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Chapter 11: Forgiveness and a

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Chapter 11: Forgiveness and a Dispute over payment

When she found Brownie minding the store, Brittani asked her to come back but Brownie, feeling and knowing what was in her best interests, declined. "Why? Brittani asked. Brownie sighed and said "I love you but I'm better off here than at the apartment. I'll send you half of what I earn to you to keep you afloat. I'm sorry, you cast me out and I promised I would not come back to stay but I'll send for the rest of my things." Brittani left the store in tears. She knew her actions would cost her to lose her sister for good.

When it was Toki's turn to mind the shop, later that day, Pup and her parents showed up to get a few things. Toki knew full well her friend's parents had little tolerance of her. When Neesha approached the counter with four bottles of liquor and one pack of cigarettes, she gave Toki a look of distaste and disfavor.
"What are ya' doing hia?!" she screeched, her breath tinged with the foul smell of liquor. Toki simply sighed and politely said "I live and work here, now. Oh, is this all for you?"  Neesha scoffed and said "Of course it is, what are ya', blind?!" Toki ignored the remark and pulled up the cost of the items. "You owe 82.50, Mrs. Ike." Toki said. Something about the price made Neesha upset and she said "You're doing that on purpose!"

Toki shook her head and said "No, I'm not. The cost of cigarettes is $2.50 each and a bottle of liquor costs $20.00 each, explaining the cost. If you have a problem, take it up with Mr. Rodriguez because I have no control of the prices whatsoever. Perhaps you can use credit card?" Neesha’s patience was lost and she said "I have more problems that needs to be drowned with liquor." Toki shook her head and said "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't make any exceptions."
"You got to understand, I have problems that can only be solved with liquor."
"I can't understand that but you have to pay some way or another."
"Listen, I have no credit cod, so just hand over da liquor and the cigs."
"No, you pay now!"
"Can I have liquor when we get home?"
"Barcelona, shut up! I'll dealing wid da doll face."
"Either you pay or I call the police for not paying and giving alcohol to a minor."
"I can give my kids whateva I want! Just hand it ova!"
"Pay up!"
"If ya' don't hand it ova, I will get my husband."
"And?"
"Then you'll be forced."
"Listen, ma'am, you have to pay, I can't make any exceptions and I just work here."
"Soem, get ova hia now!"

Soem approached the counter and grabbed Toki by the front of her dress, demanding that she hand over the items. "Let go of me!" Toki screamed. She pulled and tugged away before, ultimately, her dress ripped. Pup slapped her hand over her mouth. Toki fell backwards on her bottom, her cheeks turning a bright red and herself exposed. Soem held the part of her dress that was torn from her. Toki scrambled to cover herself up and she said "I'm calling the police!"

Despite Pup's protests, pleas, and promises, she called the police. Seeing Toki's torn dress and Soem standing over her, it didn't take long for officers to arrest him for the reasons they saw from evidence. Neesha and Pup stood staring wide-eyed at Toki. Secretly, Pup hoped Toki would clear her father's name and say it was the opposite from what they saw but she was too scared to even whisper to the police. Hearing the sirens, Mr. Rodriguez hastily ran downstairs to see if she was alright.

When he inquired her on what had happened, Toki, though hesitant, said "I told them the price for the items and then things got out of hand and my dress was torn in the scuffle. I called the police and they arrested Mr. Ike, thinking he was trying to take advantage of me that was the entire opposite." Mr. Rodriguez banned the Ikes from coming back and sent them out. Toki put on another dress and Mr. Rodriguez gave her the rest of the week off. "Did he really try to advantage of you, Toki?" Brownie asked, brushing her long silky sunny blond hair. Toki shook her head and said "No, but the police saw otherwise."
"So they took him in on the charges for trying to take advantage of a minor and you couldn't say otherwise?"
"Yes, they did, but I couldn't say otherwise. I know one thing, I don't want to see Barcelona and her bigoted parents again, ever!"
"Wait, how are they bigoted?"
"Well, there is no use explaining that, I just know they are, and either way, I’m not going to clear Mr. Ike’s name.
"It's your word against theirs."

