10:00am
“Daddy.” Lilly walked sleepily out into the living room, stopping when she saw Roshawn.
“Go back to bed.” Darius warned her.
“But I’m not tired. Can you read to me?”
“No. Bedtime, now.”
“But Daddy-”
“I said NOW!!” Darius watched Lilly run off back to her room on the verge of tears. It ripped him apart on the inside.
“Your daughter?” Roshawn asked with a smirk.
“Just some kid. What were you saying?”
“Just some kid? You know, drug dealing is really dangerous. You get caught, she’ll end up in a foster home far away from here and you’ll have no visitation. Is that what you want Darius?”
Darius looked down at the floorboard, hands folded. He loved Lilly, but drug dealing was his life.
“Here, I’ll make you a deal. Either you get out of drug dealing and let this town be mine, or I tip child services and police will rip through this ‘lovely’ trailer of yours and take your little girl away forever. What’s it going to be?”
Darius remained silent. He didn’t know this guy for 10 minutes and already he was being made to choose between his daughter and his life.
“I’ll leave you alone to think. I want an answer by the end of tonight.” Roshawn left the trailer.
Darius buried his face into his hands. Maybe giving Lilly over to foster care would be better for her…. She’d be well fed, looked after. He needed help, an answer, a friend. All that he could get from molly. He called up Jake and ran out of the trailer.
1:00pm
Emma sat in the kitchen pouring discount candy into a cracked bowl. The trailer was all decorated with crafts made from orange and black pieces of paper. The only thing left was to finish sewing her costume together. Emma tried to make herself busy all day in hopes to take her mind off her missing mom. Sadly just the opposite happened. The long lonely hours only made her think more. What if the cops got her? What if she’d never see her again? As the time went on, Emma’s worries heightened. Sure she would be able to get on by herself, but the worry that her mother could be lying somewhere, anywhere, dead made her terrified.
4:00pm
Tyler hung orange lights around the trailer outside.
“You have to tell him!” Elijah whispered to his brother inside the trailer.
“You said it was no big deal!”
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a right to know. Now go tell him. Man up!” Elijah pushed his brother towards the door. “Go on. You have to at some point.”
Edward stepped out taking in a deep breath. As he approached his father he found it difficult to release the breath.
“Dad?”
“Yes son?”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Of course.” Tyler got down from the small ladder admiring his work. “What is it?” He looked at his son.
“Well…. um….”
“Are you ok? You look a little pale.” No response. “Edward, are you ok??”
Edward grabbed the hem of his shirt. He couldn’t find the words. Slowly, he lifted up his shirt and turned around baring his back to Tyler.
Tyler stared wide eyed at the tattoo. “Why didn’t you tell me…?”
“Because of the comments you always make about Robbie and Zach, and their ‘gayness’.” Edward lowered his shirt and looked at his father as Tyler thought for a moment. Tyler chuckled.
“You misunderstand. I was scoffing at how kids that young believe they know their sexuality when, in reality, they’re only starting to discover it.” Tyler, seeing how tense his son was, pulled Edward into a hug. “I’ll always love you no matter what. And I know your mother would too.”
7:00pm
Lilly happily ran from trailer to trailer holding her old dented halloween pumpkin basket. Her dollar store purple wings bounced behind her and her purple dress flowed in the wind like a pencil.
“Not too fast Lilly, don’t hurt yourself.” Jake warned as he followed smiling. It was times like this when the trailer park felt most alive. Everyone outside with candy and in costumes. It actually felt like this life was livable.
“Sorry.” Lilly ran back to Jake and reached for his hand but grasped only air. Jake chuckled and grabbed her hand.
“You ok? The doctor said you must have taken a nasty fall the other day.”
“Yep!”
They reached Andrew’s trailer and began to climb the steps up to it. Jake watched as Lilly did something she hadn’t done since she was learning to walk. Instead of just walking up the stairs, she put her hands out in front of her and felt each step before actually stepping on it. This wasn’t normal for Lilly at all.
“Hey Lilly, need any help?”
“Nope!” Lilly smiled as she straightened up at the top of the small set of stairs. She held her bucket out to Andrew smiling wide. “Trick or treat!”
“Look at you cutie.” Andrew smiled. “How old are you? Can you show me on your fingers?”
Lilly held up three fingers and Andrew copied her.
“No silly!” She giggled. “That’s not three! You’re holding up too many.”
Andrew just chuckled and gave her three big bars of candy.
“Thank you!” Before she had the chance to attempt going down the stairs Jake had already picked her up.
“Lilly, how many fingers am I holding up?”
She took a second to count the fingers in her head before declaring her answer. “Four!”
He was only holding up two.
11:00pm
Alexander, Robbie, Zach, and their new friend Brandon sat around Zach’s computer watching the newest horror movie and each holding a small bowl of popcorn.
“Don’t go in there!” Robbie commented. “Don’t go in!”
The four boys jumped as the door was open and the killer burst out.
Brandon smiled at his new friends a sad smile. They were nice boys, that much was true. But he knew that just like his other homes he’d be leaving here too. It was just a matter of time.
Lisa knocked on the door to Zach’s trailer and his mother answered. “I’m here to pick up Brandon. We have a busy day tomorrow and he needs his sleep.”
“Of course,” Zach’s mom said smiling, “Just one quick question. Look around. Other than one other trailer, everyone here is dirt poor. And then there’s you with your diamond earrings and fancy car. Why are you here? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Lisa sighed. She knew she’d get this question at some point. “My husband, he was very wealthy. We just got a divorce and stupid me signed a prenup before our marriage so I didn’t get a cent. Just my son and whatever I could fit in my car. Now may I please have my son?”
Zach’s mom nodded, shocked. “Brandon, your mother is here.” Brandon waved goodbye to his new friends and went over to his mother.
