Much Ado About Nothing

A parentless family gets by. 300 words

Much Ado About Nothing

Kimber heard a loud clattering on the stairs. She came running out of her bedroom her heart in her throat. She saw Liege standing half-way up the stairs with one foot raised to take the next step.

“What was that all about?” his big sister asked sharply.

“Nothing much,” he mumbled back. She watched as he climbed more sedately the rest of the way.

“I need you to go to the store. We need milk, butter and eggs.”

“Do I have to go just now?”

“Since you say you’re not doing anything, why not now?”

As what usually happens when she answered a question with another question, he was quiet.

“Here’s the money. I’ll expect you back in half an hour and no later.”

Kimber watched him pocket the money, then turn and begin to go back down the stairs. She didn’t like to squash is lively spirits, but without their parents around, she knew she needed him to do what he could to help around the house. She turned back to her room and picked the baby up out of the cradle.

After changing her, Kimber took her downstairs for a bottle. She rubbed the soft curls of her head and swallowed a sob.

“I love you, Becky.”

It was the first time Mom had been out since Becky was born. Her and Dad had gone to a neighbor's for dinner. They never made it home.

Killed by a drunken stranger, the kids had to try and survive. Since Kimber was twenty, she refused to let the Child Welfare folks near her younger siblings. She washed other people’s clothes and made bread and sweets to sell at the Saturday market.

With the savings her parents had in the bank, they managed. But for how long?