Toki combed through her hair with her long finger-nailed hands, thinking about what had happened and concluding she should forget about it. Jinx and Spin came into the room and inquired on if she had injuries. "Do bruised buttocks count?" Toki asked. The brothers looked at each other and said "Technically." Toki rolled her eyes and said "Then I'm fine." Spin shrugged and said "Did he try to take advantage of you?"
"No, but the police saw otherwise."
"How did they see otherwise?"
"They saw him standing over me with torn dress."
"I see. Did you tell them otherwise?"
"How could I?! It would be my word against theirs and as such, they would think I'm saying it out of trauma."
"Oh."
"My virtue is still intact and I am not bruised, so only medical evidence can prove that he did not take try to take advantage of me."
"Wanna go outside and play a game?"
"I would like that very much."

Chapter 12: Envy and Contrasting lives

Meanwhile, Pup sat in her room, fuming mad. She was already upset that her friend had moved out but she was really angry over the fact Toki didn't hand over the items. However, Toki would have called the police regardless if the situation got out of hand or not. She looked out the window and saw Toki playing a game of hopscotch with Holly, Brownie, Jinx, and Spin. She watched Toki enjoy herself, despite her awkward movements playing the game. Her mother told her she couldn't go outside because of the incident earlier. Toki fell down but got up and continued to play. She wondered about what made Toki so special in the first place. Everyone she just met seemed to like her. Mr. Rodriguez had grown fond of her antics and her willingness to work.

Pup and her family were known to be intolerable. Her mother had never finished high-school and her father chose the most low-paying job there was. Her mother worked as a waitress and always spent her earnings on alcohol, if not her daughter. Her father sat for hours in front of the television whenever he was not at work and would drink several cans of beer. Their apartment was infested with rats, roaches, and all other sorts of pestilences (she suffered from bug bites). It was small and living conditions were decently terrible. On the walls hung pictures of family portraits. Pup often looked at the one with her and her older sister, Bestine (Best-een). Bestine left New York and never called, wrote, or even visited. Pup remembered her sister wanted to be an actress and her parents never encouraged it, so she left, vowing never to return.

Back at her apartment, Brittani always lived in luxury with her autistic sister Brownie. She moved to New York with Brownie and her parents three years ago. Her father, Tobert, died of brain cancer, after her mother became pregnant with her triplet sisters. However, her mother was ill with ovarian cancer, while pregnant, and died not too long before she met Toki.

With money and food running out, Brownie resorted to theft, which often landed her in prison, creating tensions between the two sisters. She sat, tearfully packing up Brownie's things. She threw her sister out and, now, when she wanted her back, she lost her for good. Brownie promised herself that she would never come back to stay. She felt mad at Toki but she was no source of influence in her sister's decision. Brownie did promise her she would send money but Brittani wanted her back. She wanted to go back to the shop and beg her to come back but Brownie would refuse because it was in her best interests. Maybe it is in your best interests to stay there and not here. Brittani thought.

Meanwhile, Pup sat watching, with utter resentment, Toki enjoy her time with her former best friend Holly. She was resentful of this because she and Holly have known each other since they both started kindergarten. She watched them play a hand game, Toki going first. "Where I come from, we play this game, everyone likes it." Toki said. It seemed like a game of 'Patty Cake' but the movements and words were different (as they were in Japanese). Holly enjoyed the game and always wanted to play a new game but this game seemed like a new favorite. As the girls played, they quickly became like sisters, something that never happened between Pup and Toki.

