• “Help” Chapter 2
    Sitting in a black and silver chair, on the other side of the curtain covered window. An auburn headed eight year old boy, with a total bored look on his face.
    “Mom, how much longer?” the boy wined to his mom. She was getting her hair dried under the drier head.
    “What? I can’t hear you strawberry come here.” She motioned him over.
    He came over and leaned in and cuffed his hands around his mouth. “How much longer?” He asked again. She cuffed her hands around her mouth and said.
    “I don’t know, maybe another 20, 25 minutes maybe. Why don’t you play your Pokémon game?”
    “I can’t beat the dumb gym leader; can I get something to drink?”
    “Umm...yes you can at the food palace right?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Ok then, why you’re at it gets me a Coke. Be safe, don’t make any little detours it’s a short trip. Got That.”
    “Yes, I just need something to do.”He started walking anyway. His mom grabbed him by his shorts. He turned around. “Yeah.”
    “You got money?”
    “Yep, bout’ five dollars.”
    “Good ok, you can go.” She smiled as he walked out of the salon.
    He opened and the closed the door. He was stretching his arm. “I’m so glad I got out of there I feel so stiff. I wonder why mom brought here anyway its so bor-“His complaint was interrupted by seeing Amie in the corner of his eye crying. He turned toward her.
    “Why is she crying? Is she ok? Should I go ask her?” he asked himself. “Are you ok?” He asked Amie with a concerned expression on his face. Amie was shocked by his question and looked up at him her ocean blue eyes were red and puffy from crying.
    “Umm? Uh…” she wiped her eyes and was about to say “No I’m fine.” But then she had a thought, “I have to tell him, I need to find Kim. Something about him I can trust like he can help me.”
    “Are you lost?” he was cautionly coming closer to her.
    She shook her head “No I’m not…exactly.’
    “Then what’s wrong?” he asked
    “Ok …its fine just tells him.” She wiped more tears and said “My sister and I were abandoned…for about four weeks or so….and I …don’t really ...” she started crying again.
    “I don’t really... What?” He asked her.
    She sucked up some tears to finish “...Know…where my sister is …and now I’m all alone.”
    “Don’t cry; don’t cry you’re not alone. I’m here.” He said to her. Amie looked up at him surprised by his response, Tears still falling. A little fluster showed through his freckles, and he looked away.
    “I think mom can help her...But first” He thought “I need to cheer her up.”
    “Are you thirsty?” he smiled
    “…well yea.”
    “I’m going to buy you a drink, is that ok?”
    “Sure, thanks.” She sniffed trying to give a smile.
    “Want to come with so you can pick?” he stood in front of her to help her up.
    “Yes.” She looked up at him and hastily grabbed his hands. He pulled her up to her feet. “Thank you.” She grinned.
    “No problem, this way.” He pointed in front of himself toward the Food Palace. “Follow me.” He started walking Amie followed close behind.
    “Well my name is K-C Jetter, as you could tell from my accent I’m Irish.” He grinned at her.
    “Oh…I’m Amie with an I-e not a y, at the end. Umm... If you don’t mind me asking what does the K and the C stand for?”
    “Just to tell you I don’t like these names so, the K is Killian and the C for Cole so my whole name is Killian dash Cole Allen Jetter (Killian-Cole Allen Jetter).”
    “Oh…cool you have three names I wish I had three names that’s cool KC.”
    “Uh…Thanks.” “I made her smile a little; yes just need to make her happy Cuz she’s just trying not to have me worry.” They got in front of the Food Palace there were two drink machines on the left side of the automatic doors. They were against the brick wall, one had a Mist spring water bottle on it and the other had a picture of an orange flavored Floop bottle on it. “You want soda or water?” KC asked.
    “I don’t know which is cheaper?”
    “Cheaper?? It doesn’t matter they’re both the same price, one dollar.”
    “Oh…ok well I like to try Floop then.”
    “Good choice Floop is like the best soda in the world. Which one?” Amie walked over and looked up and down at the flavors.
