The Redbird's story.

"Hello, Mrs. Redbird," Elliot said. "Can Blake and the others come play?"

Sally's stopped when she heard what Cora said and started crying.

Layla looked at the door when mama opened it.

She looked at her sadly. "Their father is set to hang tomorrow," She said holding back tears.

"But-why?" Elliot asked, confusion and sadness coming over her.
~~~
Cora sighed and went up to their room, closing the door behind her and taking out her diary, beginning to write again.

Sally went upstairs and into the room she shared with her sisters, and layed on her bed still crying.

Layla watched Sally go into the room.

"I don't believe that's any of your business," she said and shut the door in her face

Cora looked up when Sally came in but didn't stop writing.
~~~
Elliot stood, staring at the door in confusion, blinking back tears. She turned and ran.

Momi sat at the kicten table crying.

Layla went downstairs and went over to mama and hugged her.

Momi huged layla back.

~~
*The hanging*

Mr. redbird stood with the rope aound his neck as his crimes were told.

Blake held in the tears, but had a pained look.

Sally was crying silently and looked up at papa.

Layla looked up at him she was sad but she wasn't crying. Her face revealed no emotion.

Cora stood next to Blake. Her expression hadn't changed. She still looked apathetic and uncaring as she watched her father.
~~~~
Elliot stood in the back at the hanging. She had tears in her eyes as she watched.

'Why didn't they tell me?' She thought sadly. 'We may not be much better off but we could have tried to help!'

She looked over at her friends. Cora didn't look sad or mad. Just....nothing. Elliot frowned. She knew that cora never showed much emotion but figured she would today. Layla was quiet again. Sally was crying and Blake just looked pained. She wanted nothing more than to run up to each of them and give them a hug. She stood and watched as the man who had often been like a father to her was sentenced to die.

Momi looked away as the lever was pulled and papa dangled.

A single tear slid down Cora's cheek as she watched her father fall. She looked away.
~~~
Elliot burst into tears now, and turned and left before the Redbirds could see her.

Sally closed her eyes, she didn't want to she him die.

Layla looked sad now but still didn't cry.

Blake truned his head just intime ti see Elliot running away.

5 years had gone by now.

Cora was 12, Elliot 11.

