Chapter 13 — Tunnel Light

After returning home from their sister’s funeral, Ella and Philip decided, they wouldn’t bother with sleeping inside their hut that night, but instead, into the living room of their parent’s house. After all, both parents were not at home, one was in the ice box and the other, laid-up in the hospital curing his wounds. Therefore, neither of them were there to antagonize them in one form or the other.

Their beds inside the back bedroom of the house, were still awfully wet and was giving off a funky odor inside the entire bedroom; making it impossible for anyone to rest their heads there, much less, fall asleep inside that room.

Changing out of their Sunday-best, that evening, Ella and Philip decided to muscle up and bring both mattresses outside in the yard to finish draining out the remainder of the water soaked inside of them, allowing them to hurry up and get dried. That was if, there weren’t any gushing down of rain soon, or during the night.

Accomplishing such a task as throwing the mattresses out in the yard, all four brothers and sisters cuddled up in the large sofa chair inside of the living room, wondering what would be the outcome of their lives. And the elder ones began contemplating on if, things would be different in their family for the better.

But with parents like theirs, what else could be different now?

It was almost six o’clock in the evening, the bright sun light began shifting away from daybreak and darkness started settling in and around the community of Duckenfield. And the Bradshaw children were now feeling hungry, especially, since they only had one meal to eat for the entire day so far.

Philip had some money in his pocket which he had obtain from his job by the Crushing Company, and which he had also offered his sister some bills, to go and buy something to cook. But Ella, feeling down and broken, stated to her brother that she didn’t felt like going to the shop few blocks away from where they were living, to buy anything to prepare for their evening meal.

Therefore, he should be the one to take on that task.

Even though, feeling tired and broken as well, Philip hopped onto his father’s bicycle and made his way to the grocery store. And few minutes, he was back with three thins of sardines in his hands and a bag of rice, around two pounds of it.

Placing the items on the table, Philip demanded that his sister got up from her chair and started preparing something for them to all eat, especially, for Dion and Devon. But, Ella was adamant that she was not touching the fire side on that day, and with a friendliness in her voice, she, encouraged her brother to go and do the cooking as well.

Rolling his eyes, Philip sternly asked; “Must I be the one, to go out and find the money, ride to the store and come back here, and then cook the damn food?”

“Somebody has to do it!” Ella fired back; “If I go to jail tomorrow, you’re going to have to do all of this and more. And if you go to jail, then I will have to do the same, and even more, for us to survive!”

“Wait a minute… what do you mean by, if I going to jail? I haven’t done anything around here to go the jail for!”

Philip lashed out with worries showing all over his disfigured face.

Ella said not another word, but instead, she removed herself from where she had been seated and went foundling with the doors for entering her mother’s bedroom. Hoping, she would find some cash or anything of value there. Meanwhile, her brother, vexingly went about cooking the rice and three thins of sardines he had purchased from the shop.

For a good forty minutes or so, Ella Bradshaw stood at the bedroom door of her parents, and kept on jamming, jabbing, and jostling at the padlock and keyhole to their bedroom until it was finally snatch wide open.

Now having access to the large bedroom with a massive bed seated in the center of it, Ella peer around for a while for valuables, and then she exclaim with an outburst of provocative laughter;

“Fuck it, this is where I’m going to fucking sleep tonight!”

Hearing the popping sound of the door lock and then the door to his parent’s bedroom, loudly crackling and squeaking. Philip, filled with curiosity, hastily hurried away from whatever he was doing inside the kitchen, seconds later, he was standing at the door to his mother’s bedroom, investigating what his sister was doing inside there.

Intensely, their eyes met four, with serious gazes, and once again, Ella exclaimed nonchalantly;

“This is where I’m fucking sleeping tonight!”

Without saying a word, Philip eyes quickly glance all over the four walls of his parent’s bedroom, with a look of scorn on his face. And just as quickly as he came there, he hurried back to the kitchen to finish preparing their meal.

Dion and Deon, who were fast asleep on the sofa chairs, were awakened to find their little round dishes placed on the center table in front of them, while their brother Philip encouraged them to start eating their dinner right away.

Soon, he was comfortably seated beside his younger brother and sister, enjoying every bite of his meal while his sister Ella continued with the probing of their mother’s bedroom. Until, she felt pleased and decided to enter the kitchen for her own diner.