    “Umm…” she looked up at KC. “What’s your favorite? I never tried these, before.”
    “Well…I suggest orange or strawberry, strawberry is my personal favorite.”
    “Oh that sound good …ummm….ah.” she looked at the machine surprised. “Is it ok if, I get this one?” she looked up at him; she was pointing at the grape floop label.
    “Ah…Yeah.” KC said, “I guess she missed it the first time around.” “So you want grape Floop?”
    “Yep.” She nodded. “Grape is my favorite flavor of skittles, I just love skittles. I wonder if it tastes like skittles.” She smiled. Amie stepped away from the machine, and KC walked over and put the five dollar bill in. And picked a coke it fell down, then he put the money in again and picked Grape Floop it fell, then he put in the money again and picked strawberry floop. He grabbed all three soda bottles. “Heads up.” He called to Amie. She didn’t hear him.
    Amie looked sad again leaning against the mist drink machine looking down.
    “Amie, here” KC walked over to her and handed the soda to Amie.
    “Oh!” She quickly wiped away the tears coming down. “Thanks.” She grabbed it. They started walking back to the salon. “Where are we going?
    “We’re going to the hair salon my mom is there. I think my mom can help you with your problem.”
    “Oh….ok.” KC opened his soda and took a swig of it.
    “That’s good stuff.” He looked over at Amie she hadn’t opened her drink. “Is something wrong?” he asked her.
    “I’m fine sorry; I was in a daze again.”
    “There’s fines…go ahead and try your soda.” Amie looks at KC and opens the bottle. She looks at him unsure. He does a drinking motion with his own bottle, and shows a thumb up. She takes a sip of it and a smile appears on her face.
    “This is good; it tastes close to grape skittles. My sister and I used to get skittles when we got some money from the candy machine.” She daydreams.
    “Let me try.” KC grabs her soda.
    “Hey” she snapped out of her dream “Give it back.” His waterfalls a little of it, he gives it back.
    “See no germs.” He throws his hands up. “But you’re right it is good.”
    “I’m not talking about you, but me. I don’t want you to get sick.”
    “Don’t worry, I bet you’re not sick and I waterfall.” He smiled. They were in front of the Hair salon door. “We’re here.”
    “I don’t want to go in.”
    “Why? Is it cuz…?”
    “I’m nervous, I mean I probably look all dirty and I’m smelly.” KC looks at her she was wearing a yellow raincoat with a hood that looked like a little dress on her, jeans, and dirty sneakers. He sniffed her. She jumped back surprised.
    “Why did you just-“
    “You don’t smell bad at all your shoes are just a little muddy.”
    “Really I don’t.”
    “Yep, if you want me to I’ll go in first then I’ll get you.”
    “Umm...ok thanks.”
    “I’ll be right back.” He went inside with both his and his mom’s soda. His mom was in the styling chair a woman around his mom’s age early thirties was comb out her hair.
    “Where have you been young man?” her eyebrow was raised.
    “Here’s your soda, mom.” He hands her the coke. “I have a question.”
    “Thank you, but answer my question first.” The stylist was just watching smiling. His mom opened the soda and drunk some.
    “At the drink machine.”
    “What took so long was there a line?”
    “No….. I met this girl.”
    “Huh? A girl.’
    “Isn’t he only eight, Anne?” the stylist asked her.
    “Yeah, what do you mean?”
    “Well she needs your help.”
    “Where is she?”
    “Outside, I’ll get her.” KC walked back to the door and went outside; Amie was sitting in the same spot where he found her. “Come on.”He helped her up.
    Amie gulped “Ok.”
    “It’ll be ok there’s nothing to be scared of. My mom’s only scary when she’s mad.”
    “Is she mad?”
    He laughed “No… don’t worry.” She grabbed his hand with her right and her soda in her left. She was squishing his hand. He opened the door and they walked up to his mom.
    His mom and the stylist were whispering to each other, “She’s so cute… but she looks so scared.” The stylist whispered.
    “Yea she is ...both ways.” his mom said.