As of now, it was midday. Elliot was home sweeping. These past 5 years had been horrible for her. Ever since the Redbird's father's death their friendship had fallen apart. Elliot tried to go see them but they were always either busy or not there. They made no effort to come see her, at least not that Elliot could see. They hadn't even come on her birthday, and that had broken her heart. She missed them dearly and felt as though a part of her heart was missing. She watched them sometimes as they played or sat outside, but never had the courage to go talk to them. Maybe they thought their friendship was just when they were kids, and now that they were older they couldn't be friends anymore? Maybe they didn't /want/ to be her friend anymore. She let out a small sigh as she continued her sweeping. At least she still got to see Tyler a lot. But she missed the Redbirds. Especially Blake. For some reason she missed him the most.
~~~
Cora was at home, out back reading. Now that she was 12 she could read much better and had progressed from small books ot much larger ones, and actually read instead of just looking at the pictures and reading a few words here and there. Blake still pushed her in the lake. When she was 8 she had begun sneaking out to swim. She was afraid that one day Blake wouldn't bring the rope and would leave her to drown. She continued practicing until she was 11 and her mother caught her. She had dragged her out and yelled at her never to do it again. Cora was confused; what was so bad about swimming? But her mother wouldn't tell her. She hadn't gone in for a while until later when she was 11. It was too much fun for her. She loved it, so she continued to sneak out often to swim. She knew it was bad but it was so much fun, exhilarating even. But she knew she had to be the mature one for this family because Blake, as the 'man of the house,' just wasn't going to cut it. She still believed he was too immature, seeing as he still pushed her into the lake a lot. Even though she knew how to swim she pretended not to, not wanting him to tell mommy and then have her get in trouble. She looked out at the water for a moment then back at her book.

She did miss Elliot, but figured if she wanted to see them then she would come herself.

Blake: 11
Tyler: 14
Matt: 22
Joie: 19

It was mid-day. So why was Tyler still asleep? ""cause he's a lazy bart." Joie mumbled pulling him out of bed. Tyler landed on the floor with a loud thump. HE opened his eyes and yawned.

"Morning already?" Tyler he asked clawing back into bed.

"Tyler, it's past noon." Joie said. "Mickey would kill you if she found out have late you sleept."

"Ad she would kill you if she found out how many times you used her name in one day." Tyler said his back to Joie. He still regated not saying anything the day he left. That week was the wrost week ever for him. First he lost his nieace, who he loved, and then the man that he looked to as a father. It was harder on the Redbirds. HE was the only male Layla and Sally was allowed to be freinds with. "He's more like family." Their mother said.

Joie sighed and pulled Tyler back out of bed. Much harder.

Tyler sat up rubbing the back of his head. "FINE!" HE said standing up.

Joie left with a smile of victriy on his face. FOr a moment Tyler tought about getting back in bedbut didn't. He walked over to the window. He found his thought driffing to Elliot. 'She's getting pretty.' He thought. "She has always been cute in a little kid way but-' He stoped himself before he could think anymore. His thoughts often been going to her. He knew he loved her. He always loved her in a way, but somehow this was diffrent.

He often found her in the feilds "spying" on the Redbirds. And he would often scare her by remaining quiet and sit next to her, not being notice, and then say something suddenly. Through he loved her, he would never tell her. He could see it in her eyes as she wacthed Blake. She felt something for Blake, but she most likely didn't relize that herself.

Tyler shock his heasd trying to get his mind were it needed to be: chores. He hated that word.

~~
Blake now 11 was finally taller then Elliot, but he didn't know cause he never stood next to his best freind no more. He often saw her "spying" on them. At first this made him happy. Maybe she would want to play with them. Then it made him sad, she never came up to them. Then it made him hate her, and that in trun made him hate himself. He thought the reason she didn't play with them no more was because of their fathers hanging. He thought she saw him like everyone else did: A thief's son, a thief himself. But he never stole anything, never ever.

Blake pulled the water up out of the well and started to head back to his cottage, on the way he had to pass Elliot'ds home.

Layla sat on the ground infront of the cottage. She hadn't talking much since their fatehr had been hanged, but that wasn't unusual for her since she didn't talk much anyway. She wondered why Elliot hadn't come to play in a while. She missed playing with her, but never went to ask if she went to ask if she wanted to go play.

Sally was at the lake washing clothes. She was still sad about their father dieing but had stopped crying. She was quiet while she washed the clothes.

Elliot glanced out of her window and saw Blake. Her face lit up but she quickly wiped the smile off of her face. She wanted to go out and talk to him but couldn't work up the courage. He was carrying a bucket of water, which reminded her that she needed to go to the well as well. But she would wait until he had passed. She watched him through her window, ready to duck down if he saw her.
~~~~
Cora looked up from her book but only for a moment. She thought she saw someone out of the corner of her eye but no one was there. She shrugged it off and continued reading.

Blake kept walking, thinking. He looked up and saw Elliot in the window. A smile almost worked it's way to his lips. HE quickly looked away and walked away. He still thought she hated him, and in trun he would at least pretend to hate her as well.

~~
Tyler waslked out his his cottage carring a bucket.

Elliot quickly ducked down, sitting with her back against the wall when Blake looked her way.

'Did he see me?' she thought. She slowly sat up and peeked back out the window, but he was gone. With a sigh she grabbed her bucket and walked outside and towards the well, swinging it and singing softly like she did when she was younger.
~~~~
Cora soon grew bored and stood up, brushing the dirt and grass off of her dress. She held the book close to her chest and walked over to the front of the house in time to see Blake coming back from the well.

Blake sighed, but waved at Cora when he saw her.

~~
Tyler waved at both cora and blake as he walked pass.

Cora smiled and waved at Tyler when he passed them then turned to Blake.

"Took you long enough," Was all she said.
~~~~
Elliot started down towards the well. Luckily, she didn't have to pass the Redbird's house to get there. She fingered the necklace Mickey had given her so long ago with the hand that wasn't holding the bucket. She still wore it every day, and it fit her better now. She sighed again and continued towards the well, still singing softly.

Sally finished washed the clothes and picked up the pile and started heading back to the cottage.

Layla looked up when she heard Cora speak.