But, whatever she was looking for there or even had found inside that room, Philip cared not to know, therefore, he sat there quietly eating his meal and refrained himself from asking her, anything about her findings.

As hard as her heart had become, Ella found it only fair to wash the dishes, since her brother had bought home and prepared dinner for all four of them. Just as she had promised herself, when it was time for bed, Ella, happily went sprawling out on top of her parents bed, and soon, Dion and Devon gladly joined her. And for her, it was the most peaceful and best night’s sleep she has ever had in a very long time. But Philip, he decided that it was best that he remain inside of the living room for the rest of the entire night.

Enjoying all that sweet sleep on their mother’s big and comfortable bed, daylight would come, and it would come too early, jolting them out of their pleasant night of rest.

First, it was Mr. Marshall bringing a basket of breakfast treat which his thoughtful wife had prepared for the unfortunate members of the Bradshaw household.

A plastic container filled with johnnycakes, another one, filled with scramble eggs, and a large thermos or flask filled with hot chocolate tea. Which, both Ella and Philip expressed much gratitude for, with popping smiles on their faces.

Just after dropping off the Bradshaw’s children breakfast then preceded to start backing out his vehicle off the property, and then onto the streets, there came two large vehicles, filled with police officers, abruptly stopping in front of the Bradshaw gate. And soon, even blocking Mr. Marshall’s truck from going any further, creating a state of shock in the middle age man’s face.

Sirens were loudly blasting, as though, there were great emergency dilemmas taking place in the community, startling everyone in and around the vicinity of the Bradshaw’s property. And those using the streets nearby.

There were officers in uniforms and others dress in plain clothing.

Some had guns firmly in hands, as though, they were ready to shoot at anything that moved and also showing expressions of unpleasant faces. As if, they were there to take down massive groups of wanted men from the underground drugs world who were armed and dangerous for society.

Or even, fugitives, who were wanted, dead or alive.

But they were there only for a teenage girl.

One officer with gun in hand pointing it at Ella, demandingly said; “You come over here!”

Ella, with one johnnycake held in hand, stood still, speechless and extremely afraid.

There were at least twenty men who had jumped out of the open-back jeep and the front of it as well, with all types of guns in their hands, and serious demeanors on their countenances. As if, they were quite ready to kill. And who, were now all standing on the ground of the Bradshaw’s home as though it was a war zone.

Ella’s thoughts were moving sporadically; thinking this thing then thinking that thing!

She wondered if, the arm force was there, crowding her yard for the beatings of her father, the assault on Corporal Banks, or the fight she had with Pastor Adel?

Or, were they there because of the death of their mother?

None of which she intended on taking blame for.

Sadly, Ella’s eyes met her brother’s, and he motioned with his head to her, to obey the man of the law, and go and stand beside him.

Frightened, Ella slowly put one foot before the other, and made her way next to officer, holding the gun in his hand, as though, he was ready to fire a shot from it.

Squeezing tightly at the johnnycake, still in her hand, the teenager’s eyes glanced from one officer’s face to the next, severely trying to imagine what the hell they were thinking about under the masks of seriousness covering their faces.

But her mind went blank.

Officers carefully combing the entire yard of the Bradshaw’s family, presumably, trying to obtain evidence for the incidents committed there, Ella’s thought now became evil and now she was wishing that the johnnycake in her hand was something more dangerous. More dangerous like a bomb, so she could violently go ahead and ignite all them walking around her yard and were there, antagonizing and intimidating her with their presences.

From the police men arrival onto the Bradshaw property until now, they all were working in silence. Just looking around the property, taking up stuff off the ground and taking pictures. But now a very tall and robust man was standing right in front of Ella with a black handle gun, cock onto his hip, and began seeking answers to his questions, pertaining to the matter of his colleague Corporal Banks.

“Where were you when Corporal Banks was struck?”

The inquiring officer ask.

But instead of answering the question right away, Ella looked over at her brother, then, at Mr. Marshall who was now outside of his truck and leaning on the side of it with hands folded across his belly and one foot tightly lap on top of the other.

“Don’t be looking all around the place when I’m talking to you; you hear me!”

The interrogating officer said, speaking to Ella while pointing two fingers directed towards his eyes.

“I said, where were you when Corporal Banks was struck – viciously attack?”

The officer sternly repeated.

