The Glitch

Brick House

   I brushed the unruly blonde tangles from my sister’s mop of hair. It seems as if the hair strands were meant to be standing up. I always thought that her hair had a Gravity lift.
     I tried to make sure she looked decent enough for school. If she didn’t look clean and organized, she would get taken away from me. I don’t want that to happen, she’s all I have left.
     She asked with a soft, almost sweet tone “Why don’t you go to school, Auntia?”
     I replied “It’s simply because I can’t, Beatrice.”
    “But if you don’t go to school, you’ll never get a better job.”
    “I know it seems like a good choose to make, but if I do go, then, I would never be able to make any money to afford this place.” I said, continuing to brush her hair.
     Beatrice moved away from me, prying the brush from my hands, which still lied in her hair.
    “This place is Rubble and Bricks, trying to keep this place is mad, I get made fun of at school because of this place.” Beatrice said, while trying to keep her anger locked in.
     I Answered and said “Well maybe you can make the money for us when you Graduate, but for now I am.”
   “This is a one in a time life chance because they don’t let you go back to High School after your 19, Auntia!”
    “Grow up, Beatrice!” I yelled, not thinking before I spoke.
    Beatrice yelled back “Grow Down!” and continued “A once in a chance life time, Auntia!”
     I silence myself, because I know she was right, but I couldn’t just let this place go.  This place is all I could afford. Beatrice stared at me silently for the Answer.
    “I just can’t.” I said unknowingly.
    Beatrice looked at the clock. I noticed it too; it was 6:00 a.m.
    “Auntia, I have to go.” Beatrice said harshly.
    Her words stung my ears with disappointment.
   “I’m sorry Beatrice.” I said to myself. But she was already out the bedroom door, leaving me to hear my comment.
     How can she be so open minded and smart when she is only 8 years old.
     Maybe she is right; I need to go to school.
     I walk down stairs, to the bottom half of my house that we us for the Bakery. Closing the bedroom door behind me, I see Beatrice grabbing her favorite cake for lunch, a Sweet Tooth Berry Deluxe.
     “Bye, Solotice.” She said happily.
     Her eyes move to me. They had a harsh look to them, which made the situation feel even more complicated.
     The bell from the door rang as she lefted. My robot, Solotice turned to me with her computer screen. The digital expression was not a happy on, it was more like a “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE” face.
     “Auntia, please stop getting Beatrice mad, my calculations compute that she is not going to have a very good day.” Solotice remarked.
     I place on my chef hat and apron on.
    “She always tells me I have to go to school, but I can’t just leave this place, making money for the bills is what counts right now, Solotice.” I said while pulling out the dough.
     “Auntia, your 16, once Beatrice Graduates, you won’t be able to go to school, how about I run the fort for now.”
      I frowned and said harshly “Robots aren’t allowed to run a business by their self’s, so I guess that’s out the question.”
     “Auntia, you work too hard.”
     I look back at Solotice, who had already left the kitchen door way to start working. I smiled back at her compliment.
      I continued to work on the Vanilla Delight. Placing the dough in the Cupcake pan, I added some sugar to add some sweetness to this Cupcake. It almost seemed if I was adding it to my life, to make it be better.
    The Doorbell sung, irrupting my cake making. I looked up and saw my three friends, Cloyd, Maple, and Nester. I give them a slight smile and continued to work.
     Cloyd said “Hey, Auntia.”
     I look up at him, giving him the sign to continue.
     Cloyd said “Did you hear what the Prince said about the New Law?”
     “No, what did that rich Buffoon say, Cloyd.” said Nester with sarcasm, interrupting Cloyd.
     Maple nodded with enthusiasm. Cloyd stared at Nester giving him the face “SHUT UP”.
     I said softly “what did he say, Cloyd.”
     Cloyd smirked at me and continued “He said that all teens taking care of children…” Cloyd stopped smiling and said “never mind, it’s better off you find out yourself.”
     I look up and ask “What is it Cloyd?”
     Everyone settled down and I could tell the news wasn’t at all good. Cloyd lowered his head and said with sympathy “Your, I might as well say they’re ordered to give them up, or their will be drastic measures taken.”
    My glowing smile disappeared as the words come out of his mouth into my ear.
    “What?” I said plainly.
