Recess detention was as miserable as usual. Tick tock tick tock, the clock uttered every second. A boy followed the arrow that moved ever so slowly progressing at a turtle's pace. Students fidgeted annoyed having to sit longer than a minute. The rustling of pants or shorts echoed, as legs shook in constant motion. Besides Glenn was Jacobs, who had succumbed to the charm of birds flying outside. His eyes watched in silence through the window, disregarding his surroundings and Glenn's curious glances. The creatures of miracles glided in the air with dexterity unknown to mankind, twirling their bodies to swoop down in breathtaking ways. People knew the sensation of being in the air, but never would they be blessed with the sensation of true flight. To acknowledge the sun at day and the moon at night as companions for travel. Birds in the truest sense were free of all restraints. Ignorant of gravity, they flew many times over their height imposing authority over vast skies.

Unknown to the two boys that watched. In front, Stacey produced a weapon of death hailing from the depths of hell itself. Her straw loaded with ammo eager to unload them at any sign. The bullets were coated in poison, or better recognised as saliva. Stealthily hidden from the view of Mr Harold, she fired her first shot. Glenn felt the impact of something foreign stick to his lightly bruised cheek. Caught off guard, his concentration relocated onto what had struck him. His fingertips met with a wet paper ball tiny in size on the side of his face. Whisking it aside, Glenn's expression contorted in disgust before rummaging through the sea of seated students. He wanted to expose whoever was the culprit.

In his search, another spitball settled onto his face. Stacey feigned sleep, slumping upon her table, as Glenn's piercing gaze swept past her. Peeking behind, whilst filling the intricate spitball gun of a single straw, Stacey rose from her prior resting position. Aiming with her black eye in absolute concentration, moments away from firing until Glenn's stare swept through the classroom once more. In hast, she fired before rushing to her sleeping pose. Unfortunately for the girl, the direction of her bullet did not obey the route she wanted. The spitball gained a new victim, nailing itself straight between the target's eyes. Innocently it slid down his forehead, plopping itself down onto his table, trying to flee from fuming youth.

"Mr Harold, Stacey's shooting spitballs at me." Jacob in ease found the startled perpetrator. He stood up with hulking muscles, eyeing her fumbling hands holding a single straw, alone. Stacey seethed bitterly like a viper at another predator. Everyone nearby watched onwards from afar awaiting for mayhem to erupt. Fortunately, Mr Harold was their saviour from above, standing gallantly to intervene.

"Stacey lunch detention." He spoke with a calm bearing shattering the ice.

"NO! Wait... Give me a chance." Stacey pleaded at the mercy of Mr Harold's command now.

"Too many chances have gone to waste on you. From now on, you will be eating here for lunch, for 3 days."

"Teacher! That's not fair, it was just a prank." She frantically stood up from her seat. Stacey implored him for a lighter sentence rather than endure the punishment of eternal boredom.

"One week now because of you're complaining." Mr Harold had his arms crossed, challenging the girl of mischief to breathe out another word.

She pouted, staring daggers towards Jacob, who snitched on her. He may have won the battle, but later she would besiege war and triumph in the conquest of supremacy. Returning to her seat, she wished to thrash the room in anger, yet maybe this room would do some good for her. For now, that is, she brewed thoughts of revenge on how to rattle the ogre out of his thick skin. To, steal or tease, Stacey pondered ways to torture the oaf, all to realise he had impassable barriers formed by his lumps of meat. Sigh, she did peeking over to see Jacob's overbearing muscles glisten in the summer's heat. It seemed Glenn who hid within the figure of a girl, would be her only toy to play with after she escaped this hell.