“I… I… I… I was on top of the roof!”

Ella said stutteringly while still clinching to the johnnycake in her right hand.

“Ella for god sakes, tell the officer the truth… tell him exactly what had happened!”

Philip lashed out with a sense of fear and terror in his voice.

“You are the one, who bashed Corporal Banks in the head with the shovel, while he was talking with me!”

Ella then said while choking up tears.

Everyone faces was now in a state of shock and draws dropped!

“Wait a minute… there was no such thing!” Mr. Marshall uttered while uncrossing his legs and moving away from his big truck towards Ella.

“Sir, were you here, when my colleagues was being attack with a shovel on the top of his head?”

The questioning office asked in a vexing manner.

“No, I wasn’t, but Philip…!”

Mr. Marshall, try explaining.

“Well, shut the fuck up, and let me hear what this young girl has to tell us about what had occurred here, will you?”

The interrogating officer uttered frankly while giving Mr. Marshall the dirty eyes.

“Ella, I’m your brother, please don’t do this!”

Philip begged and pleaded as tears started streaming down his face.

“You, don’t stand here trying to coerce my witness to lie to me!”

The officer turning his face towards Philip, said.

“And you, don’t ever think you will ever get away with trying to intimidate her, either!”

The investigating officer authoritatively said while fixedly staring into the eyes of Mr. Marshall.

Veering his attention back to Ella, the officer calmly spoke to her saying;

“Please, keep relating to me all that you have witness your brother doing to Corporal Banks, my dear child!”

“While I was standing here talking with Corporal Banks, about my mother’s death, he, my brother came from behind with the shovel in his hand and whack the officer over his head with it repeatedly. Until, he had fallen to the ground and unable to move a limb from the spot!”

Ella explained.

“And you’re sure that is what happened here?”

The investigating officer questioned, steadfastly peering into Ella eyes, trying to determine doubt in her statement.

Nodding her head she replied confidently; “Yes Sir”

While, Philip still standing at the side of the house, furiously shouting as loudly as he could with his muffled voice;

“That’s a lie Ella! You know that’s a lie!”

Mr. Marshall who by now, had gone back to leaning against the side of his truck, stood there shaking his head in disbelief, and uttering with hand gestures, flying in the air;

“I swear to all of you hear, on my darling wife’s life, that this young man didn’t do such a thing! He was the one who came running and shouting, to my place of business, to find help for the injured police officer… whatever his name it!”

But Ella’s statement took precedence over his, so the investigating officer shouted right then; “Cuff him right now!”

Soon afterwards, the shiny dangling bracelet was tightly fastened around Philip wrist, and he was then thrown into the back of one of the lawmen’s truck, parked in front of the gate of his parent’s house. Before one of the officers knocked on the side of the truck and then angrily shouted; “Take this mother fucker away!”

Meanwhile, Mr. Marshall, looked over at Philip with cuffed hands and tears bellowing out from under the lids of his eyes, exclaimed;

“I’ll try and get you bail, Philip! I will try and get you bail!”

Minutes later, Mr. Marshall vexingly plopped himself down around the steering wheel of his truck and began crying bitterly; before actually pulling himself together and driving off the property own by the Bradshaw family.

But, would Philip Bradshaw ever get exonerated – acquitted for this terrible crime of assaulting and bodily injuring a man working for the law enforcement department?

Or would, Corporal Banks, after his recovery be able to identify Ella Bradshaw, as his attacker, and not her brother Philip?

Confident about capturing their man, the police officers gradually began departing from off the premises of the Bradshaw family and on the side of the road where they were all parked in front of where Ella and the rest of her sibling were presently living.

And soon, the entire surroundings looked and felt as if, no one whatsoever was there earlier on, or probing around the grounds… only stillness and wonderment remained in the atmosphere.

Ella felt extremely drained from the whole experience and also very worried as well. And now, she absolutely wanted nothing to do with the delicious food which Mr. Marshall had brought for her and the rest of the family earlier on that morning.

Feeling exhausted, she entered her mother’s room, and there, she sluggishly collapse on the very large bed and wept. But one thing was for sure, she had no damn intention of taking back her words – confessing to the police officers that her brother was completely innocent of the accusation placed on him. And that she was the one accountable for putting on some serious licks on the corporal’s body, with her parents shovel.

