The great depression

My younger brother  Henry lies next to me crying  himself to sleep, he misses

our mother. After she died I was glad it meant one less mouth to feed.

she was useless in the last few months of her life, unable to get a job  to help support our family, but if there were something I

miss about my mother it would be the scones she’d make for us when we had  enough flour and if we were lucky  she’d add dates or honey.

I wrap the blanket tight around his small body and  head out into  the dark.

Henry doesn't know where all our food comes from and won’t care as long as he doesn't have an empty stomach.

My feet is sore from the ground against my bare feet , but I guess i'm used to it. The  shanty’s  on  our street are close to each other, ours in the worst ,the top of our roof has a hole so when it rains water  leaks through, father meant to fix it but never had the time so we just put a bucket inside to catch the rain . He works long hours so I don't see him much, he leaves before I wake and even now with just the three of us we still can’t afford to buy the important things we need with his earnings. There’s a house to my left , one with a vegetable patch

and an apple tree. I  jump over  the fence and land in the moist dirt, my feet sinking  in  , I start pulling  vegetables out of ground as quick as I Can  and place them in my basket ,

A light flickers on from inside the house and i drop my basket in my attempt to escape, I see the silhouette  of someones body and  sink back against the tree hoping they didn't see my face,if i was caught i don’t know what would happen. The moment passes and the light flickers back off. That was close. I carefully sneak out from my hiding place from behind the tree and run over to my basket,the contents spilled over the dark dirt, i load them back into the basket and take a few apples, Henry will be pleased. I clamber back over the fence and run

not looking back.

Its morning by the time I get back , Henry's already dressed

“where have you been “ he asks.

“I just went out to get us some food “ I reply.

“okay” he says

We have the apples and some stale bread left over from the other week for breakfast,

the apples are juicy and sweet while the bread tastes dry in my mouth. We sit on the ground in silence while we eat.

“When you’re done why don’t you go and play with your friends’’  I suggested .

“I don’t have any friends” he says sadly .

I hug him tightly against my side.

“i’m your friend.” I whisper.

“Yes, but you don’t count, you’re my sister you have no

choice but to be my friend, cause you’re stuck with me.” he laughs.

“ Yes, that may be true but i chose to be your friend.” i state.

I don’t remember the last time we laughed , it feels odd

like it’s something we've done for the first time, and i think that maybe

there’s hope for us in all of this distress.

By Myfanwy Wong