Let Her Talk (Cooper Alan FanFiction)

Taken

Valentina had just flipped over the last pancake in the frying pan when she heard little footsteps from behind. She turned her head slightly to see her sleepy younger sister Sophia walking towards her in a grey nightgown and bunny slippers with messy banana curls bouncing off her shoulders. A few minutes later Henry, their father had come into the house from the farm, holding a basket of eggs from the coop. He places the basket in the fridge and sits down to a plate of pancakes and bacon. 

"Mornin' girls." He smiles as he takes a bite. His mouth watered to the taste of buttery syrup and greasy bacon. "This is delicious Valentina, as always." He looks to Valentina who is scribbling words in a large leather bound book. He sees her write in it often, but hasn't a clue what's written. 

"Thanks daddy..." She finishes the last bite of her breakfast and scribbles down some more words into the book. 

"Valentina, can't you put that book down for once, what do you even write in that thing anyway?"

"Nothing daddy." She stands and clears her plate in the sink before grabbing her book and hurrying up the stairs to her large attic bedroom to get ready for her typical long day ahead. 

She showers in her small bathroom and gets dressed in a short yellow sundress and sandals. She brushes through her long curly hair and grabs her backpack after placing her book in the inner-most pocket. 

She rushes down the stairs, kisses her sister and father on the head before muttering, "I'm off to work," and stars her twenty minute walk to the bus stop that will bring her to Bargain Shop, the grocery store she works at. 

She starts her daily ten hour shift by scanning her employee ID which logs her hours and gives her access to rooms not accessible to non-employees. Her job here was the register, and clean-up if a spill happened somewhere in the store. 

6:00pm came and she walked into the managers office to get her bi-weekly check. She looked at the check which read $1,890, a bit more than usual. On the envelope she noticed a note that said "$1.50 raise." She normally makes $12.00 an hour, but she wouldn't complain. A raise never hurt nobody. To be honest the extra money would help. 

After she deposited this check she could finally afford to get that car off her neighbor. It was a small gold Toyota in good condition. He was charging $4,500.00 for the car, which was a steal, but with daily expenses, helping with her fathers mortgage and not to mention bills, it took her a while to save up the money. 

Valentina is exiting the bank as she sees something on the television screen above the lobby. The woman on the television says the Army is drafting healthy men from age 18-40. There's a war starting, it's been brewing for a year, and there's no avoiding it now.

She walks into the house and sees her sister crying on the couch, wrapped in a ball holding her teddy bear. "Sophia, what's wrong honey?"

Her sister sobs as she clings to the sofa. "Cancer took mommy, and now the Army's taking daddy..." 

Valentina runs to her fathers room and as she reaches the door she sees him zip his suitcase. He turns and sees her fighting off tears. He steps closer to her and holds her in his arms. "They can't do this, daddy, THEY CAN'T! It's not fair!" She cries in his arms. 

"I'm 37 years old, healthy and strong. They can, and they did, and I don't have a choice..." He wipes away her tears and grabs his suitcase as he heads for the door. He reaches the front door and turns the doorknob, but is stopped by Sophia grabbing onto him and clinging to his leg. The men in camouflaged gear see what's happening as they exit the truck parked out front. 

"Mr. Brockton, it's time..."

Henry pulls her off of him, and forces a tiny smile to try to comfort the child. "I have to go sweetie, but I love you both so much..." He wipes a tear from Valentina's cheek and hugs her. "Your mother is so proud of you right now, I'm sure of it..." He walks away and gets in the truck. As it drives away Sophia chases after it, trying to stop all of this. She gets half way down the driveway before Valentina grabs onto her and holds her tight as they both cry on the ground.