Only because, she had no bloody intention of going to the big-pen or prison, and was willing to do whatever it would take, to keep her out of a place like such.

But something more importantly was brewing in Ella’s thoughts and soul. Because she start realizing, without a shadow of a doubt, that she would have to tightly buckle-up all straps and do some serious work to move forward with life for herself and her younger brother and sister as well. Especially, since her father was unable to bring home a paycheck to the remaining family members left behind. And also since her brother Philip was now behind bars, probably unable to see the light of day anytime soon.

Dion and Devon had all they could eat from the food Mr. Marshall had brought to the house earlier on that morning, and that was all they were going to be eating for the rest of the day as well. Because, their elder sister, was in no mood to go by the fireside and prepare them another meal for the day.

Mr. Marshall had called his lawyer begging and pleading with him to represent the young lad, but he was requesting some very serious money upfront. Which now had him rushing off to the hospital to visit Corporal Banks, hoping that he could remember that Ella was the one who had struck him down with the shovel and not her brother Philip.

Entering the hospital ward where Corporal Banks was admitted, Mr. Marshall was permitted to enter the room where he could sit and speak with the officer, since their acquaintances had met on more than one occasion over the past years. And upon entering the room, Mr. Marshall was quite delighted to see that the officer clearly remembered who he was and could undoubtedly recalled that he was the one who owned and operated the large crushing company not too far away from where the Bradshaw’s were living.

The both men smiled and shook hands as they greeted each other. And soon, Mr. Marshall was pulling up a folded chair to the bedside of Corporal Banks, which was provided by the hospital staff.

“How are you feeling buddy?”

Mr. Marshall ask while his eyes traveled from head to toe of the officer’s bandaged body.

“Awe, I tell you, I’m doing much better than I was couple days ago!”

Corporal Banks responded with a chuckle.

Do you recalled anything at all on that day when you were attack?”

Mr. Marshall questioned.

“I was trying to investigate the death of the Bradshaw woman, after entering one of the bedrooms in the house and finding myself slipping and sliding all over the damn place while carrying a child in my hand. And after putting down the child and returning to the room, I found the mother, lying on the floor stone cold dead!”

Corporal Explained.

Mr. Marshall was extremely delighted, learning that his longtime acquaintance had remembered much of what had transpired at the Bradshaw’s house on that faithful day when he was attacked. But what he really wanted answers to, was which one of the Bradshaw’s children had knocked him out of consciousness?

Cutting to the chase, Mr. Marshall came straight to the point, and out asking;

“Do you remember which of the Bradshaw’s children had strike you down?”

Squinting his eyes for a moment, trying to relive the assault which had happened to him, and who were the partakers of it, Corporal Banks froze in his thoughts for a very long time, before he came out honestly saying; “The only think that I know, it was one of the bigger children who did it to me! But, it will soon come back to me… who exactly it was or which one of them is the culprit!”

Mr. Marshall fists were now tightly clenched, his eyes bulging, his skin itching and sweat began dripping.

“My good god almighty, Philp is going to dwell in the prison pen forever and ever!”

He frighteningly thought to himself.

“But I have to try a little harder not to make this happen to him!”

Mr. Marshall’s thoughts continued lingering in his mind.

“Corporal Banks, to be frank with you, Sir. I am here to get the right information from the horse’s mouth… from you, so Philip can be freed from jail. Because your colleagues has held him, claiming that he is responsible for your brutal attack. And I don’t believe it to be true, since he was the one who had come bolting through the gates of my company, seeking help for you, so you wouldn’t die! His sister Ella, is the one who should be accountable and she should pay for it!”

Mr. Marshall sternly expressed.

Corporal Banks, soon began chanting the young girl’s name with a slight grin on his face, as though, in he was in a mesmerizing state of mind with her and her name.

“Ella, Ella, Ella!” He said constantly before closing his eyes and saying not another word.

But was the corporal’s sudden behavior due to the medication he was being given in the hospital or, was it due to the fact that he was in love with Ella Bradshaw?

Realizing, he would not be receiving anymore answers from the corporal’s mouth, Mr. Marshall, red and flustered, got up from the chair he was seated on and immediately left the bed-side of the patient whose eyes and mouth remained closed. And upon reaching the parking area of the hospital grounds, closer to where his own vehicle was parked, the robust man began letting out steam… all his anger.

