishes to the boy, put some corn, beans and rice. But she realized he was still waiting for an answer.

- Come on boy, you'll need every grain.

He looked at his plate, and his expression changed. Nothing was attractive.

Clara sat opposite him, and began to eat.

- Mom made toast with jam for breakfast, you had to taste it... It was very good.

Clara took a few more mouthfuls in silence.

- Every day she, my dad, my sister and I had breakfast together.

"Eat boy," Clara repeated, keeping her attention on her plate.

He took his mouth a little:

- Did you meet your parents?

- Enough...!!!- She raised her voice, irritated.

- Clara! she yelled at the voice creeping along the walls, and hurried steps into the kitchen.

- What did you do? - Clara said to Charlie casting a look.

The woman stopped ahead, with the plate in her hands and the eggs barely touched:

- What is this here? She glared at her plate.

-Eggs with bacon-she replied.

Charlie let out a small laugh, but quickly tried to hide it as he caught the gaze of the woman in front of her.

- You know very well that Leona likes three slices of bacon whole and not bitten.

Clara shot a look at Charlie who shrank back in his chair.

- I want three, so try to prepare the third, otherwise neither of you will have breakfast today.

Clara pressed her lips together, and took the plate from Leona's hands, taking it to the sink.

"Now you have two minutes," Leona said, leaving.

- See what you did? She raised her voice once more.

-I was hungry - she said playing with the spoon on the plate. - I'm sorry...

She prepared another strip of bacon and placed it on the plate, this time taking it personally to Leona.

Upon returning, she finished her breakfast.

Charlie looked at her.

- What's your name?

- Didn't you realize I don't want to talk? She-she cast a serious look. - Finish that coffee in silence...

He lowered his gaze, returning his attention to her plate.

Charlie remained quiet for the rest of the day, keeping his distance from her, also avoiding staring at her for too long. He had understood that he should give his mate space, and not exchange words for quite some time.

No words were needed to explain how lonely he felt, and he wanted a friend to talk to and share his fears with, like every child. After all, Clara was once a child, and she knew all too well how the boy felt in the midst of this strange and evil family.

Despite the years that passed, she still felt fear, in fact, that has never changed, it's just hidden in a part of her thoughts. As for the longing for the people she loved, she was her companion at those times.

Through the kitchen window, she followed Charlie working on the plantation alongside Jack. The poor boy walked through the woods accompanying his new father. Her thin, gangly legs gave way, while her dirt-covered hands held the heavy straw basket.

The word spoken to him began to weigh heavily on his heart, like stones thrown into the sea, sinking deeper and deeper.

After the bath, relieved of itching and fatigue, he entered the room, opening his mouth while stretching his arms. His shoulders slumped lazily, and his vacant gaze swept the room again.

Clara kept looking at the ceiling, but didn't fail to notice her presence standing near the door.

Charlie grabbed the blanket from the foot of the bed, stretched it out like a cloud, letting it fall over her. Before going upstairs, he bent his knees beside the bed, clasped his hands and closed his eyes, starting to whisper, but enough so that his mate could hear every word.

- Heavenly Father, I wanted to ask the Lord to take care of me, my parents too and my sister who must be very worried... - His eyelids tightened - I didn't want to say that, but the Lord knows I love she a lot... I miss her...

Clara listened intently to her voice, and remembered her conversations with Father. She missed it so much.

In the end, Charlie got up and laid down on the blanket she'd laid on the bed, turning to the cold wall that kept her company.

The few sobs made her body shake. She couldn't ignore him one more time.

She looked at him, words as always lacking. She thought of something to say, but what would she say?

She looked away again, finding the brick roof, let out a sigh, and looked at him again, until they left her lips:

- Boy?

-What…- Her shaky voice came out, but her eyes remained on the wall.

"Good night" was all she managed to say.

-Good night...-she replied.

Clara turned the wall towards her, however, that indescribable feeling bothered her making her look back at the boy once again:

- Boy...

This time he was silent, but I could still hear his sobs.

Clara decided to sit down, crossed her legs, leaning her back against the wall on her side of the room:

- What were your parents like? – She said in a soft tone.

Her swamped face lit up by the little light that came in through the window, underneath those curls, two reddish brown eyes stare at her with a slight glow. With her wrist, she rubbed them together, and slowly calmed the sobs.

- My parents liked to watch with me every night. -She said as her voice settled in her throat-And she prayed with me before bed.

He straightened up on the bed, leaning against the wall of his bed as well.

Looking at her, she realized that the boy's thoughts had moved away, traveling through memories. Charlie had good memories to remember and live in his mind like a time machine.

- Mom made spaghetti every Friday, I miss eating with them so much - He smiled - There was a day when Dad brought a dog, but I'm allergic and I spent the whole night sneezing.

Clara listened to him speak with such excitement.

- But we didn't know that, and it was funny, because the dog spent the whole night after me. Unfortunately Dad had to return it.

A smile left their lips.

"They must be a lot of fun..." Clara commented, grabbing her knees.

- Yes, I miss them so much, but I know that Heavenly Father is taking care of them.

"As well as you..." His spoken words came out discreetly.

Charlie paused, barely noticing the smile on his lips:

- Are your parents always like this? - He asked.

Clara looked towards the window, seeing the beautiful moon and its rays lighten the surface of the dresser.

- Jack and Leona are not my real parents, I was just adopted by them...

Charlie stretched her legs under the blanket and laid her head back on the pillow:

- You never met your parents?

Clara began to play with the blanket over her knees:

- No, I was raised in an orphanage and then I came to this place. - She leaned against the pillow too - But I have one, or had... - She paused - I can't say if He's still here with me.

- Who? Charlie asked, raising his thick eyebrows slightly.

- The same one you spoke with today... - She moved her lips, but what came was just a lifeless smile.

- Mom said that Heavenly Daddy doesn't leave us, even when we get ready... I'm sure he's still your Daddy too.

She looked into his eyes thoughtfully:

- Thank you Boy... - I said softly - my name is Clara.

He lifted his cheeks smiling.

- Goodnight.

- Good night, Clara. - She answered ...

Charlie closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep. On the other hand, Clara kept her open thoughtfully watching the dim light of the night move in slow steps across the room.

...

Weeks passed and the bike received all the dust from oblivion in our garage... Ise was afraid to return to the square, to get on the bike again, and so the memories of all that moment that was on her bench were covered by the garage dust, forgotten.