Complete silence, a warm cup of tea, and her utmost attention on her new work. Linda was now a freelance writer. She wasn't exactly employed, but she was able to make herself a living now. No need for Lily to bear that burden. It was work even she could complete. All it took was some research on the article subject and her artistic prose in writing the article itself. In this day and age, and in this economy, there might not have been a way for her to earn her keep. That certainly was a horrible thought. Without her sister, where would she end up if she couldn’t manage a job? A care home for the most needy if she was lucky? Worse case scenario, she'd be dead in the streets or slums from either starvation or one of her illnesses not being treated. The world was cruel and money hungry, and medication didn’t come cheap, among other necessities. Linda pretty much owed her very life to her sister, this was the very least she could do for her.

Despite the relative comfort and feelings of dedication, Linda could still feel a bit of a migraine coming on, and her skin was more itchy and rashy than usual. It might be coming from the stress of work, not to mention the subject matters she keeps finding were upsetting as hell. Stories relating to violence, starving kids, slavery like work conditions, economic woes, the list goes on and on and could reach the moon. Linda, like everyone else, knows not to dwell on such things. Yet now it was her job to dwell on these things and then tell others to do the same. Just a case of duality and all that. The bottom line is that Linda Lost now has a job to do, and one that pays, so she must continue on despite her rashes and coughing.

“Hey Linda! I’m home!” Lily cheerfully came in.

“Welcome home…” Linda said, eyes on her computer.

“How’s your new job going?”

“It’s going okay, kind of, the research is easy, but finding the right words is-” Linda finally notices that Lily brought two kids into their apartment behind her.

“Let me guess, another babysitting job.”

“Yep!”

“Let me guess again, you're doing it pro-bono and won't get paid.”

“Uhm…:

“Didn’t we talk about doing too much charity?”

“It’s not like that. It’s an emergency. Mr. Crucible, their dad, is in the hospital right now, and their mom is looking after him there. They didn’t have much time or money to get anyone else so…”

Linda sighed, obviously annoyed, “I get it, I get it…” 

“We'll be good, I promise.” The boy looked incredibly nervous and timid. The girl, the younger sister however…

“I want to play!” She shouted, “Can I play on her computer!”

“Touch this computer and you’re dead.”

“Linda!” Lily tried to scold her sister. 

“No! I won’t die, you liar!”

“It has my deadly germs on it. Only I can use it, or else you get sick and die!”

“Okay how about this, I can take you two to the park to play on the swings.”

“Yay!”

“I’d rather stay here indoors,” said the brother.

“Lily, I could really use some peace and quiet for my work.”

“I won't be a bother. I promise.”

“You better not.”

“And I'll make sure the playful one stays out of your way.”

Soon after, Lily and the young girl left, leaving the boy and Linda in a quiet room. The boy sat quietly and timidly on one couch while Linda worked on the other. Time went on and not a word from either of them was uttered. 

“Aren’t you bored?” Linda asked the boy, her eyes not leaving the computer screen.

“Oh, um, no, I’m fine.”

“You can play or something. Just try to keep it down. I’m working here.”

Another twenty minutes went by and the boy didn’t make a peep. Before she even knew it, she was done with most of the work. Being well ahead of schedule, as well as a bit tired, Linda closes her laptop onto the coffee table. 

“What's your name?”

“Harold.”

“You don't talk much do you?”

“I’m… just quiet I guess.”

“You parents must love how nice and obedient you are.” 

“Well…”

“Your parents aren't hurting you in any way, right?”

“No! Not at all. They just work so hard to put food in our mouths.”

“I bet they remind you how hard they have it all the time, do they?” 

“Yeah, they do. But that's because it is hard.”

“That doesn't mean you sacrifice your own happiness.”

“Life is full of sacrifices, that's what our mom tells us.”

“Hmm. My dad used to say something similar,” Linda got up from the couch and walked over to their tiny kitchen. In one of their cupboards she takes a nearly empty jar. Inside were these two candy bars. She takes them both and offers one to the boy. He looks away, unwilling to take the candy bar or even make eye contact. Linda takes his hand into hers and places the bar into his palm.

“You are going to eat this, and you are going to enjoy it. Do it for me.” 