“What you think, I don’t know, you’re not bloody sleeping? But you lay there, closing your fucking eyes, pretending to be fucking dead with me!”

Mr. Marshall lashed out vexingly before entering into his truck and slamming the door to his vehicle and then driving away.

He already knew, he was running a bit late for work now. But, he also knew, he needed to speak to Ella one more time, pertaining to her brother taking blame for this horrific crime. Hoping that she might breakdown and tell him what had really went wrong. Even though, he was in doubt – quite certain, he wouldn’t get anything concrete out of her… the truth that is. But, as he was driving along the long stretch of road, leading him to his workplace, Mr. Marshall thought to himself and uttered quietly; “Nothing beat a trial, but a failure!”

Almost forty-five minutes later, the boss of the Crushing Company was pulling up in the front yard of Bradshaw’s where Ella came out to greet him; not with a pleasant or an unpleasant look on her face. But with a demeanor that showed some concern, as though to ask; “What the fuck you want now?”

And just as Mr. Marshall opened the door to his truck and his feet had touched the ground, Ella ask:

“Weren’t you already here this morning when the cops took away my brother Philip?”

“Yes, Ella!”

Mr. Marshall replied.

“Well, you know, he won’t be coming to work for you this morning or probably anytime soon?”

She lashed out commenting.

Mr. Marshall feeling somewhat foolish, removed the cap from his head and soon began brushing his curly hair backwards from his face while thinking of what he wanted to say to the young girl. Who was now, standing on the veranda and gazing upon him as though, she was ready to leap onto him and attack him like a tiger who was hungry and had been provoke.

Feeling a sense of intimidation from this young and bold girl and not wanting to anger her, thinking that he might end up just like Corporal Banks or even worse. Mr. Marshall completely changed the subject matter altogether, which he had planned out inside his head, and had come there to discuss with her. And instead he began inquiring;

“Ella, what are you going to do now for money with your brother in jail, your father in the hospital and your mother dead and soon to be buried?”

Reluctant in answering him, the girl stood there for a while before speaking.

Eyes down, staring at her toes, digging into the cement floors, she then answered;

“I really don’t know as yet, Sir!”

She answered.

“Up to this morning I was thinking about going by the shops and start asking them for employment. Because, away from myself, Dion and Devon needs to be fed and schooled. And I, could go and take some evening classes to make up for whatever I’m missing out at my secondary school right now.”

Ella continued to respond.

“That is good thinking Ella, very good thinking!”

Mr. Marshall retorted while perspiration came pouring out of him like an underground water spring. Because, in the back of his mind, he really wanted a confession out of her, about her assaulting the police officer and not her brother.

Scratching his head and looking her dead in the eyes, the man who had helped her brother and ultimately this entire broken family, was now uttering these words;

“If only you were a teenage male, you could have come and do some work for me, by the crushing company.”

Ella’s eyes were now lifted from her toes digging on the floors, and there was a tone of strength in her voice as she blatantly ask;

“What does a man has that a woman doesn’t have, away from, what is between the legs… does my hands and feet looks cripple to you?”

Her question had Mr. Marshall laughing inside and out, before he went on asking; “So you think, you are able to lift buckets of gravel and pour them onto the heap, as the rest of the men do each day by my company?”

“If Philip use to do it, why can’t I!”

Ella fired back with a smile on her face.

It was that pleasant smile on Ella’s face which now had given Mr. Marshall a change of heart, and had him seriously thinking about having Ella joining, these group of men who were working at his stone crushing site.

But what would she do each day with Dion and Devon… who would keep them while she was away trying to make some money for their sustenance?

This was something she needed to figure out fast, because the best opportunity of her life, was right at her door step now!

Although, Mr. Marshall’s wife was a stay at home wife, without any little ones around her feet, he really didn’t want to bother her with this matter. But, he kept on thinking that she could give an eye on the Bradshaw’s children for Ella, at least for a week or two. And Ella could then place both children into an early childhood school after receiving her two weeks of salary, and while she worked.

But would Dion and Devon with their violent and cruel upbringing make this task easy for their sister?

However, in that very moment, Mr. Marshall informed Ella that he would have to first discuss this matter with his wife, to see if she would be willing to take on such a responsibility.

“I hope she says yes, but I’ll still ask around here!”

Ella said with a smile.

