“Oh,” Annie frowned, “I’m so sorry.” She mentally kicked herself, she was doing a terrible job at putting him at ease.
“S’Okay, miss Annie. S’e’s in a bette’ place now,” He murmured, lips twitching up into a smile.
She smiled and nodded, “You’re right, she is in a better place now.” The issue at was still the fact that this boy was still alone.
“Do you have a place where you can go? I’d hate to see you by yourself out here.”
Maybe that’s why he’s alone, Annie thought. “You don’t have to tell me your first name then,” Annie smiled, hoping to put him at ease, “what about your mother? Where is she?”
“Momma’s dead,” He murmured, seemingly unbothered by saying it. “S’e died w’en I was five.”
“Oh,” Annie frowned, “I’m so sorry.” She mentally kicked herself, she was doing a terrible job at putting him at ease.
Maybe that’s why he’s alone, Annie thought. “You don’t have to tell me your first name then,” Annie smiled, hoping to put him at ease, “what about your mother? Where is she?”
“Momma’s dead,” He murmured, seemingly unbothered by saying it. “S’e died w’en I was five.”
“Oh,” Annie frowned, “I’m so sorry.” She mentally kicked herself, she was doing a terrible job at putting him at ease.
“N-no, it’s fine. Th-they’s busy. I-i don’t mind.’ he snuffled again. “Yer real nice Annie.” he said looking down
She smiled at him, “And you’re as cute as a button.” She stood up and held out her hand to him, “Come with me, I don’t want you out here by yourself any longer.”
“Oh, Priestly,” she said, laughing at her mistake. She grinned at his compliment, “Aww, I like your name too. But I am curious, what’s your first name?”
She was also curious as to why this boy was alone, but she thought making small talk would help him open up more.
Priestly wrinkled his nose when she asked what his first name was. “I don’ like it. Daddy uses it w’en he’s ang’y at me,” He murmured, frowning at her.
Maybe that’s why he’s alone, Annie thought. “You don’t have to tell me your first name then,” Annie smiled, hoping to put him at ease, “what about your mother? Where is she?”
She had never heard that name before. “Piestly? Is that your name? I’m Annie.”
He shook his head a bit. “P’ie—… Priestly,” He managed, nose wrinkling as he stumbled over his r’s. “S’m’last name, bu’ I use it as my first,” He said, almost proudly. “Annie, ‘s a p’etty name, miss Annie.”
“Oh, Priestly,” she said, laughing at her mistake. She grinned at his compliment, “Aww, I like your name too. But I am curious, what’s your first name?”
She was also curious as to why this boy was alone, but she thought making small talk would help him open up more.
“Umm” he thought for a moment. “No, my mamma’s crazy, so she had to leave, cause she let the badman in the house. And my dad’s a..P-Prick.” He nodded assured.
Her eyes widened when she heard Cas use the word ‘prick.’ No wonder the boy was so scared, so lonely.
She reached out to him gently, “You mean, you have no one?”
“No, i gots brothers. and my sister. They-they’re just busy. I dunno how i gots here. i just..am.’
Brothers and sisters, that was a start. “Maybe we should get you to them. I’d hate for you to stay out here like this. It’s not safe for you.”
Her eyes wandered over to him, amused by his mohawk. “Hello! Who might you be?”
He tensed slightly, but didn’t move back. “P’iestly, miss,” He murmured, blinking green eyes at her.
She had never heard that name before. “Piestly? Is that your name? I’m Annie.”
“Umm” he thought for a moment. “No, my mamma’s crazy, so she had to leave, cause she let the badman in the house. And my dad’s a..P-Prick.” He nodded assured.
Her eyes widened when she heard Cas use the word ‘prick.’ No wonder the boy was so scared, so lonely.
She reached out to him gently, “You mean, you have no one?”