Recess ceased alongside bells ringing across Meadows Ridge. Hours of lessons sped by, no kids daring enough to cross paths with Mr Harold after their encounter of his ferocious nature. He nearly growled at the children during his time of rage, when they attempted to rush out of the school's premises. Students were drowsily awake listening to Mr Harold speak, some dozing away already. Lunch blessed the children an escape route, many leapt out of their seats crowding the doorway. Laughter and excitement heard from all, except Glenn who noticed Stacey watching everyone leave, especially him. His spine shivered, sensing havoc would follow his way after witnessing the same smile again resting on her face. It could clutch onto your heart and did on the likes of Jonas and once upon a time, Glenn as well during his first day at school. Luckily the dirty blonde haired boy was not here to become a lackey assisting the wicked witch of the west. Jacob seemed immuned, walking out with no urgency. Glenn followed afterwards, walking into open fields running about with other students. Strolling through the school grounds, it was a habit since bullying. A must, to know the paths within the school to dash away from attackers. Laying out the routes within his mind, alone in solitude. Lonely to some, but comfort for the boy, as Glenn advanced through every nook of Meadows Ridge.

In the boy's trip, he stumbled onto an unexpected spectacle. Jacob sat on a bench, serving the previous birds not shy to fly amidst the never-ending sky dyed blue. Seeds were thrown with care, feeding the starving creatures, whilst another perched on the top of his shoulder. Who knew the brawn of the school would cherish birds Glenn thought. A tiny bird noticed someone unfamiliar, as it cocked it's head sideways curious about the new face. Hopping forward, nearing the girl it assumed, trying to be stealthy.

"Yashee, come here." Jacob sweetly said, mindless of Glenn's dropped jaw.

"Did you name all these birds?" Glenn glanced over to the various birds numbering to five. Each unique with shades of colours.

"Be quiet and sit here." He patted the empty seat next to him, waiting then glaring, ordering him to sit. Patience wasn't one of his great points it seemed and Glenn wasn't ready to provoke the ginger boy. Occupying a seat now right beside Jacobs, he never noticed until now the rich colour of red that slept above his head.

"Here." Jacobs shoved a pile of seeds into Glenn's tiny hands with no hint on what he should do. Weary and afraid, Glenn had many experiences with people that were more athletic than he was. Usually, they were the ones who kicked and punched him. The word bully did not resemble the now gentle giant, who grinned every time a bird pecked at the seeds.

Glenn held his hands out packed to the brim with seeds, observing the various birds swallowing them down. His curiosity rumbled in hunger as he asked, "What breed are they?"

"They're Old World Sparrows."

A fragile boy with limbs of twigs sat parallel to a boy that could be mistaken, as someone that was in grade ten when in truth, they were both in year six. Glenn had no clues on how to continue the conversation even though both sat next to each other during class within their perspective tables. In truth, they had encountered each other four times. Once two years ago in a competition, Glenn had long forgotten. The second meeting was on the first day of school when Jacobs introduced himself as the apex predator of this land against the other king of the jungle Stacey. The third after the fight that ensued Mr Harold's wrath, Glenn shivered in fear at the memory. Now was their fourth, sitting on a bench in silence.

"They like you," Jacob announced.

"Who does?"

"Yashee, Perch, Robin, Gob and Flinch." He pointed at each bird, listing their names aloud.

Yashee was tiny, able to fit into the size of anyone's hands, even a child's unlike the crow back home, who took up the space of two arms to cradle. Feathers grey and brown, Glenn recalled the bird that Jacobs first beckoned back. It sweetly called out for more seeds, "Shee Shee Shee." Now Glenn understood the bird's name.

Perch was a variant of colours, brown, white and black. Quietly it nibbled at the seeds handed to him, perched onto Jacob's shoulder.

Gob was as plain as they came, simplistic with its contrasting colours painted across its feathers. It swallowed whole the seeds gobbling them down.

Dashing streaks of black ran down the body of Robin. It stole seeds from both Jacob's and Glenn's hands, storing them away for later.

Across from Glenn, sat a bird flinching numerous times every second and aghast he asked if it was ok.

Jacobs replied with a tone growing hot by the minute, reaching steaming points of lava. "Some fool threw a rock at the bird's head. Saw it with my own two eyes and confronted the scum, he ran too fast before l could catch up. Poor fellow flinches now at every moment." Flinch twitched it's head whilst huddling towards the large hand that caressed its body.