    “Well mom this is the girl.” KC said turning Amie to face his mom. A few other people were watching them.
    “Hello.”Amie said nervously. “My name is Amie...” she gulped.
    “‘Ello Amie, I’m KC’s mom Mrs. Jetter nice to make your acquaintance.” She smiled at Amie she put out her left hand from under the smock. Amie let go of KC’s hand and shook Mrs. Jetters’ hand.
    She did a small smile and said ”Ditto.” “She has the same accent as KC.” She realized to herself.
    The hair stylist eyed KC and did a motion with her eyes toward Amie. KC narrowed his eyes blushing shaking his head side to side. Mouthing no. The stylist rolled her eyes with a grin.
    “Amie, whatever you need help with just asks me when I’m done ok.”
    “Ok, thanks.”
    “No problem, why don’t you guys go sit down in those chairs and you can see if you can help Strawberry with his game.” She grinned at KC. KC rolled his eyes. They walked to the chairs and they sat back next to each other.
    “Why she call you Strawberry?” Amie asked.
    “It’s my nickname since I was a baby.” KC answered. He got his Game Boy Color from beside him.
    “Oh…is it cuz of your red hair and freckles?” she point to her hair and face.
    “No... It’s cuz I ate strawberries all the time when I was a baby….wait...I never thought it that way…my hair …and freckles oh…I get it.” He started laughing “I never thought of it that way. “ He turned it on and loaded his game.
    “I guess that’s the way I think.” She laughed. She watched KC play a little.
    “What’s this game called?”
    “Pokémon.”
    “Oh….I never played it before. Can I try?”
    “Ahhh...yea.” He handed it to her. “I’m trying to beat the gym leader but I keep losing.”
    “Oh ok.”
    “Do you need help?” She shook her head, pressing the buttons. KC watched her, a shocked expression showed on his face.
    “I almost got him…water gun…and…….I WON!” she yelled surprised she realized she yelled and covered her mouth. She had a small smile showing through her hands, she looked up at KC’s shocked face.
    “How could you beat him… and I couldn’t and you never played before ...right.”
    She nodded her hands still cover her mouth, the GBC in her lap.
    “I tried more than two times….…I give up.” He went into a gloom state.
    “You got another badge.” She sheepishly grinned at him. “Without the Pokémon that YOU trained I would of lost …it was you who won.”
    “But how does that explain how you won and never played before.”
    “With you fighting him your Pokémon’s levels got higher and they got stronger with your Gym leader training. It was you.”
    “Well I did train them …it does make sense...ok”
    “Yea he looks happy again, quick thinking.” She said to herself. “Yep that’s right, here.” she handed the game back with a grin. “Only you know what to do next.”
    “I guess I do.” He grabbed it.
    “Hey guys I’m done.” Mrs., Jetter said. Getting up from the seat. “Here, Tanya thanks it looks great.” She hands Tanya the stylist ten dollars tip. “I could never get it this straight.
    “No problem Hun I bet your Husband will think you look hot, you look younger with those bangs.” She said.
    She laughed, “Probably, I don’t know when I’ll make another appointment, I’ll call you.” She looked in the mirror again poked her bangs.
    She had redder hair then her son, straight bangs going as far as the middle if her eyebrows. Her hair was completely straight and ran to the middle of her back.
    “Ok see you guys, bye KC, Amie.” She waves at them. KC and Amie wave at Tanya.
    “Mom you look pretty your hair looks longer.” KC said while getting up from his seat Amie got up too.
    “Yea, it’s nice you have bangs like me.”
    “She does.” KC said looking back and forth at his mom and Amie.
    “Thanks you guys I agree.” Mrs. Jetter chuckled. She was paying at the front desk. She put her Bluetooth in her ear and they walked out of the salon toward the car.
    “Umm...What did you hair look like before Mrs. Jetter?” Amie asked. “I’m just wondering.”
