It was Saturday morning when Charlie got the news, the news that would change his life, for the worse.
He was innocently playing in the sand box, being a child, and doing what all 9 year-olds do in their spare time. Charlie was a beautiful child, mothers would look at their children and at him and compare. Sick, I know, but he was that handsome. Like his father and mother, an exact portrayal of their beauties combined. He and his dearest friend, Jennie, had just made the biggest castle they've ever attempted. Majestic, stunning and brilliant, they would call it. And of course, the castle must have a king and queen.
Who would make a better queen than the fairest Jennie, with her dark hair and tan skin from her Asian decent? She made the perfect queen; she was strong, bold and bossy. And the king? Charlie didn't like to play that role, but he felt obligated to. He hated such a title, king. What could he possibly be king of? Charlie hated having power, he always did what he was told, always listened. It's too bad the Charlie was a push over. He always wanted to please others and make them happy.
"King Charlie, I'm getting bored," Jennie said in her all too sassy voice. "Let's play something different!"
"Like what?" Charlie asked in a sweet, childish voice. Jennie didn't respond, she just trailed off onto the swing set. Charlie trotted behind her like a puppy. He was fine with her in the lead. It felt comfortable, like he knew what he was doing and he didn't have to do it alone.
The duo giggled as their feet stepped on the dry leaves, making it auditable for all to hear. It was the middle of fall, quite chilly, but dry. They loved it though, especially the leaves. They put them into piles, jump in them, and then make more piles. Jennie's mother would yell at them, scared they might put a pile on a broken bottle, and scrape their knees. She was so cautious, so scared they we're going to be hurt. But that could never prevent them from hurting themselves, even when doing the safest things you could possibly think of.
Charlie saw her off in the distance, sitting of the bench near a few other women who brought their children to play. Something was off with her though, she had just gotten off the phone a while ago, and she hasn't called for the kids since, not even a "Don't touch that, germs!"
Her eyes just stared out somewhere that Charlie couldn't identify. He looked at her curiously, wondering what has upset her.
"What are you looking at?" Jennie's voice peeped, annoyed.
"What's up with your mom, dude?" He asked.