Glenn felt sad for the bird and could understand the ginger boy’s fury. Flinch prompted Glenn to remember a certain crow resting at his house now.

"I have a crow that's injured as well." Glenn edged his hand near Flinch, scared to hurt the bird.

"Is it a pet, or wild?"

"Wild l guess, it was injured when l found the crow in the woods after Stacey and Jonas forced me to lead them somewhere."

"Where is it now?"

"Home with my ma."

Jacob was in the act of asking another question, but a shadow arose from behind Glenn. It stretched across the floor as a bratty voice called to him, "How you doing today, girl." It was Jonas looming over in confidence. He strained his voice on the last word, grinning deviously. Stacey’s pack of friends threw insults from afar, not wanting to be in the perimeter of Jacob.

Ignoring the mountain of steel beside Glenn, Jonas swooped around the bench, now in front.

"What do we have here, Glenny playing with some birds."

Jonas slapped away the seeds cupped in Glenn's hands. They flew spiralling to the dirt floor, Flinch risked pursuing after them before tripping over its own feet. The scene gained no sympathy from the blonde-haired boy, he chuckled loudly.

"What's wrong with this stupid bird." Jonas lowered himself, squatting down. He playfully poked at Flinch still striving to balance itself once more.

"Stop it."

Jonas turned around swiftly. "What did you say?"

Stepping forwards, he sized up Glenn's height and frame. His grin turned into a smile, as he bellowed out an even louder chuckle.

Wiping away his tears from laughing, Jonas’s gleeful atmosphere surrounding took a 180-degree turn. His expression was solemn, as he asked again to see if his ears were hearing things, “What did you say?”

The pack of girls behind him echoed his statement cheering Jonas on.

"Yeah what did you say twig?"

"Glenny what did you say?"

"This girl must've gained some bullshit confidence."

Glenn scratched at his wrist, fearing to repeat his words. He acknowledged the future outcome, a couple of punches, kicks and him being abandoned on the dirt floor bruised, empty of his pockets. It wouldn't be his first time being abandoned by someone. Glenn tried to muster the courage to speak. He knew that the past would catch up to the present and bleed into the future if he didn't change. Glenn did not want to see his pitiful past self. He had stood up to Stacey once and would do the same with Jonas. Glenn whipped his hands back beside his waist, no longer scraping at the wrists. They trembled, clenching until it was almost painful to continue. Before Glenn could shout out anything, Jacob towered over Jonas. He pushed Glenn aside with his big hands, making him become only an onlooker.

"He's with me...for now," Jacobs answered, glancing over his shoulder to Glenn. He stood centimetres away from Jonas staring downwards in disdain at the dirty blonde haired boy.

“This has nothing to do with you ogre.” Jonas attacked, pushing Jacobs back, only to nearly fall backwards himself.

“Beat it, or I'll beat you down to the dirt floor.” The threat had done its job, Jonas tsked with his tongue in displeasure at the response. The pack of girls dashed after him, as he walked away hands clenched into fists within pockets to conceal the burning anger he held. To quarrel with Jacob was only begging for trouble. It would be the same as reasoning with your executioner. He didn't hesitate to leave in the face of the freak.

Glenn watched, his heart enwrapped in affection by the act of kindness, but his mind grew irritated at the instance. He had yearned to gather nerves of steel to stand tall above Jonas even though he was shorter than him. Glenn wished for a chance to be reborn anew with the strength to not fall.

"I didn’t need your help.”

"I didn't do it for you fool." Jacobs puffed his chest, as the wind blew across his flock of ginger hair. His eyes intimidating Glenn to push any further on the topic, he spoke once more.

"I did it for the crow, it's going to need someone to help its recovery. If l didn't make those idiots run with their tails between their legs, then they would have annoyed us the entire journey to your place."

"My place?" Glenn tilted his head puzzled.

"Yes, who's else place, isn't the crow at your house?"

