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his thumb in his mouth and nods, but I can tell he’s scared too.
    The man Mama says is our Daddy came again tonight. But this time there was a lot of yelling. And when he left, Mama cried for a long time.
    She cries a lot lately. Ever since Lily was born. I think it’s cause the man doesn’t come by much anymore.
    I sneak out of the room, careful not to make a sound. Mama is in her bedroom now, softly singing as she dresses Lily in her prettiest dress, the white one she wore when we went to the big church and they poured water on her head.
    “He’ll take me back now. Everything will be all right.” Mama is talking to herself, her eyes shiny. “He’ll take me back.”
    I don’t want to get in trouble, so I tiptoe back to bed, and put my finger to my lips when Drew starts to cry, holding his arms out to me.
    “Everything will be all right,” I whisper, repeating her words.
    Footsteps echo down the hall, clickity ones, and when Mama comes into our room, she’s wearing her fancy shoes, and the dark red dress she wears only for the man.
    I close my eyes tight and pretend to be asleep.
    The floor creaks and I hear Drew whimper.
    “Be a big boy and don’t cry. You’re going to have a bath and then everything is going to be just fine.”
    When I open my eyes, Drew is gone. And so is Mama. I’m really scared now. It’s dark outside and we already had a bath tonight. I always make sure Drew has his first.
    “Key-key.” Drew cries for me.
    I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom, even though I know Mama is going to be mad.
    Her back is to me. “Be a good boy and go to sleep.”
    He can’t sleep in the tub.
    I take a step closer.
    Drew’s face is under the water, eyes big and scared.
    “Mama, stop.” I pull at her arms, but she doesn’t let him go. I hit her, scratch at her face, but she continues to hold him down. “He can’t breathe. Mama, please, stop.”
    I bite down on her arm, and she lets out a cry.
    Drew sits up and starts to cough.
    Mama grabs at me, but I’m quicker and she slips on the wet floor, hitting her head on the toilet.
    I help Drew out of the tub.
    “He doesn’t want me.” There’s blood on her head and on her arms where I bit her. She lays on the floor, crying. “Because of you, he doesn’t want me anymore.”
    I cry too. But I know we can’t stay.
    “Come on.” I pull on Drew’s wet arm, and run to Mama’s room.
    Lily is still asleep, lying like a doll on the bed. I’m not allowed to pick her up without Mama, but I don’t want to leave her here.
    She’s heavy, and I struggle to hold her.
    My arms feel like they’re going to fall off by the time we make it out of the apartment and up the two flights of stairs to Mrs. Hutson’s apartment. She’s the lady that watches us when the man comes over, and I know she’ll help.
    I bang on the door, trying to stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. I need to be brave for Drew and Lily.
    Mrs. Hutson looks mad when she opens the door. She’s wearing her pajamas and her hair is in rollers. Then she looks down at us, and her eyes go wide.
    She looks as scared as I feel, which makes me even more afraid. Her fingers shake when she takes Lily from my arms.
    The police come. And the people who drive the ambulance. They keep looking at me and Drew with funny faces, and whispering.
    They take Lily away. I scream and yell at them that I need to go with her. That she’s going to be scared without me.
    Mrs. Hutson tries to hold me, but I don’t want her to touch me. I just want my sister. And my Mom. 
    Drew is crying, sitting on the couch, and there’s a strange lady with him.
    They’re going to take him away too.
    “No,” I scream at the lady. Ready to fight her if I have to. “I won’t let you take him.”
    Drew wraps his arms around my neck, and we sit on the floor, both crying. And I promise him that I’ll never let anyone take him away from me. Ever.
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    Henry
     
    “Dammit Keeley, wake up.” I shake