There were no meeting or shaking of the hands now, because Mr. Marshall was too afraid to touch Ella, and Ella wasn’t well learned in the behaviors of curtesy’s or any good mannerisms.

But the pleasant smile on Ella’s face was quite good enough for Mr. Marshall. And with that smile on her face, he replace his cap back onto his head, told her that he would bring word from his wife to her, in the morning and then waved goodbye to her while heading back to his truck.

Overjoyed about her fortunate position, Ella began jumping up and down all around the house. And at that very same moments, she began passionately kissing Dion and Devon on the cheeks while assuring them that everything was going to be alright as of now. Moments later, Ella was sliding her toes into her slippers, going in search for someone to care for her brother and sister while she took up occupation as gravel carrier at the crushing company not too far away from her house.

And out of the five homes which she had visited that day, it was one person who had given her any promising words, stating that she would consider keeping the children for her while she worked. Although, she was offering them a stipend to carry out such a duty.

Nonetheless, in was a sign of hope for her, her siblings and also for her future; wherever it was leading her and them to. Even though, in the back of her mind, she was hoping for Mr. Marshall’s wife to accept this temporary position of caring for Dion and Devon for her while she work.

However, returning home from her search of finding someone to care for her siblings while she went out making a living, Ella immediately began washing and packing away Dion and Devon’s clothing. And whatever else, she thought they would be needing during this period of absences from her sight and also their home. Because, she wanted to be fully prepared for whatever the end result would ending up being, when Mr. Marshall came back to her with news about his wife’s decision.

Grateful and frightful, Ella gave her brother and sister a good wash down that evening– a good bath, before feeding them with some of the same scramble eggs and Johnny cake which Mr. Marshall had bless them with earlier on that morning. And when the going down of the sun had disappeared and darkness surrounded the land, Ella and her siblings went off to sleep in the same bed where they had comfortably slept in the night before.

And just like he had promised, Mr. Marshall, was at the Bradshaw’s house, bright and early Tuesday morning with good news… his wife was more than happy to accept the responsibility of give an eye on the kids while Ella worked. And he too was ready right away to drop them off by his house and then return to work that very morning. But getting Dion and Devon to go freely with the man, was no easy task. Even though, their sister, whom they trusted completely, had explained to them numerous times that they needed to go with Mr. Marshal for a little while. Because, she needed to work, so they can start going school and have food on the table to eat.

But the more she tried explaining the circumstances to them in a sweet and calm manner, was the more, the screaming, the tears, the falling down onto the floors went on. And were many in succession before any full corporation could be gain.

Devon, who had seen so much cruelty in his early stages of life, his little soul was so traumatized and he swore, Mr. Marshall was about to take him and his sister away someplace to beat them to death. And what seems like an eternity, the ranting and raving went on and on, the tantrum and screams got louder, and there was nothing that could be said to keep their little bodies calm and controlled, or have them cooperating in this decision making.

But, after a while, Ella became furious… she had had enough of it!

And being a no nonsense type of girl, she then lifted both Dion and Devon and practically threw them onto the passenger’s seat, of Mr. Marshall’s truck, as though, they were weighty cloth sacks of Irish potatoes, which she wanted desperately to abort from weighing down her shoulders.

She had thrown them so damn hard, causing Mr. Marshall to jolt with fright, and had him screaming out loudly;

“Be careful, Ella, and mind you break those children’s necks!”

Ignoring him, she slammed the door of the truck so hard, as if, it too was being a nuisance to her, bringing about a frustrated stare on Mr. Marshall’s face.

Knowing that what he wanted to say to her would bring forth some form of conflict between them both, Mr. Marshall quietly went and seated himself around the steering wheel and then patiently waited for the teenager to bring her siblings clothing and place them in the back of his truck. And when she had done so, he tooted his horn and hastily drove away from the front of the Bradshaw’s yard with the two screaming children beside him.

Uttering not a word to them as he drove all the way to his home, around five miles away, he soon was pulling up in his driveway, tooting his truck horn couple minutes later. Where he and the children were happily greeted with a variety cupcakes in his wife’s hands.

