Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I stare off at the slide and remember one day in particular on this playground. Dante had been on the swings, and I sat at the top of the slide watching my mother.
I tilted my head to the side and observed all the men and women standing around her. There were always people with us. None of the other kids had an entourage with them. Not like this. Then there was Gwen. She was always there to whisper in my mother’s ear.
I focused on my mother and watched her movements. Something about Mama made her different from the other mothers. Even at eight I knew this. My curiosity got the best of me. It always did.
I slid down the slide and walked over to my mother. She gave me a bright smile when she saw me walking over. The moment I stopped in front of her, she ran a hand through the front of my hair.
“Are you having fun, my handsome boy?” She took my face in her hands to kiss both of my cheeks.
“Yes, Mama, but I have a question.”
“Oh really?” She smiled.
“Yes, why do we always have so many people with us? None of the other kids do. What makes us different?”
She reached to cup my chin in her hand. “My dear, Dario. Always the watchful one. You have plenty of time to learn about life as a Di Lorenzo. Don’t be in a rush to grow up, my sweet boy.”
“But what makes us different?”
She puckered her lips. I didn’t think I was going to get an answer. However, her eyes lit up and she tugged me onto her lap.
“Do you remember your books about the dragon families?”
I nod.
“Well, remember how some dragon families were more dangerous than others?”
“Yes. The hero had to protect his friends and family from the other families. Bad people wanted to hurt them.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like. You will always have to protect your friends from our life and people will always be after our family’s power. This is why we always have people around to protect us.”
“Oh.”
“But this is not the time for you to worry about such things. Be a child and enjoy every moment you can. When the time comes for this life to pull you in, you will wish you had. Look, there’s your friend. Why don’t you go play with her?”
I look up to find Carleen looking at Dante with her brows pinched. I know that look. She knows my twin isn’t me. Not like everyone else. She turns her head my way and her face lights up. She’s so pretty.
Her brown face and those long puffy braids always draw my attention. She’s taller than most of the girls on the playground, but she’s also really skinny, but it’s her smile that stands out. Her lips are so soft and puffy looking.
“But Mama, does that mean I’ll have to protect Carleen from our family? She’s my best friend. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
“Essere un bambino. Be a child, Dario. I will always keep you and your friend safe. You be a child and allow me to do the rest.”
“But Mama, the hero in my book couldn’t trust all of his family. It was his own family that took his happiness.”
Her face hardened instantly. Her lips pinched. I knew I said something wrong.
“Marone. I forgot about that. I guess I picked the perfect example. Forget everything I’ve said. Go play.”
She kissed my cheeks again and sent me on my way. I shrugged and followed her instructions. Running as fast as I could, I joined Carleen on the slide. I only looked back once to see Carleen’s mother sit next to mine. They always sat together.
All of my questions forgotten, soon, I ran the playground chasing after my friend. Suddenly, she tripped over what seemed like nothing and fell to the hard ground. I rushed to her side. She turned over with tears in her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” she cried looking down at her skinned knees.
“Don’t cry.” I moved to blow on her cuts like Mama did for me and Dante when we fell. I frowned as I realized there were other steps before the blow. “Wait here. I’ll get Mama.”
“Dario.” She sniffled and held out her hand. “Don’t leave me.”
I remember holding her hand as I waved for our mother’s help. Mama came with a first aid kit and Carleen’s mother fixed up her knees. From that day, I vowed to protect Carleen from the other dragon families.
It’s the reason I’ve fallen in love with my best friend and refuse to tell her. We can never be together. I now know my role in the Di Lorenzo family. Carleen would never be safe with me.
My thoughts turn to my mother, she didn’t stick around to keep us safe. However, I don’t think she was safe. Dante thinks she left us.