113 Christmas Eve

Yona gets back to the house and Salali is making his cake. He comes up behind her and gives her a tight hug.

"Just know I love you sis. I'm grateful that you are my sister . " he turn and walks away before she can say anything.She turnsto look at him kind of puzzled. He doesn't show his emotions often so she is wondering what's up with him. Yona heard the laughter coming from outside he looks out the window. He is watching the children playing in the snow. Inola is helping some of the smaller ones make snowballs for a fight. While a few are sledding down the hill. This reminds him of when they were small. His mom helping him make snowballs for throwing at his dad. He really misses them at times like this. He sees the little girl from breakfast she is sitting on the porch crying. He goes out to sit with her.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asks her while wiping her tears.

" you see the big boy over there. That's my uncle. He is mad at me because it's his job to watch me. He wants to go sledding and can't . " Yona isn't understanding the problem.

"So why can't he go sledding there are enough people around to keep watch on you?" She shrugs her shoulders as if to say I don't know. The boy comes over and yells at her to go inside to get warm. Yona isn't liking the boys tone with her since she hadn't done anything.

"Excuse me but why are you yelling at her. She hasn't done anything ?"

The boy crossed his arms across his chest and stares at Yona.

"I am her uncle and in charge of her. She does what I tell her. I told her I want to go sledding and she needs to be inside so I needn't worry with her." Yona stood up and walked over to the boy not caring if it's his place or not.

"Look I don't know much about how things work around here. I do know that Aisling does not like yelling. I also know that there are enough adults around looking out for all of the kids that she is not a bother to them. I don't know which kid you belong to but I'm sure that all I have to do is ask Aisling or John to find out. If you want to go play like a child go ahead but do not pretend that your an adult by screaming at a small little girl. You are more than old enough to just let one of the adults know to keep an eye out for her. "

Aisling and John both heard their names being yelled and came to investigate. They see Yona taking Tomas to task over crystal. John moved to say something when Aisling stopped him. She wants to see just how far Thomas is going to go. At seventeen he is starting to push his boundaries beyond limits and thinking Yona is a stranger he may go to far. So the two stand and watch.

"Look I don't think you understand she is my sisters brat and I am left with her . I don't want to mess with her but I don't have a choice. If my sister hadn't been so stupid as to get knocked up in the first place I wouldn't be in this mess. So why don't you mind your business and go away."

Aisling can feel the anger rising in John . She places her hand on his arm to keep him there.

Crystal stands up and looks at her uncle Thomas.

"You leave him alone he is my friend and Aisling's brother-in-law. He doesn't have to go anywhere . Your just being mean because mommy got called into work and you couldn't come by yourself. Aisling always tells you when I'm here you can just leave me alone. Why do you hate me so much. "She kicks her uncle and runs away. Yona looks at the boy and glares at him.

"You may only be a child but that little girl is your niece. She is someone you are supposed to protect and love. You do not know the circumstances of why your sister is raising her alone . If you are ever going to be a man then the first thing you need to learn is that the women are to be protected. I'm a stranger to you and you couldn't wait to tarnish your sister in front of me. That is not respectful or loving to your sister. When you learn to protect them then and only then will you be worthy of being respected and loved. " leaving Thomas to think about what he had to say he runs after crystal to comfort her. Salali hearing her brother yell was watching beside Aisling. She stares after her brother in surprise.

"Wow what has gotten into him?He never interferes in other people's lives."

"Don't know but I think Crystal has a new hero." Aisling grins she knows that their little adventure earlier effected him.

John walks over and grabs Thomas giving him a few choice words before sending him to do penance for disrespecting and elder.

Yona finds Crystal behind the barn sitting on the ground next to the water pump.

"Hey it's ok your uncle is just a kid like you. Don't take it to heart." He sits beside her. Wiping her tears.

"He hates me and my mom. My mom was in high school when she had me. He hates that I am here." Yona feels the little girls sadness and it makes him angry .

"I'm happy your here because of you we get to share the huckleberry honey cake." She looks at him her eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of eating her berry cake.

"Don't think I'm rude but I hope your sister makes it as good as Aisling. She puts extra love in it just for me." Grinning she stands up and puts her arms around his neck. Kissing him on the cheek. Running away towards the house before he can say anything. Yona stands to go back inside when he sees John.

"Can we have a chat a moment?" Yona nods ok to the older man. They sit on the bench by the garden.

"Crystals mom was in high school when she was cornered by a group of boys. They hurt her real bad . She spent three months in the hospital and was in the psychiatric ward for two of them. When she was to be discharged she found out about being pregnant. She couldn't bring herself to abort the baby. She actually was going to let a family member who couldn't have a child adopt her. On the day she was born she held the baby for the first time . After that moment she couldn't give her up. We all told her it was ok that we would help her. She is Charlie's daughter you will meet her tonight. I'm sorry for Thomas I don't think he actually knows the circumstances of her birth. " Yona looks at John with anger in his eyes

"It should not matter as a man and her brother he should protect her. As that child's uncle those words should never be said. She is innocent and should only know love. I hope you corrected him because if he speaks to me or her like that again . I will not hold back. " Yona angrily walks away towards the house. He sees a old red car pulling up in the driveway. A woman in her early twenties gets out. She is very pretty with short curly blonde hair and her eyes are the color of a cornflower. She still in her waitress outfit. Pulling a bag of presents from the back trying to balance them along with a duffle bag. Yona goes over to help her.

" here let me help. He takes the bags of gifts from her. Looking up at him she smiles warmly. He knows who she is immediately. She is Crystal's mommy. Looking at him makes his heart leaps in his chest. It's like looking at Crystal. Yona smiles at her his eyes sparkling.

" thank you I'm sorry to be a bother. " they walk into the house. Debra greets her and takes the gifts from Yona. Aisling tells her to head up to shower and change. She can use Debra 's room.

Charlie is holding Crystal reading a story to a few of the smaller kids. Aisling winks at Yona and mouths thank you to him. He nods in acknowledgment and heads up to his room for some quiet.