However, it needed more than just a few cupcakes to ease these poor children’s soul. Because, they were under heavy illusion that they were being taken away to die. But after, Mrs. Marshall had taken them to the room where they would be staying in, and they had seen the beauty of the house, treats all around the house waiting for the little hands to play with, the ranting and the raving gradually subsided. And soon after the showing of their bedroom, and as the days went by, Dion and Devon came to realize that they weren’t in any serious danger, but instead it was surround by love and much provisions.

And eventually, the Marshall’s beautiful home felt like a place where they would want to spend the rest of their childhood lives.

Nonetheless, on that same Tuesday morning, Mr. Marshall stopped by Ella’s house ones again, after dropping off her sibling to stay with his lovely wife. This time around, she had accompanied him to the large crusher company, where she would be start working for him there, soon.

Showing her around the premises and introducing her to the other fellows carrying out their employment there. And at the very same, showing her the spot where her brother usually works, loading up gravels and heaping them up for the commercial dumper trucks to come and transport them to various site around the state. And also around the rest of the island of Jamaica. Mr. Marshall handed her an orange color shovel, a gray color bucket, and told her they were all hers now to work with.

“I usually open the gate by nine-thirty in the mornings, so you can be here by that time tomorrow and start your work then.”

Mr. Marshall informed her.

“But I thought you wanted me to start working today?”

Ella said surprisingly.

“No, Ella, you go back home, find something decent to eat, get some rest and be here first thing in the morning, okay!”

Mr. Marshall responded sternly with both hands resting firmly on both his hips.

Nodding her head, Ella smiled and then said;

“All right Sir, and thank you for the job position here! I think I can manage it!”

Seconds later, she was confidently putting one foot before the other and heading back to the lonely place she called home. Less than twenty minutes later, she was there, seated on one of the veranda chairs, contemplating about her life and what this new job could do for her.

Filled with excitement, Ella began envisioning herself leaving work in the evenings, collecting Dion and Devon from their preschool facility and going evening classes to further her education. She also imagine herself occupying her mother’s bedroom, and her and her two other siblings sleeping comfortably there as well.

Soon afterwards, she was heeding Mr. Marshall’s advice, heading inside her mother’s kitchen, she started fixing herself something decent to eat. But going back to bed that hour of the morning wasn’t something that she was accustomed to doing nor something she thought was good for her. Because, once she had woken in the mornings, she and the rest of the family was usually up on their feet, until it was dark and bedtime once again. So, instead of going relaxing and resting herself for the upcoming day and its work ahead which would be filled with hard labor, Ella went about the house looking for her brother Philip’s clothing.

And whatever of them she had found lying around in the hut or inside of the house, she searched the pockets for whatever money he had left inside of them and then began folding them neatly. After having her brother’s clothing folded, she then went about placing them inside of a box. Presuming, he wouldn’t be coming home from his jail cell or prison anytime soon. Still feeling energize and vibrant at that hour of the day, Ella then turned her attention to Dion and Devon clothing, and whatever little belongings they had scattered around the hut and inside of their parent’s house. All were neatly folded and put away.

Finding nothing more to do around the house, Ella closed all the doors to the three bedroom crib, and then went sprawling out on top of her mother’s bed in the bright afternoon hour of the day.

Having her eyes peacefully shut and still envisioning about her new future, sleep eventually came without her even realizing it being upon her. And for hours she slept undisturbed until, nature began calling out for her to wake up and get up. It was only after she had gone to use the restroom that she came to realized that she was so tired and lacking in rest. Everything inside her and on her was weary and tired… heart, mind, soul, body and spirt!

Because, all those nights spent sleeping inside the hut up in the bushes were neither comfortable nor peaceful for her or either one of the other children as well. It was only their desperate method of surviving, and now, that part of their life existence was totally over and done with.

But was it actually the finale of that part of their life’s story?

Wednesday morning bright and early, Ella was up out of bed, fix herself a dinner like breakfast, so as to carry her for the entire day at work, and during the tasks she was about to performed there. Since it was going to be, her very first day at work, she wanted to be there early. And early it was when she was about to leave her house. And just as she was about to step off the steps of her veranda, there came the noisy sound from the ambulance’s sirens, as the big white vehicle pulled up and parked in the front of the yard.

Hastily, two men came rushing from out of the emergency vehicle, said good morning to Ella before flying the doors to the back of the transportation wide open. Soon, they began assisting her father, Christopher Bradshaw, from within its tight quarters.

