By the time I got to the small playground, as usual, Josh was sitting on the merry-go-round. He usually gets there first because he lives closer. Once he saw me he got up and started to walk towards me. I picked up my speed and ran a little, once i got to him I flung my arms around his waist, we stayed like that until he realized that I was crying, then he just held on a little tighter.
�Why are you crying?� he asked. I pulled away and looked at him.
�I�ve got something to tell you,� I said quietly
�What?� He asked
�c�mon,� I said, pulling him back to where he had previously been sitting. I sat down beside him and began to move the piece of playground equipment with my feet.
�What Kennie?� he asked
�I think I have to move,� I said quietly
�move?� he asked �as in leave Riverdale?�
�Yeah,� I answered
�to where?�
�Florida,� I said �With my aunt Jane. My mom doesn�t have enough money to support us,� I wiped my tears with my jacket sleeve.
�Are you breaking up with me?� Josh asked
�No,� I answered �If I�m going to break up with you, It�s going to be on the day that I leave,�
�When�s that?�
�A few days after Christmas,�
�That�s less than a month,�
�I know,� I said quietly �That�s what I said,�
�Why you Kennie?� Josh asked �Why not Krys and Jason,�
�Apparently it�s because I never baby sit because I have an active social life and Nat has a life,� I said
�so, basically she said you and Jason were useless so she shipping you away,�
�Kinda,� I said �She also said it was because I was so young and she wanted me to be in a good, healthy environment,�
�Shouldn�t that be with your family and friends?� Josh asked �Or at least with family you�ve talked to lately,�
�Yeah,� I answered �But Scott can�t take either of us. He�s scraping his way through college,�
�What about your dad?�
I�d never thought of my dad until now. Now that Josh brought it up I remembered hearing what my mom was saying this morning. The words echoed in my head over and over dammit Jake why won�t you help. I could feel the anger begin to stir inside of me. He�d left us without saying good bye, and now when we needed it the most, he wouldn�t help.
�What about him?� I asked, trying to be cool
�He has to be able to help somehow,�
�I heard my mom cursing him this morning for not helping,� I said �This was before I knew what was happening,�
Josh sighed and got up. He looked up at the sky for a few seconds before turning back to me and grabbing my hand.
�C�mon,� he said �Let�s just walk and talk about other stuff,�
I got up and we walked for awhile, talking about anything and everything except for what I had previously told him. We eventually ended up back at my house. I looked at my watch. It read 7:24.
�I�m going to go in,� I sighed �I�m getting cold,�
�Alright,� Josh answered before softly kissing me
�I�ll see you tomorrow,� I said before walking up the icy driveway and into the house.
When I got in the house, my siblings, minus Nicky and Bry, were sitting in the living room. I tried to walk right past, but Jason got up and blocked my way.
�What are you doing?� I asked
�We have to talk,� Jason said
�About what?� I questioned
�Florida,� He said simply
�What about Florida?�
�We have a very simple way to solve this,� Nat answered
�How?� I asked
�We�re drawing straws,� Krys answered �Who ever picks the long straws get to stay here, who ever picks the short straws goes,�
�No re-picking,� I said
�Alright,� Jason said �I�m going to get the straws,�
When he got back he ad four straws, twp of which were shorter then the other two.
�Who goes first?� I asked
�I will,� Nat said as Jason made the straws look like they were all the same size.
�No one show their straw until we each have one,� Jason said as Krys picked hers. I was next, and Jason was left with the last one. All at once we held our straws up to compare. Mine was shorter, but so was Krys�. I looked at Jason and Krys, who were both looking at each other.
�At least I�ve got Krys,� I mumbled before running up to the bedroom. A few minutes after being up there, Krys came in.
�You ok?� I asked
�Yeah,� she answered. She was obviously handling the situation better than I did that afternoon.
�Are you sure?� I asked again �Because, it is sort of a hard thing to stomach,�
�Yeah,� Krys sighed, she sat across from me on my bed. �Did you tell Josh?�
�Yep,� I answered �When are you going to tell Jeremy?� I spoke of her boyfriend as if he were a brother.
�Sometime tomorrow,� she answered �Do we have any ice cream?�
�I�m not sure,� I replied �Do you think mom will let us run to 7-11?�
�It�s only quarter after 8,� she answered, while looking at the clock. I got up and practically flew downstairs. By the time Krys was down there I already had my jacket and mittens on.
�MOM!!� I yelled �ME AND KRYS ARE GOING TO THE 7-11. WE�LL BE BACK SOON!�
�Wait a minute!!� She yelled before coming down the stairs
�What?� Krys asked when she was close enough not to yell
�Can you please get Nicky a bag of chips?� my mom asked handing Krys a 5 dollar bill �You can keep the change,�
�Thanks mom,� Krys said before putting on her gloves
�Can we go now?� I asked my mom
�Yeah,� My mom said �Don�t be out too late,�
�We won�t mah,� I said smiling.