"It is but..."

"Then I'll see you after school."

The bell rang bouncing back and forth on the pole alerting the students to enter back to their dwellings. Jacobs tenderly brushed his rough fingers through the sparrows' feathers, granting them the chance to sail far in the depths of endless blue. His massive figure strolled off to class only to leave a stunned boy.

“Wait, what do you mean I'll see you after school?” He said before deciding to run after Jacob.

On the way, home outside of Mount Giest near the woods laid Emma’s shelter. She walked with a bounce in her steps, holding onto a piece of paper and minced beef. Rewards of Emma’s venture, as she grabbed for the keys in her pocket. Shoving the key in, unlocking the door, Emma was met with the entire house in disarray. There were shambles of broken plates, heaps of feathers ripped from pillows and blankets lying about. It was a mess caused by one suspicious crow clawing about. The crow stood beside Glenn’s violin, which Emma assumed it dragged across the ground and began pecking at it.

“NOOOO!” She yelled louder than ever, launching her body to grab one of the last prized possessions from New York. Emma yanked it away from the crow, grasping it carefully into her grip. She sighed now looking around in awe of how much mischief could be caused by one bird.

“I was only gone for an hour.”

“CAW CAW CAW.”

“How could you possibly make such a mess?”

“CAW CAW CAW.”

“You can go CAW yourself!" She shouted.

Glaring at the bird before giving up the staring contest, she was going crazy conversing with a crow. Smiling slightly at the ludicrous scene, she took out two weapons from her room. A broom and her handy partner vacuum to subdue this mess. Before she could commence removing crow's mayhem operation, she wrapped the criminal in blankets to confine its movements. Storing it in Glenn's room, she stated, “Don’t go anywhere, oh wait you can’t.”

Smirking, she departed sealing the door. Inside the crow shrieked resonating its cries in the vacant room wanting an audience.

“CAW CAW CAW.”

Try it may, its wings were secured in place including its feet wrapped by a warm towel. Its wounds had slightly healed but opened at the fierce moves to burst free. Conceding to the predicament, it cawed softly awaiting for the stupid human to come back.

Emma roamed around the house rummaging for anything gone or more likely damaged. She investigated scanning for her silver typewriter. Seeing it still sleeping quietly beside her bed, Emma sighed with relief. Greeting the mess that stood outside her room, she prepared herself to clean. Times called for Elvis to be singing wildly in the background, as Emma hastened through the landfills of shredded pillows.

Taking a break glistening with sweat, she hurried to take a sip of water. Back sore from removing all the waste. Emma slumped in her seat, mirroring Bernard when he rested in his chair.

There were still some feathers sprawled across the wooden floor and torn clothing. Emma was only halfway done with the crow's path of carnage. Taking out her lustrous typewriter, she tested to see if it was working today. Placing the lonely paper into the top carriage and began typing away.

Long ago, times greeted death as a foe, not an ally. We tried to deny the scythe with closed arms, others hid away from the reaper, yet all met with the same end. The elderly, children, rich or poor surrendered in the face of death. All the same when people had fallen ill, dropping dead at any moment's notice. Women screamed in fear, not for Emily though.

Hmmm, let's give her brown curly hair just like me.

Emily's hair trailed down her shoulders resting in curls, masking the thoughts of loneliness. She waited...

Looking around Emma gazed around and studied herself. invigorated she typed once more inspired by the way she sat.

She waited in her fragile slumped position anticipating a prince, a knight in shining armour never expecting a witch would break her free. The silent killer ran about infecting person to person. It stole the lives of peasants throughout kingdoms. God must've delivered mercy to Emily, witnessing her mindlessly stare outside. A figure dressed in black knocked onto her door.

How to introduce Gwen, uh l mean Georgia.

Amid Emma envisioning how to twist all the knots together to produce a coherent tale, someone knocked vigorously onto the door. Jumping up from her chair in shock at the coincidence, she was going to lecture Glenn to knock not like an idiot. The woman was close to figuring out the right way to write, yet her son seemed to wish for some yelling. Striding towards the doorknob, Emma began going into her daily routine of teaching her baby boy.

"DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK PROPERLY GLENN!"

Standing outside was a boy more appropriate to be in high school rather than primary school. Fiery hair, matching his temper it seemed as he was in mid-action of slamming his fists onto the door. A bag strapped on his back as he held it close to himself tightly. Glenn slouched beside the unknown ginger boy growing more embarrassed by the second.

"Hey ma nice to see you too."

"Who's this?" Still irritated at the banging knocks, Emma had her arms crossed, struggling to keep calm.

Glenn forced a smile, it looked to be the most artificial expression he had ever made in his life. Cheeks straining to be stretched back, her boy could practically play the role of the joker from the 80s.

"This here is my friend Jacob."

"Nice to meet you, miss." His ginger hair fluttered downwards as he bowed to Emma politely.

Sighing silently, she did recall telling Glenn to invite his friends over, it seemed it came to bite her back at the worst time. The house still cluttered with the crow's prior havoc, Emma was happy to learn her boy had friends, a unique peer it appeared, nonetheless a friend. The first view they saw upon entering the house were feathers lounged across the floor. Remnants of broken plates littered across the floor and Emma's typewriter slumbering on the dinner table.

"Ma what happened?"

"Your crow flipped this house upside down is what happened. I leave for one hour, assuming the crow couldn't escape from the towels. It was wounded already, but it did just that and what you see now is the result."

Emma cast her arms wide, showcasing the magnificent spectacle of an absolute disaster at it's finest point. Glenn was bewildered, completely opposed to Jacob, who was impervious to the scene.

"A crow always ravage, through homes if you let them. It happens often when strangers apprehend them from the woods and release them into their cage. The moment they forsake the house to the crow, next time they come back is the case, where the owners find their home in an impeccable mess and an open cage." Jacob said speaking to particularly no one.

"Hmm, you seem to know a lot about crows." Emma inquisitively inspected the boy twice the size of Glenn.

"My father enjoys birdwatching, it's one of my hobbies as well."

"You wouldn't know anything about fixing up birds, would you? So l could clear myself of this crow my son brought." Emma glanced over to her boy before returning it to Jacob.

"Umm ma that's why my friend is here today, to look at the crow." Glenn gestured to the supposed friend.

"Yes, ma'am l may be able to offer some advice to aid the crow's recovery or give some locations that can get rid of this problem off your hands."

"Perfect, please give me the addresses."

"Wait, ma I want to help the bird's recovery myself." Glenn felt guilty for the crow's harm, if not for him being so pathetic. Jonas wouldn't have been capable of having thrown the rock that smashed into its body.

"And why is that?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow, it appeared easier to go to a veterinarian.

"Please ma." Glenn pleaded with his best puppy eyes.

"Oh alright but if your friend here says the injuries are too severe, I'm taking the damn crow somewhere else." It was the first time Glenn ever sincerely desired something in a long while. To say no, Emma didn't have the willpower to refuse her boy's wishes.

"Thanks, ma." Glenn bounded his arms around Emma beaming.

"Yeah yeah, go into your room for now. I'll be cleaning and cooking up something for you two rowdy boys."

"Love ya ma," Glenn replied closing the door to his room. Now inside with a stoic Jacob alone, the situation was lingering with awkwardness. Fortunately, a crow broke the ice noticing two intruders.

"CAW CAW CAW."

"Hey, little bugger." Glenn playfully lowered his finger near its beak. The crow sought to peck at it but missed its target as Glenn retracted his fingers swiftly.

"Fiesty one you got there." Jacob joked.

"If you don't mind, I'd appreciate you helping now."

"That's the reason why l came here." Jacob bordered near the bird and unwrapped the towels encasing its body. It tried running away escaping, but he held a firm grip, not too tight that it would make the crow wince in pain.

"Oh, a female," Jacob called out in surprise.

