cheerfire | you'll be with me until the sun shines through the night

Entry tags:

the growing up together timeline

you'll be with me until the sun shines through the night

[On the first day of Kindergarten, Chrissy cries when her parents leave her. She's never been away from them before, and is terrified. She tries to cry as quietly as possible, and hides under one of the big circle tables so the teacher won't be angry at her for crying. Her mother always gets mad at her when she cries. She thinks she might be forgotten under there when eventually a boy crawls under and hands over a wooden block.

He doesn't say anything but goes back to the tower he's building. She ends up curiously watching him, and crawls out from under the table to hurry over and help him. When the tower gets taller than she is, he pulls her back and knocks it over with a big kick. She laughs, even as the loud noise makes her jump and scurry to hide behind him.

He says his name is Edward, but he likes to be called Eddie. She's still too shy to say her name, but follows along after him when the teacher says it's time to sit on the carpet. Chrissy sits at his side for the entire story, and waits until he stands up before she does too. They're told to find their names at their seats, and Chrissy is dismayed when teacher makes her sit at her table. Eddie is on the other side of the room. And she has to sit next to someone named Jason instead. He likes to talk about all the toys he has, and how good he is at basketball. Chrissy stares over at Eddie in a panic, and is incredibly grateful when it's time to play outside.

It's when they're outside that Eddie tells her it's his second year in Kindergarten. She thinks that's really cool, especially since he knows the way this whole school thing works. They spend the entire recess pretending he's a dragon and she's a princess, and for the first time all day Chrissy can't stop laughing and smiling. When they have to go back inside though, Jason grabs her by the hand and tells her to stay by him instead. She turns and looks at Eddie with scared eyes as she's drug away.

But later that afternoon, after a stressful lunch where Chrissy didn't dare do anything but pick at her food, they're able to have free play choices in the classroom. The teacher has noticed her flocking toward Eddie and suggests she try playing with a girl named Robin instead. She's really funny and nice, and Chrissy gets wrapped up in playing with instruments together. But when she hears Jason yell that someone's a freak, she looks over to see him being mean to Eddie.

She's a good girl, one that doesn't want to get into trouble. But she still marches over and uses both hands to shove Jason over. Chrissy takes Eddie by the hand right after, and she runs them over to hide behind the puppet theater in the corner of the room. The teacher manages to find them pretty quickly, and the second she's scolded for pushing someone, Chrissy breaks down into tears. The teacher takes her by the hand and sits her out at the table, and she sits there and sobs. She doesn't stop even when Eddie sits down beside her and pats at her shoulder. Getting in trouble on the first day of school is the worst thing that's ever happened to her.]

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[Chrissy isn't so sure. Her mom notices everything. She even notices when Chrissy comes home and her hair is a little messed up. But she nods anyway, because she doesn't want to look like a crybaby in front of Eddie.]

Go upstairs to my room, okay?

[It stands out pretty easily, the only one with a girlish sign that has her name on it. While he's running upstairs to hide with their loot, she's pushing the chair back to the table and is putting it back exactly how she find it. The pantry door is closed and she opens the fridge to grab a couple of Hi-C juice boxes. She grabs her plate of vegetables before running upstairs to join him.

All of her little girl toys from when he had come over back in Kindergarten are gone now. There's not much of a trace of a little girl existing inside this room at all, apart from the stuffed animals on her bed.

They wind up eating sitting on the floor, hiding on the side of her bed. He gets her to give up on eating her vegetables, and they share all the junk food she can eat. Which isn't very much, but it's enough to make her giggly and full. She wants him to have most of it anyway.]

[ Eddie nods dutifully, hurrying up the stairs to her room. He spreads their loot across her bed, organizing their snacks until she joins him. It's a small feast they've gathered for themselves, and for as hungry as he is, it makes him even happier to see her eat them. There's something very weird going on at her house, and though he doesn't have a name for it, he knows that something is wrong. It's a different kind of wrong compared to his own household, and it makes him feel nervous.

But Chrissy's room is nice, comfortable, and once they start sharing crackers and cookies, he's able to stop thinking about it. Once all that's left is crumbs and a few shiny wrappers, Eddie is feeling full and content. He sweeps all the remnants into his backpack, and the two of them search for every crumb to make sure they gotten things cleaned up. He would never normally care about making sure he's left a place spotless, but Chrissy seems especially concerned. ]

Your mom sounds really weird. [ He admits it quietly once they've got the last remnants swept away. His own mom his gone, his dad angry and belligerent, and yet Chrissy's situation completely baffles him. ] I'm sorry she only lets your brother have the good snacks.