    “My hair was frizzy and puff out to the sides it looked shorter than this.” She explained pointing to her head. “I always put it in a ponytail … wait I got I picture.” She got a picture out of her wallet and handed it to Amie. “It a family picture in Ireland we used to live there a couple years ago when KC was around three or four. I‘m on the far left next to my husband, the guy with the short brown hair and little beard.” She point to herself on the picture.
    “Oh I like your hair this way too it looks good too.” Mrs.Jetter got into the car on the driver seat.
    “Thanks, just tryin’ something new.”
    Amie stopped in front of the opened back seat door KC opened for her. “Mrs.Jetter...” Amie called to Mrs.Jetter. “Are you sure it’s ok for me to sit in your nice car.” Amie was looking at the tan leather seats. “The seats are nice; I don’t want to mess them up.”
    “Oh no don’t worry ‘bout it I have two kids I’ve been covering the messed up spots for as long as I’ve had the car you’re fine. “ She motioned Amie in the car.
    “Oh...ok Amie looked back at KC and she scooted inside the car to the seat behind Mrs. Jetter. KC followed and closed the door they buckled their seat belts. Amie looked at the picture again and she looked sad.
    “What wrong?” KC said as his mom pulled out of the parking space to Amie.
    “Uh…, your family looks so happy.”
    “Uh... yea I kind of remember that day. That’s my older sister Emma.” He pointed to a girl looking around six with long red hair with brown eyes standing next to KC. “She’s two years older than me.”
    “Oh she looks nice.”
    “Yeah, she’s a pretty cool sister.”
    “Here’s the picture back.” She handed the picture to Mrs.Jetter she was stopped at a stop light.
    “Thanks.” She put the picture back in her wallet.”You guys want something to eat?”
    ‘”Yeah.” KC said I’m starving.
    “Uh...sure thank you, I'm a little hungry.” Amie said.
    “No problem, and while we eat you can tell me your problem.

    They were sitting in a booth inside of McDonald’s Mrs.Jetter eating a salad and KC and Amie eating kids’ meals. KC and Amie were sitting on one side of the booth and Anne on the other.
    “Well Amie what’s wrong?” Mrs.Jetter asked Amie. Amie signed.
    “Ummm…well to start it off, my sister and I was abandoned about four weeks ago. We were homeless… we did live in an old trailer though and we got food from the church or shelters. We never trust adults’ very much we were afraid that if we weren’t careful we be put into adoption and be separated we didn’t want that.” Amie pause a second and looked down at her chicken nuggets.
    “But this morning my sister went to get food at the soup kitchen and I stayed at the trailer. I was suppose stop the rain from going all on the floor. After awhile she didn’t come back, I knew I should have gone with her….” She sighed. “I went to see if she was at the soup kitchen the church but she wasn’t there I didn’t know what to do.” Mrs.Jetter was looking down then up at Amie about to say something when, her Ode to Joy ringtone went off.
    “Wait, on sec.” she looked at her phone “I need to take this.” She pressed a button on her Bluetooth; she got up and walked toward the bathroom. “’ello Linda what’s up?”
    “Hey Anne I know you started your vacation but I need you to come to the Hospital.”
    “Why?”
    “There’s this girl that came through the ER a little over two hours ago, she came in with I broken ankle in two places and maybe amnesia she’s resting now. All she seems to remember is her name. She claims she doesn’t know why she’s here or how she got injured nothing before the accident. She was asking where her sister was and we look things up but nothing came up.”
    “What was the girl’s name, and her sister’s.” she asked. “I wonder if …” She looked over at Amie.
    “It was Kim no last name, and her sister’s name was Amie.”
    “What! No way.” She exclaimed to herself. “I’m coming right now.”
    “Ok I’m at the 2nd floor room 234. Visiting hours is still going on, until 7:35 today.”
    “Ok, thanks its 12:40 now ok see you soon, bye.”
    “Bye.” She pressed the button again on her BlueTooth and walked back to the booth and sat down again. “You guys we have to make a stop somewhere, it’s important. We got to go.” She picked up her tray and scooted out of the booth Amie and KC followed throwing away their trash. And they went back into the car and drove onto the street.