"What, l thought it was a guy?"

Jacob clarified Glenn's false assumption. "Usually for such a domineering crow, it would be a male. Considering the size and appearance of an adult though, it's a female."

"Why is it so vicious then?"

"Maybe it has a nest back home, wants to mate or is annoyed at its wounds. I'm not the crow whisperer you know."

Jacob had gone home after school, taking his supplies for assisting the bird's recovery in a bag. Dumping his bag strapped to his back, it descended to the floor. He unzipped it, plunging his hands through the opening searching for something. Jacob drew out a jar of amber glistening in the light, bandages and numerous other items.

He held the crow, inspecting the wounds, looking for a broken wing.

"No, broken wings, maybe a shredded tendon on his right-wing or simply weakened from injuries. Just to be safe I'll apply raw honey cream onto it."

"Why honey?" Glenn closely observed, watching Jacob pat a segment of it's injured wing with cream.

"Honey is a natural antiseptic, helps with wounds." He quickly moved onto applying a damp gauze and then a dry gauze dressing. Afterwards, Jacob lifted the crow's wings, binding an x-wrap around the bird. The crow screamed at the painful movement.

"CAW CAW CAW."

Bandages quickly fixed around the wing, shielding it from the world. Jacob was done, sweating from the forehead in this summer blistering heat. The crow attempted to peck away at its new companion of bandages. Jacob rushed to place his rough hands in front of its beak, signalling for the crow not to. Jacob didn't know if the bird understood, but it stopped, complacently sleeping instead.

Two boys sat in a room idling about for food to be made, lying about on the wooden floor.

"Can l ask you a question?" Glenn asked.

"If it's not a stupid question, shoot."

"Look, l know you probably don't like me since you didn't rescue me from Jonas and Stacey's bullying."

"I don't hate you, l just got my reasons for not saving you." Jacob corrected. He had made two promises and somehow broke both. One to Mr Harold's son and another boy, somehow connected to Glenn unbeknownst to the boy more so the appearance of a girl. The second promised boy had mysteriously vanished from the town of Mount Giest.

"You're only here to look at the crow's injury l know, but you love birds don't you?" Glenn was prying further into deep water territory.

"I do, your question."

"Why didn't you stop Jonas beforehand, when he slapped the seeds out of my hands. Flinch fell trying to eat at one of them, and then Jonas had the guts to mess around poking at it. Why didn't you stop him?"

"To see your true nature."

"What?"

"I wanted to know the person that made me break a promise. It seems that I didn't lose to a pathetic weakling, granting you were going to rouse another fight."

"No I wasn't, I was just going to talk."

"Bullshit, you clenched your fists to the colour white."

Silence reigned in the room, filling out the bare room. Jacob's eyes scanned the room unconsciously gazing around to meet a violin within its case. Snoozing on its bottom, begging to be played as it called from its corner. A true violinist player handled their instruments dearly nevermore did they disrespect their tools. Only insolent outsiders would allow such discourtesy to occur. Reserved in a hushed room, Jacob couldn't comprehend why his rival left the violin lying about in the corner as if trash.

"Can l ask you a question?" Jacob spoke quietly.

"l guess you can since I asked one as well."

"Why is your violin just lying about in the corner of your room?"

"What does that matter?"

"Don't you cherish your violin?"

"I don't care about it anymore. See l play the piano now." He grabbed for his portable keyboard revealing how neat it was, only to sustain Jacob's death stare.

"You don't play the violin anymore." Jacob's tone was much lower now.

"Nope, l quit two years ago, why the angry face?"

"l tortured myself to learn the musical instrument and you tell me you gave your talent away like that. Where is the person that expressed himself passionately during his performance? You have such a gift, yet you quit. I broke a promise. You stunned the audience with your moving pieces, constantly l was critiqued for not expressing myself enough. I was wrong, you're pathetic. You're not the person I thought you were."

"You bastard," Glenn swore for the first time in his life. The violin was a touchy subject even his mother tried to go around it, but here stood Jacob confronting him with the topic.