[She's almost in tears when they finish and she sees how many wrappers and crumbs there are. And she just about begs him to take everything in his backpack to help her hide it. Only she doesn't have to ask him. He just knows to do it. And right there, in that exact moment, Chrissy Cunningham develops her first crush. She's never had anyone seem to read her mind before, especially not when it's something that would get her in big trouble later.

She's so taken by it that she can't even be embarrassed when he feels the need to apologize for her mother. Chrissy presses a kiss to his cheek, nervously giggling when she pulls away to crouch down and make sure his backpack is zipped tight.]

Mommy says that I have to be pretty. And pretty girls don't eat a lot. But that's okay. I don't mind.

[That's a lie. She minds very much. But she suddenly doesn't want Eddie to feel sorry for her.]

[ Eddie doesn't really understand why she's so upset, but he sees how much his cleaning seems to mean to her. Then she's pressed a kiss to his cheek and he flushes a bright red. His mom used to kiss him sometimes, on the cheek or the forehead, but this is different. He doesn't understand why it's different, not yet, but it makes his heart beat wild in his chest. ]

Well, I think your mom is dumb. [ He says it with a bold indignation, to young to have any real insult behind it. All he knows is Chrissy's mom makes her sad, and that's enough of a reason to not like her. ] You're the prettiest girl in the whole school.

[He thinks she's pretty? The prettiest girl in the whole school? She doesn't really know why she feels so warm and happy when he says that. But she winds up twirling one of her braided pigtails as she blushes.]

Can you walk me home again tomorrow?

[She hopes that he'll say yes.]

Yeah I can!

[ Eddie doesn't worry about how quickly or enthusiastically he answers, his eyes shining with excitement. Even if he enjoyed being home with his dad, getting to walk Chrissy home would seem a much better prospect. And so they continue their little ritual together. Sometimes they sneak snacks from the pantry, other times they find their way to playgrounds, inventing make believe stories to play out, both of them trying to imagine their way out of the scary things at home. It's a wonderfully happy time, and Eddie finds himself watching the clock at the end of each school day, ready for another adventure.

And then Eddie's dad gets arrested. "Larceny" is the word he hears but doesn't understand, until he learns that larceny means stealing. His dad has to go to jail, and a lady who says she's a social worker shows up at their trailer to try and figure out what to do with them. He hears her talk about getting in touch with his mom, hears words like "foster care" and "system". All of it sounds scary to him, and for as much as living with his dad is difficult, sometimes impossible, he doesn't want to live anywhere else.

That's why he's packed what he's deemed as essentials. A few extra t shirts, some snacks, his favorite book-- The Hobbit, all tucked into his shabby black backpack. It's a warm Saturday afternoon when he slings it over his shoulders and hits the pavement, determined to find somewhere, anywhere else for him to be. To get away before they can get him. Inevitably, his feet bring him to Chrissy's street, and he finds himself pacing up and down her block. In a perfect world, Chrissy's parents would be the kind from fairytales, that take him in as their own. But he knows that her mom is strange and a little scary, and her dad-- well he doesn't know much about him at all.

But still, he doesn't want to continue on without at least saying goodbye. Now if only he could work up the courage to approach her front door. ]

Eddie?

[Chrissy was looking longingly out of her window outside, since it's spring and warm and sunny. She wants to be out playing, but she's in trouble after her mom realized some of her brother's snacks were missing. Being confined to her room after school sucks, but she's happy to see Eddie walking back and forth on her street. ]

I got in trouble and can't come out to play.

[She calls down to him, wiping at her nose with her arm. It's obvious she's been crying, but she won't do that now that he's here. ]

Can you climb the tree?

[There's a clear path right into her room if he can manage to climb it.]

[ It's on his fifth, maybe sixth, lap around her block that he hears her, looks up and sees her leaning out a window from the side of her house. He likes that, in a way he doesn't understand, to see her calling out to him. She's like a princess in a fairytale, locked away in a tower. Eddie glances around before leaving the sidewalk to shuffle beneath her window, looking up at her. ]

I can try.