"Dinner!" Mr. Rodriguez yelled. The children were summoned inside to eat and get ready for bed. It was getting dark. The children were enjoying their dinner. They got dressed for bed and settled down. Toki washed the dishes, without objection or complaint. Typical children would complain, she didn't. She washed, dried, and put away the dishes. She sat in bed and pulled out a book, a field guide on flora and fauna. Brownie took notice and asked "What's that?" Toki looked up and said "It's a guide on flora and fauna." Brownie tilted her head and asked "Can I read with you?" Toki scooted over to enable her friend to climb in bed. The girls spent the rest of their free time looking at a book. Bed time came and the girls went to bed.

Chapter 13:Meeting Audrinia and Exploring, drawing curiosity
The next day, after forgetting about her objective, Toki decided to find Audrinia. She did her chores, ate her breakfast, and got dressed. She continued roaming around until she ran into a girl with pink hair with magenta streaks. Her eyes were a very light blue. Her face had purple freckles. She wore orthodontic headgear. Her dress was red and appeared to be made of velvet, with blue ribbon decorating it. She wore white stockings with black dress shoes, both decorated with a red ribbon tied into a bow. She had a pair of round sunglasses sitting on her head. She appeared to be unamused with Toki. "Where did you come from?" she asked. Toki regained her poise and said "That is none of your concern. You are so impolite. I do believe you are supposed to greet someone before you inquire."
"Hmmph, you must not be from around here."
"I'm not, thank you, but what difference does it make?"
"You're a newcomer and newcomers are at the bottom of the triangle. I am at the top."
"As far as I know, we're all equal."
"You're poor."
"And?"
"You're at the bottom of the food chain."
"I'm not poor, I'm just working."
"I know nothing of the sort!"
"That's because you are sheltered. Sheltered people never know how to do anything. I work."
"I know how to do things, I see no reason on why work."
"I do and I have no problem with the whole idea."
"Whatever, newcomer."
"I have a name, braces."
"Then what is it?"
"It's Toki, braces."
"My name is Audrinia Lovelle Rosine Evangaline Elandrine Walters the II."
"Well, my objective is complete."

Toki left Audrinia standing there, confused and feeling insulted. She walked down the street, her eyes large with curiosity. She had a new objective: Explore. She was eager to sight see. Toki was one to let her curiosity run rampant. She skipped about merrily down the street, thinking of what she was going to do for the day. She had already finished her chores and had several more hours of playtime. She continued skipping until she came across something shiny. A coin. She picked up the shiny object and looked at it. She found it to be distinct from other coins she's seen, this one was perfectly silver. She put the coin in her pocket and continued on. She walked around until she caught sight of Brittani sitting alone. She was curious to why Brittani would be sitting on alone.

"Hello, Brittani." Toki said, hoping to cheer Brittani up. She looked up at Toki's curious face and said "Hi, Toki." Toki tilted her head in confusion and asked "Why are you sitting all alone?" Brittani looked at her and said "Because I'm a little down." Toki sat down and said "Today is beautiful day, you should be enjoying it." Brittani looked at her with depressed eyes and sighed, Toki was very cheerful for her to explain why she was depressed. "Brownie won't come home." she answered.  

Toki folder her hands in her lap and said "You sent her away and told her to never return, which explains why she wouldn't come back. She told me about what happened and she declined. I see her reason, she wanted to stay out of trouble and avoid stealing, so she came to stay with Mr. Rodriguez. She promised she'll keep in touch and send half of what she earns."
"Yeah, but it's not the same!"
"I know, but maybe it is in her best interests."
"To be away from the family that you have been with since the day of conception? I don't think so."
"Maybe, maybe not, but is seems to be good for her. I'm away from my only blood relative but I'm okay. I miss her but I'm okay."

Toki left Brittani sitting there, rather confused, but in consideration. When she watched Toki walk off into the distance, her long blood-red hair swaying from here to there, partially bound by a purple ribbon, and there seemed to be a bright pure white radiance emitting from her, as if she was an angel. She wondered what made this girl so wise. She knew Toki must have gone through a lot to know what she knows. She silently followed Toki from a distance, noticing how merry and fun-loving she was.  

