Tommy sighed as he walked through the park alone. It was dark, the tall yellow-ish lights casting long shadows on the concrete. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked the snow-lined path, watching his breath. The park was so quiet at night, so serene. It made him forget about everything that was happening in the outside world. He didn't have to worry about his little sister, or what Kat was doing, or if he was going to fail the 12th grade for the third time.
He felt around his jacket and produced a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He got a cigarette out, placed it between his lips and lit the end of it, watching the white paper turn black until it fell to the ground. He put his fore finger and middle finger around it and removed it. He blew out a large cloud of gray smoke, inhaling the smell.
His hip started vibrating, so he reached for it. He flipped the phone open to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Tommy, where are you?" a girls voice asked.
"I'm in the park, Sophia. What do you want?"
"I want you to come home! I don't trust the people out there! You could get killed! Please Tommy, come home…"
Tommy sighed, "Okay, I'm going. I'll be home as soon as I can. I'll see you soon."
"Be careful!"
"Yeah," Tommy grumbled before he hung up.
His phone found its way back into his pocket as well as the cigarette back into his mouth. His hip vibrated again and he sighed as he picked it up.
"Tommy! Where are you?!"
"I'm in the park, Kat…"
"You were supposed to be here an hour ago!" he yelled.
"What?" Tommy asked, very confused now.
"I'm waiting at the restaurant for you! Why aren't you here?!" Kat yelled.
"I'm not there because I don't remember being informed of this," Tommy said, removing his cigarette.
"Don't be a smart-ass, Tommy!" Kat screamed into his ear.
"Well I don't know where you are, and Sophia wants me to come home. She called me before you did," Tommy said, smoke escaping his lips.
"Then I'll go over to your house," Kat said, calming down.
"Whatever. I'll be home in a few minutes," Tommy said a split second before he hung up.
He put his phone in his jacket pocket and placed his cigarette back into his mouth and started his walk home.
- - - - -
"Tommy!" Sophia screamed as she ran to hug her older brother.
As he closed the door he was pushed against it as she jumped up to hug him, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"I'm not dying, Sophia. Let go, please," Tommy said.
"Why are you so mean all the time?" she asked, slowly letting go so she wouldn't fall. When her feet hit the floor, she put her arms down.
"Kat's coming over," he said, walking past her.
"You two aren't gonna… do anything, are you?" she asked, following him.
"Nope. Kat's pissed that I didn't show up for some dinner thing I didn't even know about. He's not gonna wanna do that straight away," Tommy reassured her.
"Okay," Sophia sighed. "You hungry since you didn't go to that dinner?"
"Yeah, what are you planning on making?" Tommy asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Well… what do you want?"
"I don't really care Sophia. Cook whatever you want. I'll be in the living room unless you need me for something," he said, kissing her head.
"No, you can go," she smiled.
Tommy headed over to the sofa and turned the T.V. on.
- - - - -
"It's ready!" Sophia chirped as she brought two plates into the living room where Tommy was.
"Ooh, thank you," he said, happily grabbing a plate.
Sophia smiled at him and sat don, watching him dig into the chicken. "Is it good?" she asked.
"Delicious," Tommy said with a mouthful of chicken.
She smiled again and said, "Well I'm glad you like it."
"Like? More like love!" he said, still devouring his chicken.
The doorbell rang, a subtle chiming sound that made Sophia jump a little. She got up and put her plate on a counter in the kitchen before opening the door slightly, just enough for her to see out into the hallway.
"Are you Sophia Lee?" a man in a clean black suit growled.
"Uhm, y-yeah…" Sophia answered, a little scared.
"Is your brother home?" the man growled once again.
"Y-yeah!" she replied, looking over her shoulder at her brother who was finished with his dinner. He was now laying on the sofa, lighting up a cigarette.
"Who is it, Sophia?" Tommy asked, talking around the cigarette.
"I don't know," she replied.
"Then close the door, you're letting in a draft," he laughed.
"Well, he wants to see you," she said, opening the door more, but not enough for Tommy to see the man.
"Well, I don't wanna see him. I'll be right back though," he said, jumping off the sofa. He ran into his room and slammed the door closed.
"Miss, can I come in?" he asked.
"May I have your first name, please?" Sophia asked as politely as possible, despite her fear.
"You can call me Mr. Simmons," he replied.
"Okay." She let the man in and he took a seat on the sofa.
Tommy then walked out with nothing on, making Sophia's face turn bright red.
"Thomas! Put some pants on!" she screamed, putting her hands over he eyes.
Mr. Simmons just cleared his throat awkwardly, looking away slightly as he did so.
"Why should I?"
"Because I don't need to see you naked! You're my brother!" she yelled.
Tommy sighed and sulked into his room where he put boxers on and then came back out.
"Better?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you," Sophia sighed once she saw he had pants on.
Tommy moved into the kitchen and took a bottle of beer out of the fridge. He slammed the top of it down on the edge of the counter top and the cap flew off. He took a sip of it and when he saw the cap on the floor, picked it up and threw it away.
Sophia watched as he did all this, then she looked over at Mr. Simmons who looked like he was studying his every move. When Tommy came back into the living room, he sat himself in an armchair, spreading his legs a little.
"Who are you?" Tommy asked.
"William Simmons," the suited man said.
"And why are you here?" Tommy took another sip of beer and rested it on his leg.
"Well… I'm from Child Services and I'm here to take your sister away."