[ He's never had much inclination for anything athletic, but when Chrissy is asking, he's determined to try. The tree is easy to climb, even for his clumsy movements, and after carefully creeping across the branch that hangs by her window, he's managed to clamber his way inside. ]

You got in trouble? [ Somehow his own troubles seem smaller, or it's just nice to have something else to worry about. ] What happened?

My mom figured out I was taking the snacks. She got really mad.

[She shrugs, trying not to make a big deal about it. She wipes at her eyes a little more, before taking notice of the fact he's brought his backpack with him. Which is weird, because it's not like he's going to school or anything.]

Why do you have that?

[She points to his backpack, forgetting about her own troubles as she focuses on him. It's nice to have Eddie here. He makes being punished not that bad at all. But she thinks he makes everything better, just by being around her.]

[ A pang of guilt runs through him when he hears that. He was the one that wanted to take snacks in the first place, assured her that her mom would never catch on. And now not only has her mom found out, but she's in trouble because of it. Maybe he really was like his dad, a bad influence on those around him. Eddie frowns, suddenly looking serious. ]

You should have told her it was my fault.

[ Not that it would have made things any better, considering his visits were also largely a secret. But he can't stand the idea of her taking the blame for something that was his fault. ]

Oh, um... [ Eddie clutches at his backpack, suddenly nervous. ] My dad's going to jail, so I have to run away now.

I'd never tattle on you, Eddie.

[She whispers out the promise, shaking her head. There's a thought that maybe she shouldn't tell him about getting a spanking before being sent up to her room without dinner. He might be upset.

There's not a lot of time to think about that though, because his explanation makes her jaw drop. She stares at him, eyes filling up with tears. Eddie's her best friend. He can't just leave.

The tears start to stream down her face as she hurries over to hug him tightly.]

I'm really sorry about your dad, Eddie. Maybe he'll be home soon?

[It doesn't feel very hopeful, if he's trying to run away. She just holds him tighter as she cries. It's hard for her to figure out why, but the thought of him being gone makes her so upset she can't process it.]

But you can't go! I'll miss you.

Don't cry!

[ He's cut off by the way she flings her arms around him, and he instantly raises his own to hug her back. He clings to her, and all his desperation comes out in that hug. He wishes for so many things. That he had better parents, a better life, that his life didn't bring up things that made Chrissy cry. ]

They said he'll be back... well it won't be a long time.

[ Though at this age, any amount of time feels like forever. And when he's unsure of where he'll be living or who he'll be living with, just imagining tomorrow is scary. Eddie looks at her, and he reaches to wipe away the tears that roll down her cheeks. ]

I'm not gonna go far away. Maybe I could live in the woods or something, just somewhere that the social worker lady can't find me.

[She has to think fast, making a sound close to a whine as she shakes her head. No, she can't lose him. He's her best friend. And she doesn't know why her heart always beats faster when she's with him, but she knows she likes the way he just wiped her tears away.

Chrissy hurries to grab her backpack, and dumps all of her school things out so she can start packing.]

Okay. But I'll go with you, okay? We can run away together.

[Which seems like a very rational and amazing plan when you're nine and it feels like your entire world is about to come crumbling down around you.]

You will?

[ Eddie is briefly stunned by her response. He knows that her mom makes things hard sometimes, maybe a lot of times, but her home life still seems so lovely to him. If nothing else, it is such a departure from his own home life, he can't imagine anyone wanting to give up their life to run away with him. Even though Eddie feels well prepared-- despite the fact that he isn't-- he can't imagine someone willingly coming with him. Least of all Chrissy. And that only makes his heart soar. ]

Okay, you can come with me. [ He holds a fist out to her, his pinkie extended for a pinkie promise. ] I'll make sure you're happy, okay? We can have our own little house in the woods.

Our own house? Really?

[Chrissy sounds completely awestruck and excited as she hurries to fill her backpack with things they might need. The last thing she grabs is her stuffed tiger off her bed, which she shoves into her backpack before struggling to zip it up.

She doesn't waste much time in grabbing his hand and running back over to her window. But she hesitates before actually trying to leave.]

Can you help me climb out? I'm too scared to do it myself.

Yeah, it'll be awesome!