    Nester gets up as if to calm me down, but this was too much.  
    Maple said eagerly “She’ll be going somewhere with Adult’s related to her, Auntia.”
     Solotice came out of the kitchen with their favorite sweet pastry.  Her digital expression was completely happy.
    “The Carrot and Ginger Slice for Cloyd, and the Vanilla Surprise for Nester, and last but not least, Maple got the Watermelon Frosted Blizzard.”
    Solotice said while handing them the food. She noticed that everyone had such a miserable look on their faces.
    “What happened?” She asked.
     Maple was the one to spill the news; I was just too shocked for words. Maybe this was the right way to go, letting Beatrice go to Grandmother’s. But they hated us; I knew for a fact that they wouldn’t even take her in. If they didn’t take her, she would have to go to the adoption center. I would never see her again.
     Nester said “Look at the bright news, at least you’ll get to see her before she leaves, the prince said he wouldn’t take them until 6:00.”
    I looked at the soft, play-doh like dough. Bringing my head down, my hair covered my face. I couldn’t let Beatrice go; she wouldn’t last in that adoption center. My fist lifted itself from the counter, and came thundering down in to the dough.
     I couldn’t control my tears from coming out. Soon my eyes were hard to see through. I couldn’t even see through the lake of tears building up in my eyes.
     Gliding to the ground, while against the wall, my tears made me feel like I was the center of attention. If only I was alone, I would show more than just tears, but I knew it wasn’t worth it. Cloyd kneeled down by my side, rubbing my back.
    “It’ll be okay, Auntia.” Cloyd said with a soothing voice that made me fill with even more anger.
     “It’s not okay, Cloyd!” I yelled releasing my bottled anger filled with in my head.
    My thoughts swerved with hatred, anger, and confusion.
     Solotice handed me a tissue. I stood up, while wiping my tears off my face. I took a deep breath and released it; I released all my anger, confusion, and hatred all at once.
    Cloyd sat back down and said “That was easier than I thought.”
    I frowned at him.
     Another customer came in with a brown hoodie and a white joker mask. Everyone stared at him and he just simply waved. He sat down next to Nester and looked at me. I couldn’t read his facial expression because of the mask he were.
    Maple said with enthusiasm “Maybe it’s for the best that Beatrice gets taken away.”
    “No, it’s not.” I said.
    The man in the mask replied “The prince served justice today; Teenagers can’t take care of children.”
    I looked at the masked man with hatred.
    “Maybe you should just stay out of our conversation.” I said ruddily.
     He said “Could you just get me a latté please, Auntia.”
     I gasped and stared at him. How did he know my name? “Please…” I said, but stopped.
     Nester said “We don’t want your kind here, so just leave.”
     The man in the mask replied” You shouldn’t talk to your prince that way.”
     The man in the mask suddenly realized what he said and stammered “Um, I mean the Prince of…” Then he said to himself “@$&!” we could all hear him because he didn’t try to whisper it.
    I quickly took off his mask and saw his reviled self. He was the prince everyone had grown to love, but today, my love for him has desisted.
     He smiled and said “Hello my subjects.”
    I asked ruddily “How could you have no heart at all.” Nester, Cloyd, and Maple all gasped.
    “Excuse me?” asked the Prince, while rising from him seat. I repeated confidently “How could you have no heart at all.” And continued “I always thought it was impossible for anyone to that much of a heart.”
    The Prince frowned and replied with hatred “How could you say something like that. I have always taken care of my Country.”
    I stand up and storm towards the Prince. He finally realizes how mad I am, and quickly proceeds to the door. I stop him and shove him against the wall.
     “Yeah, but you never do anything for your people, you never think of your people, what they need to be accomplished.” I yelled in his face.
     He stares in to my eyes with hatred.
    “The country is more important, subject.” He said with confusion.
    I continue “But dear old Prince wouldn’t care if his people would leave the country, then he would have no people to rule over.” I ended the conversation there.
    Maple said “Well that was a conversation leading to nowhere.”
    We both stared at her.
     Suddenly I heard my name being called. “Auntia!” a voice yelled from outside. My attention went to the door where I saw my sister, running to the Bakery. She looked as if she was beaten. Her feet stumble onto the ground, falling over onto the earth’s surface. My eyes widen with fear for my sister, Beatrice.