Immediately after stepping out of the parked ambulance, father and daughter’s eyes met four; he seemed well rested and pleasant, but her face seemed bent on hate as they gaze upon each other.

Ignoring the signs, and seeming as though, he had completely forgotten that it was their vicious squabble which had landed him in this position… inside the hospital for a second time, Ella’s father spoke.

“This is my daughter Ella!” Christopher Bradshaw said confidently to the men who had brought him home; “She will fix me something to eat as soon as I’m settled inside the house!”

But with demise and scorn covering her face, Ella gaze at her father for a good few seconds, hissed her teeth at him before stepping through the gates, separating the yard from the streets. And while continuing on her journey to the new job, she hoped and prayed she wouldn’t return home to see her father there anymore. Even though, it wasn’t practical for him not to be there. Especially, since he was discharged from the hospital and they had brought him to the place that was supposed to be his rightful dwelling place.

Where else could they have brought him?

Nonetheless, the emergency workers left Christopher Bradshaw on the veranda of his house, barely clutching onto a blanket around his shoulders. While his daughter, Ella, without looking back or having any pity for her father, carried on with her journey to work that Wednesday morning, not feeling any sense of guilt in her heart for the man who had made her life possible.

The gates to the Crusher Company were already wide open when Ella arrived there. And right away, she went and sign her name in the attendance book before taking up her position at the sand heap. And soon, she began digging into the large pile of small stones in front of her while the eyes of her new coworkers stared upon her momentarily with much intensity.

It was at her second break of the day that Mr. Marshall came to her side and asked her; how was it going on with her?

Pouring a bottle of water to her head and swallowing some of it, she replied to her boss with a half-smile around her lips;

“It’s going good!” She told him.

Not waiting for him to ask her another question, Ella asked;

“So how did my brother and sister made it throughout the night at your house, their very first time there?”

Mr. Marshall’s response had Ella under a state of total surprise. Especially since her brother and sister were kicking and screaming mad; putting up a brazen fight and being totally stubborn while being place inside her boss’s truck.

“Oh those two little ones, they are having a time of their life… eating down the whole kitchen and won’t stop playing around the yard and inside the house like they have lived there for an eternity!”

He happily expressed.

But something more urgent was boiling on Mr. Marshall’s mind. And just after answering Ella’s question, he made mention to her that he was going to visit her brother Philip in the jail house after closing up from work that evening. And asked, if, she wanted to come along with him, if it’s even for the ride. Although, he knew in his heart for sure, asking her was a perfectly unreasonable idea. But testing her for guilt wouldn’t phase her one bit.

Straight away, she began shaking her head with a frowned face, indicating that she was not at all interested in going with him to see her brother. And as Mr. Marshall returned to his office up the stairs Ella went back to performing her duties of loading her bucket with crushed stones. And as her employer slowly walked away from her, she suddenly became belligerent – quarrelsome in her head, mumbling and grumbling all sorts of profanities to herself; but which were all directed towards her boss, Mr. Marshall.

Her state of mind at that moment, was to do exactly what she had done with her mother and her father. But after carefully thinking about her situation, she came to realize that this wasn’t such a very good idea to bring into reality right now. Because, if she even got away with causing arm to her boss, who the hell was going to pay her, her weekly salary and help her fulfil her dream of going back to school; or even have her seeing Dion and Devon ever again?

Especially, since she was presently the spine, the backbone, and the main sustenance of this little family of three.

Therefore, in the boiling sun hot, Ella continued fulling bucket after bucket with gravels and heaping them up on the master pile, to be transported to whatever other location they were designated for. Until, the sun began shifting its position westward and the alarm clock went off, indicating that the work day was now completely over with.

Just after saying goodbye to her new acquaintance Tiger, a few others on the job and Mr. Marshall, she began putting one foot before the other to find her way back home; just like she had done early this morning. Though, much more tired than then.

Knowing the treacherous – quite dangerous relationship that was pending between her and her ailing father, Ella returned home with an extremely heavy heart. And encountering the sad sight of her father, lumping over the veranda chair had only made her emotions or feelings towards him even worst.

Without pity or mercy, she stepped onto the floors of the veranda, open the door to the house, entered through it, and then slamming the door as hard as she could behind her. As if, he wasn’t even there.

Her heart had become stone-clod against her father, just like those gravels she had been heaping up all day in the boiling sun hot.