[ They are still young enough to believe that such a thing is possible, that they can drag together some branches and have a place to live. He watches her as she gathers up possessions to cram into a backpack. Eddie joins her at the window, peering out at the tree he was barely able to climb himself. But if Chrissy needs his help, he's determined to give it. Eddie makes his way shakily onto the branch by her window, before turning to offer a hand to her. It isn't easy, but together they slowly make their way down the tree. Eddie doesn't hesitate when he reaches to take her hand, gripping it tightly as they walk down the street. ]

I'm glad you're coming with me. [ And he really means it, despite the fact that they have no real plan. ] This is gonna be fun!

[She's still on shaky legs after climbing down that tree. It had been so scary, but Eddie kept her safe. Even now he's holding her hand as they walk. She trusts him to keep her safe. She's so excited about the idea of running away with him to have their own house that she doesn't even look back behind her at the life she's leaving behind.

All she knows is that if Eddie's going somewhere, she has to be there too.]

Yeah, lots of fun! [She laughs, swinging their arms.] Only...

[They're at the end of her street now, and he pulls her along across it and around the corner.]

Do you know where we can even find a house?

Um...

[ Eddie trails off, trying to think about what their lives in the woodPs might be. He wishes that it was as simple as them finding a house already ready and waiting for them. Even now, at the age where they are young and full of optimism, it doesn't seem likely. By himself. nothing seems to matter, but with Chrissy, everything seems different.

Eddie keeps a death grip on her hand, hesitating only when they come to the edge of the woods. ]

I think it'll be easy. [ And while he wants that to be true, he feels nothing but hesitant now. ] The forest is nice, I think.

[Surprisingly, it's Chrissy that puts on a brave face and leads the way into the forest. The trees are tall and the sunlight starts to fade away pretty quickly. But they're together, and this is an adventure.]

It's really nice, Eddie. See?

[She gasps and points over toward a couple of rabbits that are running past. In her mind, anywhere that has bunnies around has to be safe. Right? So she keeps walking, holding on tighter and tighter to his hand.

After walking aimlessly for an hour or so they wind up face to face with a giant rock that looks an awful lot like a skull. They both are stopped before it, heads tipped back enough to take it in completely.]

It's not a house but maybe we can rest here?

[ Seeing the rabbits help in a way he wouldn't have expected. It settles the funny feeling in his stomach, and makes him smile. There are all sorts of animals in the woods, and he likes animals. Part of him is still naive enough to think that the animals might help them somehow, fairytale style. After an hour of wandering they come across skull rock, and Eddie can't help but find it impossibly cool. ]

Yeah! [ He's bright and excited, squeezing her hand as he tugs her towards the sheltered area beneath the rock. Once there, he slings his backpack from his shoulders, digging through it in search of snacks. Eddie pulls out an apple and bites into it, before fishing out a second to offer it to Chrissy. ]

You want some?

[She's really hungry after not getting a snack or dinner. Nodding eagerly, she takes hold of the apple in both hands and begins to devour it. She doesn't care if she's messy right now. She's starving!

They talk about their plans from that point, which direction to keep going in. It's evening now, and the sunlight that's left is starting to fade.]

Maybe if we keep going, there's a cabin. People go camping in the woods!

[ Eddie doesn't think he should be watching her eat. He knows she has some weird feelings about it, ones that he doesn't quite understand. But she looks so happy as she bites into the apple, it's hard not to watch. His own snack is what finally gets him to pull his attention away. ]

Yeah, I think you're right!

[ He isn't sure that she's right, but he very much wants her to be. Because for all his previous bravado about running away, he's starting to get a little concerned. He had hoped it would be like one of those stories, where they find someplace beautiful to live away from cruel parents. Eddie stands and takes her hand in his, walking them both deeper into the woods.

But there isn't any cabin, and soon the sun has set and left them to wander in what moonlight manages to filter through the trees. ]

Um... there might not be any cabins out here.

[It's about at this point that Chrissy starts feeling afraid. He's holding her hand, and that helps a little, but she's starting to realize that things aren't as fun as she originally thought they would be. They're lost in the woods, and it's dark. Her feet hurt, and she's tired, and it's taking all of her effort to not ask for another break.

They walk for a little longer before she bursts into tears.]

Eddie, I want to sit down! I'm too tired to keep going.

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you'll be with me until the sun shines through the night

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