''No, sweetheart. Everything is fine'' Gertrude said but Paige could see the worry in their eyes that they tried to hide.
''Mom, dad, I have sothing to say'' Paige said to her parents.
''Tell us, what is it?'' Thomas Payin asked.
''Mom, dad, I don't want to skip grades. I am just 13 and already in my second year in junior high. If I write the high school entrance exams and skip grades, I will be bullied at school because I will be the youngest there. I want to remain in the sa class with Carlien. She protects whenever soone wants to bully because of my stature'' Paige told her parents and smiled.
''Paige, but your teacher said you are doing so well and could easily ace the high school entrance exams and win a full scholarship'' Gertrude said fearing that her daughter might have heard their conversation.
''I already told the teacher that I won't be writing the high school entrance exams. I am just informing you. Don't go looking for the teacher tomorrow to discuss about my grades. I want you to respect decision'' Paige told her parents solemnly and saw the tears in their eyes.
''Our daughter is so mature. Don't write the exams if you don't want to. Our daughter is smart already and that's what matters''
A few days later.
Paige picked up her bag from the classroom and ran out hurriedly. Carlien chased after her asking worriedly ''Paige, wait. Why are you in a hurry?'' Carlien got up to her.
''Carlien, I think sothing was not right when I left the house this morning. I am going ho to see my father'' Paige said as she walked away.
''Paige, wait. Let go with you'' Carlien said and Paige shook her head.
''Carlien, you are the only friend I have in this school. I know you are not like the others who only beco friends with soone because of their background but ,if you ever find out sothing about and my family, can we still be friends?'' Paige asked as tears trimd down her face.
''Paige, I don't know what the problem is but, be assured I will always remain your friend no matter what happens because friends always stick together.
''I am not sure if you will still remain my friend if my family situation cos to light. Most of our classmates don't like and I don't know why but, you have been with since the day we t in this school. Please, promise that you will still be my friend even if you know about my family's situation'' Paige said and held Carlien's hands.
''Paige, when I first ca here. Everyone ridiculed saying I was from a single parent family but you were the only one who stayed with . I will never abandon you if you don't leave ''
Carlien said rembering the first day she arrived at the school. She was free with everyone but after a PTA eting, her friends found out she didn't have a father and started staying away from her. Paige was the only one who remained her friend.
''Then, can I really trust you? Carly, my family...'' Paige sobbed as she spoke ''I think that my father might go to jail and I might not see him again'' Paige cried and Carlien hugged her.
''Paige, is alright. Let's go together. If today is the last ti you are going to see your father, then I will be by your side'' Carlien said ''wait here, I will go and pick my bag and go with you'' Carlien left Paige at their hiding place and went to pick her bag.
...
Carlien held Paige's hand as they ran towards Paige's house.
''Paige, you can't be tired right now. We need to hurry'' Carlien said and held Paige's hand forcing her to run faster.
They soon arrived and saw a few people bringing their furniture and other movables out of the house. Paige stopped at the door and looked at the things outside.
''Paige, let's go in'' Carlien held Paige's hand and they went inside. Paige saw her father standing in the middle of two policen and rushed to him.
''Dad, what is going in?'' Paige asked.
''Paige, what are you doing here? I thought you were at school?'' Thomas Payin asked flustered upon seeing Paige.
''I left school because I felt sothing was wrong. Dad, why are our things outside the house? Are they taking the house from us?'' Paige asked.
''Paige how did you know about that?'' Thomas Payin asked Paige.
''Young lady, your father took a loan from the bank and also stole so company money from the company'' the man in charge of making sure the eviction was going on well spoke standing next to Carlien.
''Hey, you shut up'' Carlien said and kicked the man's leg and the man scread.
''How dare you call my father a thief? What right do you have to say that about my father?'' Paige moved forward and asked the man.
''You little girls better behave. I am not here to take the house. Your father has refused to hand over the docunts of the house to us, so we can only take the movable things inside and he will go to jail for it'' the man said and Carlien glared at him and he took a step back not wanting to be kicked again.
''Dad, is that true?'' Paige asked her father.
''Paige, this is the only thing I can leave for you and your mother'' Thomas Payin said.
''Dad, is mom aware of this?'' Paige asked and her father shook his head.
''Please, wait for a while. I will go and get mother right now''. Carlien stepped forward saying to Paige.
''Let's go together''. Paige nodded and they ran out of the house.
....
Paige and Carlien arrived at the shop of Paige's mother and found her selling things to soone. Her mother ran a small super marker at the town's amusent park.
''Mom, hurry. The police are here to take daddy away'' Paige held her mother's hand the mont they arrived and spoke.
''Paige, what do you an by that?'' Gertrude asked her daughter.
''Mom, I don't have the ti to explain. Let's go now'' Paige said.
''Let close the shop first'' Gertrude said and closed the shop. She followed the girls to the roadside and picked a taxi.
.....
Paige and her mother rushed into the house and saw the empty hall but no one was inside. Carlien walked inside later on and saw to them.
''Paige, aunt, I think the police have taken him away already. I found this at the door'' Carlien said and showed them the paper she found at the entrance. It contained a handwritten note from Thomas Payin.
After reading it, Gertrude turned to the girls saying ''you two should stay here. I will go and get soone to loan so money and use the store as mortgage. When I get the money, I will go and get your father released. Carlien, please take care of Paige. I think there is food sowhere in the kitchen, heat it and eat while you wait''
''Yes, aunt. Don't worry, I will take care of Paige. Make sure you bring uncle Thom ho'' Carlien said and Gertrude nodded her head before leaving the house again.
A while later, Carlien found the food in the kitchen and heated it for them to eat. She dished it out and sent it to the hall and they sat down on the floor.
''Paige, eat. Aunt will definitely bring uncle back'' Carlien said as she fetched the food for Paige to eat.
''Carly, I'm so scared. What will happen to my mother and if my father is not there?'' Paige asked sadly.
''Stop thinking about what ifs. Nothing will happen. Co, eat'' Carlien said and they started to eat. Three to four spoons in and the land line phone in the house started ringing. Paige stood up imdiately.
''Maybe that's my mother'' Paige said and went to answer the phone.
''Pick up'' Carlien added.
''Hello, this is Paige, mom is that you?'' Paige asked. The person on the other side said sothing and the phone fell down to the floor. Paige suddenly felt a cold rush through her whole body.
''Paige, what is it? Who was on the phone?'' Carlien asked and went to her side.
''My mother is in the ER, Carlien'' Paige said and the spoon in Carlien's hand fell to the floor.
''Let's go'' Paige said to Carlien.
.....
Holy Family Hospital.
Paige walked paced around in front of the ER waiting for the doctor to co out of the Surgery room. When they arrived, the nurse had told them that her mother was attacked by a gang of thieves and was badly wounded because she fought back.
Carlien's mother soon arrived after receiving Carlien's call earlier on. She saw the girls and rushed to them.
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