Cendi's eyes widened in fear, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized who was on the other side of the door. She answered it, swinging the door with a hostile reaction. A 35-year-old man dressed up in a suit, lowered his glasses down his nose, and looked up at Cendi with a stern expression. His hair was brown and combed nicely, yet on his face, he had a 5 o'clock shadow. In his arms, he held a clipboard closely to his chest, while in his other hand was a pen. This man was a case worker from CPS (Child Protective Services).

"Miss Struggleman, is there an issue?" The tone of his voice was like a blade cutting through everyone's world.

Cendi stepped back, dropping her guard, and the angry, yet protective tone shattered like glass, "Oh, Mister Johnson! Is our appointment today?"

Mister Johnson answered with a harsh tone, while staring at her with a stern, cold look, "Indeed it is, did you forget?" he asked, clicking his pen and writing something down on his clipboard.

Cendi cowers in embarrassment, and her face turned almost pale as she answers with a hint of defeat, "I did, I had stuff on my mind..."

Mister Johnson raised his brow with a stern glare, looking down at her as if his very presence was beating her down. "Oh, are you having second thoughts about being Godfrey's legal guardian?"

Cendi's expression was one of shock as she answered, "What, no... I would never abandon my little brother!" Her tone rose a bit as she was offended by the question, showing she was still determined to take care of her brother.

Mister Johnson smirked and looked through her to see the background, which was her apartment. His eyes scanned the area like a hawk, trying to spot anything amiss.

That is when his eyes locked onto Godfrey. His eyes were like daggers, yet Godfrey stood his ground as a tone of disrespect formed in his voice, "Mister Johnson." Godfrey's eyes parried the sharp glare of Mister Johnson's as he announced, "Why is Godfrey not in school, Miss Struggleman?" his tone was cold and stern as his sight pierced through Cendi.

Before Cendi could even answer, Mister Johnson noticed the little girl who was behind Godfrey, and he stated, "Who is that, Miss Struggleman?"

Cendi answers with concern, her figure shaking in fear of what Mister Johnson would think, "That is Vuni, she recently lost her parents, she is our cousin from a different country, someone left her at my doorstep."

Mister Johnson's pen connected to his clipboard, causing an echo of judgment through the apartment, a mallet signing her sentence. His eyes shifted to Cendi, then to his clipboard, then back to Cendi.

"Oh, do you have proof?" he stated in harshness, his words degrading her as a criminal.

Cendi slightly lowered her head, showing a bit of weakness, and then bit her finger with nervousness as she murmured, "Proof?"

Mister Johnson's eyes narrowed into a piercing glare, showcasing his concern, yet fierceness, trying to hint at the truth from her, "Yeah, proof. Like a note or something to prove you are not just making things up." He waved his pen like a wand and tried to intimidate her into speaking the truth.

Suddenly, Vuni steps forward as she says, "Um, excuse me." Her posture was weak and shaky from fear, but she lowered her head in innocence and shyness as she showcased her device that looked like a watch.

Mister Johnson peered down at the small girl; his fierce eyes made her cower back a step. She sniffles, playing the act of an innocent soul who just lost her parents, an act that felt so real.

"Daddy made things, but couldn't find a job. Daddy made this for Miss Cendi before he had to go bye-bye."

Mister Johnson's tough posture slightly cracked as a lump formed in his throat as Vuni spoke her innocent words. "Is that so?" he questioned, feeling his hard-shell texture melting away.

Vuni stroked her finger on the device and pushed a button, and a man's voice formed from the watch-like device, announcing, "Cendi, this is your uncle. If you are hearing this, then my wife and I are already gone. I am sorry to do this, but I am going to leave Vuni with you. I hope you understand." Then the message goes into static, and Vuni turns it off.

Vuni lowers her head and sways her body as she asks, "I hope that was enough?"

Mister Johnson sighs, "Well, it was something." he clicked his pen, and it gently connected with the clipboard, and he gently wrote something on it.

"Though it is something, it might not be enough, but I'll let this slide. Be more prepared next time, Miss Struggleman. I must need paperwork, her birth papers, and her parents' death papers." his tone was slightly gentler yet still held harshness.

"I don't want to be the bad guy here, but I will if you do not obey the law, understand, Miss Struggleman?" he added, hinting at the seriousness of the situation.

Cendi let him in, and they all sat at the dining table. Mister Johnson tapped his foot as he met all of them with a stern yet a look like he was there to help. He set papers on the table as he went over the importance of Vuni's safety. he asked, "So since you have a two-bedroom apartment, where exactly is she going to sleep?"

Cendi answers with honesty, "She will be sleeping in my room, while I sleep in the living room for now."

Mister Johnson nodded as he wrote something down on the sheets of paper that he spread on the dining table. "So that means Godfrey and her will be separated, right?"

Cendi nods her head as she answers, "That is correct."

Mister Johnson points at Vuni with his pen as he adds, "Those are not her permanent pajamas, right? Please make sure you get proper clothing for her for school, bedtime, and outside activities."

Cendi answers, "I was about to go to the store to get her clothes, but I forgot we had an appointment."

Mister Johnson nods again as he writes something down on his papers. "Now I believe the last thing I need to know is..." he pauses and looks at all of them, causing Cendi to gulp in fear as he continues, "is that if you have enough food for you, her, and Godfrey."

Cendi nods as she answers, "I have more than enough."

Mister Johnson nods and looks around, "Well, it seems like you're doing a good job with Godfrey. I will be checking in on Vuni also, now, so please be ready for my visit. I will call you to make an appointment."

Mister Johnson double-checks his files as he adds, "So is the babysitter the same?"

Cendi nods, "Yes, I will have to tell him about Vuni, but yes, he is the same."

Mister Johnson continues to write down notes as he adds, "Make sure Vuni gets in school also, okay."

Cendi nods with a cold sweat dripping down her forehead, yet answers, "Understood."

Mister Johnson finishes writing his notes and clicks his pen as he gathers all of his stuff. As he adds, "Well, it seems like everything is in order, for now. Remember, I need that paperwork for Vuni, and I will keep in touch."

Mister Johnson sits up in his chair and turns to the door; however, he halts and looks back as he says with pride, "Keep up the good work, Miss, Struggleman."

Cendi leads him to the door, and as he steps out and heads down the stairs, Cendi gently closes the door and falls to her knees in relief. Godfrey lets out a sigh of relief, yet Vuni tilted her head in concern, not realizing what happened.

Vuni asked with innocence and confusion, "Who was that?"

Godfrey answered in defiance, "A jerk! Someone who wants to see destruction and sorrow, I can't stand him!" he struck a pose with his arms crossed and his shoulders hunched.

Cendi put up her hand as she said, "Enough, Godfrey." She climbed back onto her feet as she said I'll be back. I am going to get ready now, also.  Godfrey and Vuni watched Cendi tread to her room and gently close the door.

Godfrey and Vuni patiently waited for Cendi. Cendi removed pajamas, her face stretched in embarrassment as she murmured, "he didn't even let me get properly dressed, how embarrassing." She grunted as she continued to get dressed, "Godfrey is right, he is such a jerk, no respect for people's privacy. I should report him." However, she shook her head and continued to get dressed, putting on a white blouse and blue jeans with shoes. She put her hair up in a ponytail and slowly opened the door. She was met by Godfrey and Vuni waiting for her at the front door.