Toki was running down the street flapping her arms in a way the butterfly she was following was. She wondered why Toki was laughing giggling like she was when she chased the butterfly until it had landed on her nose, which made her laugh even more with delight. Brittani wondered why Toki was so happy to be greeted by a small winged creature and she herself could not muster enough curiosity to even admire it, let alone look at it. One thing that was known, to Brittani, was that she was not sheltered, like she, herself, was. She realized that Toki's life was not at all mirroring hers.
"Want to accompany me to the park?" Toki said to the butterfly that landed on her gentle delicate finger. It fluttered and landed in her hair as an answer to her question, accompanying her to the park. Brittani followed her and Toki gently released the butterfly in the butterfly garden. "There you go, butterfly, back to your friends." Toki said, watching the butterfly flutter into a group of butterflies. Brittani, initially, thought it was silly for someone to enjoy simple things but, upon realization, she knew Toki was enjoying herself was because she probably wouldn't have been able to enjoy the little pleasures of life before.

"So you decided follow me?" Toki said, looking in Brittani's direction. She wondered how Toki knew she was being followed and was able to notice her presence. Toki turned to face her and greeted her with a smile, before walking back to the Rodriguez place. She had her fun, it was now time to work.

As Brittani watched, Toki diligently stocked the shelves, without complaint. She was wondering why Toki busy doing something that seemed pointless to do. Jinx and Spin returned and found Brittani watching Toki. "Does our sister intrigue you?" Jinx asked. Brittani looked at the brothers and said "Yes, why does she work?" Spin tilted his head and said "She's works for a living, however, she said she may earn enough money to purchase an apartment for us and Brownie to live but she seems to be just happy with being payed for her services."
"Why?"
"Toki does a nice job and feels she should get payed for it. Not everyone feels the same way about that."
"Who doesn't?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Ike. They accused Toki of stealing pieces of jewelry, jewelry that is worth a ‘small’ fortune, from their kitchen drawer to make for the price not being payed."
"How much did she ask for?"
"20.00$ and that isn't too much to ask for, especially since she cleaned their house for free or at most a 1.00 or less."
"Then why would they accuse her of stealing?"
"They hate her because they’re bigots.”
"Why?!"
"We don't know but maybe their parents brought them up, encouraging their hatred and disgust."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"We know and they are so bigoted that they really didn't want their daughter to even take a glance but they only put up with Toki because she was her friend."
Toki finished stocking the shelves and swept the store. After she was finished sweeping, she wiped the window. It was intended for everything to be nice and neat so when customers arrived, it will be perfect. After finishing her chores, Toki sat down on the sofa, after inviting her company in. She had recently taken up a hobby of sewing. She had been given the rest of the week off minding the store, so she took up her spare time sewing.
At the moment, she sat on the sofa, hemming a dress. "The elder of the house told me her dress was too long and asked me to hem it for her." Toki said, without looking up, keeping attention on her task, when Brittani asked her about what she was doing. Jinx rolled an apple and said "Toki had been quite the worker, ever since, Mr. Rodriguez let her stay."  Spin scratched his head and said "Yup, and the Rodriguez’s are glad to have a live-in housekeeper."

   Brittani took a glance at Toki and never thought of working to make ends meet. Toki finished hemming the dress and moved onto mending a set of capris. Brittani watched her, with such curiosity that is rarely noted in children her age. Her eyes were large with curiosity and nose wiggled excitement. Toki finished her work and sat back quietly, her eyes closed her mind wandering.  She wasn't thinking about anything in particular and appeared to be daydreaming. Brittani wanted to reach out and poke her but something told her not to. Jinx and Spin left the room to do their chores, leaving Brittani and Toki behind.
Chapters 11, 12, and 13. A summary, Brittani asks Brownie to come home and she refuses, Pup's (you know her better as Barcelona) father is arrested for what looks like attempted rape when Toki asked for payment of the exact price, later Toki befriends Brittani, and chapter twelve explores how their lives are different
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