The boy opens the candy bar wrapper and takes a bite.

“Good. Do you like it?” The boy nods. A tear runs down his cheek.

Linda opens and takes a bite of her own candy bar. “I know your parents had it rough, but these days everyone has it rough. You need time to enjoy the bright sides too.” 

The front door swings open. “Linda! We're back!” She shouts as she carries a now sleepy child and some bags in her arms.”

“Lily! We're trying to have a moment here?”

“A moment? Hey, why are you crying? Wait, Linda, did you give him the last of our Chewy Smiles candy bars?” 

“Yeah, I did. He was such a nice boy, I had to reward him.”

Lily frowned at her sister up close for a second, then said “Okay” all cheery. 

“So now what?”

“I bought dinner for us!”

The four of them enjoyed their take out dinners peacefully. After dinner, the two children were very much sleepy. Luckily, the twins had a spare floor bed big enough for the two of them. They laid it out for them and got a spare blanket.

“Would you like a lullaby? Or would you like a bedtime story?

“I want both,” the girl said. 

“Sure why not! Linda, you can tell them the story, I'll handle the lullaby.”

“Well, alright.”

Linda pulled out a leather bound book from a nearby shelf. She opens it to the very middle page of the book, mumbles a small cantation, and the pages begin to emit a light. The light shines upward and shimmers in a cloud. The cloud makes shapes from the light and magic, shapes of people and landscape. This book would make the people and places and have the scenes act out in real time along with the reader’s narration.

Linda then read aloud.

There was once a man who lived in a cabin on a river at the edge of town. He cut down trees for his living all by himself. One day, he found a young man collapsed on the riverbank. He helped him and took him into his cabin. 

This beast attacked me. I escaped into the river but the current was so strong.

“I’ll keep a lookout for this beast, but what brings you to a far distance in the woods like this.”

It's a story I'd rather not tell…

The logger took the young man in and fed him a meal. After a warm meal next to a good fire the young man opened up and explained that he stole money from his family and spent it all on frivolous things. He was now penniless.

“You should go home to them.”

“They won't forgive me.”

“Family always forgives, for family always has each other.”

“How would you know? Do you have those you can call family?”

“Plenty of family in fact. And I know they’d do the same for me.”

“I, at least, want some money to buy a gift of forgiveness.”

The man let the young runaway stay with him, helping him cut and log trees for a bit of coin. After a few weeks, he bought himself a small gift for his family. Once in hand he left the next day.

A month went by since the runaway left. All the woodcutter could think about was him and his own family. He did leave his family of his son and daughter because he didn't want to be a burden to them. He could still chop trees and make his own living after all.

Then one day this beast spotted him from the tree line and charged like a bull. He managed to avoid the attack but the beast went through his cabin like a mighty arrow through a body of wood. 

Before the beast could wiggle free from the rubble of the cabin, a bolt of lightning struck it, causing the cabin wood to be set ablaze. The foul beast would soon perish in the flames.

The old logger looked to see the man who sent out the lightning spell, and it was the runaway.

“My home! All but destroyed… Now what…”

“Why not go home to your family, sir?”

“I don’t want to be a burden on them once more.”

“How could you be a burden? Family always has one another. Yours will welcome you home as did mine. I’m sure of it.”

“Well, I still need a gift of forgiveness…” 

“You have one being cooked right at this moment! Ha Ha!”

Linda snaps the book shut and the figures in the colorful cloud disappear in a puff before the children’s eyes.

“Getting sleepy yet?” Lily asked.

“Yeah.” The two children said in unison.

“Then it’s time for my part of the show.” 

Lily would sing the two a low and sweet melody to lull them to sleep. Her voice was sweet and alluring and had hints of magic flowing from her mouth  but it only took half the song before they knew the two children were fast asleep. The twins tiptoe to their room and close the door gently.

“Lily, I've never heard that song before. Did you make that up on the spot?

“Hehe, it's not quite on the spot. I've been writing a few songs in my free time. Some of the lyrics were improv, but I think it came out great.”

“Alright, no need to brag, sunshine.”

“Still, I can't wait to try these songs on stage!”

“Shh! You'll wake them.”