The Old Town

01

   Dedicated to my parents who supported me from the start. 

   In a small town lived a happy family, the Stringers'. But this was a rather peculiar family. There was a mother, a father, a daughter, a brother, and a baby. But it was not this that had made them so peculiar. Sure they lived in a big mansion and had many, many million's of dollars, no... it was their distinct to all the other families in town. It was their kindness.

   Their father was the founder of a very successful car company. Their mother, on the other hand, worked in law, she was a judge. The two parents were always running around, always up and about, and not much time to watch their children grow or do anything much. 

   After one strange day at school, Mariane and Davis Stringer were ushered out of class. "Please come with me," the secretary said, she led the two siblings to the principal's office where he stood stony-faced. "We have something to tell you," he finally said, after a very shaky breath. Davis and Mariane looked at their principal expectantly. He took another breath and continued. "Might as well get this over with... we have been informed of a terrible accident which had taken place a few minutes ago, please look at this article," he passed them a crinkled newspaper that seemed to freshly printed a few minutes ago. 

   The Stringer children glanced at each other and begun to read. "Mrs. and Mr. Stringer of Poplar Avenue, killed in a car accident-" they stopped reading right then and there. The headline was enough to make the two siblings puke. "Mom and Dad... gone?" whispered Mariane, wiping away a runaway tear. "Yes," the Principal said heavily. "I'm afraid so. Sara and Matthew were great people of course. What is to be reported that had happened was that a small boy chased after his soccer ball and accidentally did not see your parents coming and your parents- being the great people they are - turned sharply, veering into another lane sideways, causing another car to plow straight into the driver side door..." He stopped there, too choked to say anymore. 

   "I think we should get you both home to your baby brother and see what will happen from there," suggested the Principal quietly. They barely heard him. He took their hands and took them to his car. 

   On the drive to Poplar Avenue, nobody talked much, the two siblings were still covered by their grief and shock. The Principal being equally as shocked. 

   They arrived at the shining mansion that had once looked gorgeous and majestical, now stood cold and empty. 

   The two siblings stumbled out of the car, thanking the Principal profusely and both made their way to the front steps to be greeted by their grandparents. 

   "Gram! Gramps!" they shouted, diving into the hugs their grandparents offered them. "It will be ok, my dears," whispered their Gram, stroking Mariane's hair. "You both will be moving in with Gram and me!" announced their Grandfather. 

   The siblings took on a look of pure relief. 

   "Are we leaving today Gram and Gramps?" asked Davis, brushing away dried-up tears. "If you want to," said Gram, looking delighted and surprised at the same time. "Definitely," agreed Mariane. Their grandparents didn't need to be mind readers to know what they were thinking. They didn't want to be at the place that reminded them of their parents most after what had happened to them. If there was anywhere to make them feel better, it would not be this mansion. 

   Mariane unlocked the front door, and everybody walked into the big foyer. The normally bright and welcoming house now looked gloomy and mourning. "Let's go get those bags packed then!" shouted Gram. "Gramps will help you guys get packed, I must go check on little Liam, then I'll join you guys." 

   Gram went straight down the hallway to the room Mariane and Davis's little brother stayed. 

   Gramps took Mariane's and Davis's hands and dragged them upstairs to the room they shared.