"You don't know me, and dare to call me 'pathetic' for quitting the violin. I have my reasons just as how you ignored my plea for help when Stacey bullied me outside the school gate. I don't give a single shit about your promise you made with whoever the fuck it is. One thing I know is that you need to leave now."

They regarded each other's movement.

"It seems I've overstayed my welcome," Jacob said.

"Yes...yes you have." Glenn breathed heavily as he spoke.

Pushing the door open for Jacob to leave, they followed out to the front. Emma still frying minced beef, peered over to the shuffling footsteps she heard.

”Where are you two boys going?” Her apron confronted both boys of clear white, not stained from meat or rice that stirred in the pan, showcasing her skills.

”Thank you for your hospitality ma’am, but l must be going or else my mother will rip my ears off.”

”Please stay. If you must leave, you have to at least sample my cooking."

The fragrance of steaming food being prepared was unbearable. Jacob glimpsed over to Glenn, he asked with his eyes hoping to have a bite before travelling home. Time did not wait for any and placed in a pressuring situation, Glenn allowed the ginger boy to stay. Glenn did not hate him, rather at first, he wanted to be friends with him. Now their relationship was unknown to both.

Sighing Glenn nodded, and Jacob smiled at Emma gleefully.

”It would be a delight for me to try your cuisines ma’am.”

Emma’s lips curved, cheeks lifted at the flattering comment. ”I wouldn’t call them such fancy terms but delicious definitely.”

Sat on the table, meals served. Steaming air rose to the top from the piping hot rice and cooked minced beef. Glenn was about to feast on the food, yet someone booted at his shins. Glaring up to Jacob, he saw the ginger boy praying. Jacob recited biblical words, they spewed out from his mouth. Glenn looked for the criminal only to see his mother shushing him with her index finger at the lips. She closed her eyes praying to try to emulate Jacob. Frustrated Glenn lowered his spoon and imitated Jacob's pose irritated, but accepting his fate.

Opening his left eye barely, examining his mothers’ eyes closed along with Jacob. Never did Glenn suspect the largest student wielding behemoth muscles, to be Christian, especially with a potty mouth. He had behaved radically differently in the situation of engaging with an adult. People of his age, on the other hand, embraced foul words nearly as much as Emma.

”Bless us, oh Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.”

Emma followed along saying Amen, kicking at her son to say the word as well.

”Amen.” Glenn breathed out between his teeth. The boy wasn't particularly religious for numerous reasons. A day had come when he questioned God for why someone so special in his life, abandoned him. Glenn received no answers, but silence on that cold day.

Spoons clanked against plates, forks stabbing at meat. Mother, son and a ginger boy ate in peace. The sun still raised, lowered with each hour.

Emma's spoon held onto her small grains of rice. She asked, "Did you boys figure how to fix up the bird?"

"All that was needed was a few wraps, quick and efficient and now it's napping," Jacob responded.

"That's good."

Emma craved to comprehend more about her son's presence in Meadows Ridge. She twirled a spoon within her plate. ”So Jacob, how’s my boy in school?"

"Apart from starting a fight, Mr Harold seems to like him."

"Hey! I didn't start the fight, it was Stacey."

"Hush dear, before you wake the stinking crow." Emma attempted to prevent Glenn from speaking so loud, but too late.

"CAW CAW CAW!"

"Nevermind." Emma gawked at her boy, as he blushed lightly at his blunder.

Quickly finishing up, Jacob left waving away as he went home. Plates cleaned spotless from rice and minced beef sat on the dinner table. The sun settled halfway down the sky painted darker. Mother and son watched onwards to see the large figure become smaller until he became a speck in the distance. A crow nestled itself between the blankets of Glenn dreaming of home. Morning would come again, not too early and not too late. For many would witness, a new day even the dead that blossomed buried ten feet down in the ground. Only a few unlucky ones that rested in the eerie woods hiding a creature of true horrors would not see the light of day.