“Had fun?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Thank you.” Lisa waved to Zach’s mom as she walked back to her trailer with Brandon.
“Mom. When am I seeing dad again?”
“I don’t know.” Lisa sighed. “I honestly just don’t know.”
11:50pm
Darius stood out in the desert where he told Roshawn he’d meet him with his decision. Time ticked by and he had not made up his mind. He could not. Lilly or his career? Drugs or family? Out in the distance, a woman laid in the desert sand staring up at the stars. Darius thought he recognized her, but feared going over in case Roshawn came while he was gone. On the phone, the deal was for Darius to meet him right here between 11:30pm and midnight or Roshawn would make the decision for him. Darius impatiently tapped his foot; Roshawn was taking his sweet time.
‘What could it hurt?’Darius thought. ‘She’s just right over there. Not too far.’ Darius walked over. The woman’s face was just starting to come into view when he could hear the sound of a car. Turning around, Darius saw a car drive up, turn around in his meeting spot and quickly speed away.
“No!!” Darius yelled sprinting after the car but it was useless. Within seconds, the car was gone and so was Darius’s choice. In that very second, it occurred to Darius what choice he would have made.
‘Lilly.’ Darius sprinted back towards the trailer park hoping he could, by some miracle, make it there before the cops.
Thoughts?
What's wrong with Lilly?
Thoughts on Brandon and Lisa's past?
Who was the lady out in the desert?
Do you want a second season?
“She’s a lucky little girl. Could have died. I’ll run her through tests tomorrow to see if any brain damage was sustained.” Tyler was going through Lilly’s paperwork as Darius came bursting into the emergency room and past the front desk.
“Sir!” The secretary tried to get his attention. “Sir you can’t go back there!”
Darius merely ignored her and kept going, looking in every room for Lilly.
“He’s Lilly’s father. You know how crazy parents can get.” Tyler informed the secretary before returning to his paperwork.
Lilly laid in her hospital bed holding a new stuffed teddy bear. The clock next to her bed stated the time. 3:57am. Darius looked at his young daughter, fast asleep and smiling. He walked over and shook her awake.
“Daddy! Look, the nice doctor gave me a teddy!” She proudly presented the bear.
“That’s great Lilly. It’s time to go.” He disconnected her from the iv and heart monitor and picked her up.
“Are we allowed to?”
“Do you think I care?” He walked out of the room carrying her until he was spotted by staff. He broke into a sprint out to his car carefully placing Lilly in the back before speeding off.
“Where are we going?”
“Home baby girl.”
As the sun creeped over the distant mountains Thanos packed his last box into his car. He was taking a trip, a vacation away from people. His trailer would be left in the hands of an old lady by the name of ‘Lisa’. A convertible drove up and parked next to the trailer.
“I love it!” The woman in the driver’s seat said with a smile on her face. Next to her, her son watched the latest viral video on his iphone. The woman got out and went over to Thanos. “You must be Thanos! I’m Lisa, and my son-”
“Here’s the keys.” He shoved them into her hand. “Don’t burn the place down.” Before Lisa could comment on his rudeness, he was in his car and driving away.
“C’mon Brandon.” Lisa walked back to her car. “Either help me or make some friends.”
Brandon groaned and put his phone away. He was trying his hardest, but this was their 5th home in the past 2 months and it was the worst. All he wanted to do was go back to Beverly Hills where he felt he belonged, not in this dump.
“Brandon, I won’t tell you again. Either help me or help yourself. This is only temporary.”
Brandon got to work, grabbing box after box of their prized possessions and lugging them inside.
Alexander, Robbie, and Zach watched their newest neighbors move in.
“That’s three within a few days. What’s going on?” Robbie asked.
“Everyone wants to live in the same town as a YouTube star.” Zack smiled proudly.
“Lucky Andrew.”
“I meant me Alexander.” The three chuckled and kept watching.
“So what’s their deal? Nice car, california license plate, expensive clothes.”
Brandon looked over and caught the three boys staring. Alexander kindly waved him over.
“What?” Brandon walked over.
“We just wanted to introduce ourselves. I’m Alexander. This is Zack and Robbie.”
“Hi…”
“Wait!” Robbie said as Brandon began to walk away.
“What?”
“It’s not like it’ll hurt you to introduce yourself.”
“I’m Brandon. But I won’t be here for long, I’d hate to make friends just to leave them again.” Brandon headed back to his new home as his mother pulled the ‘For Lease’ sign out of the ground.
A knock on the door woke Emma up. “Yes?” She asked opening the door to reveal two cops.
“We’re looking for this woman. We have reason to believe she could be dangerous.” The first cop stated plainly while holding up a picture of Emma’s mother. Emma was shocked but knew better than to show it.
“I’m sorry officer, but I don’t know who that is. I wish I could be of more help.” She went through her normal script wishing so hard for it to be true, wishing so hard to not know her mother and all the police that came with her.
“You’re sure? Who else lives here?”
“No one sir. I live alone. I’m 18,” she lied, “living alone isn’t illegal. Is it?”
“No ma’am. We hope we didn’t disturb you.”
Emma closed the door behind them more pissed off than ever before. She stormed to her mother’s room and was met with another shock. Her mother was gone along with their emergency cash.
‘Finally.’ Emma thought after a few seconds. ‘She’s finally gone.’ She teared up.
Darius opened his door to go out as Roshawn was about to knock on it.
“Oh, hello.”
“Who the hell are you?” Darius demanded. He just wanted some molly and this stranger was standing in his way. Literally.
“Mind if I come in?”
“Actually, I do mind.” Darius closed the door to the trailer and locked Lilly inside. “What do you want?”
“Would you happen to have 420 of, well, of anything?”
“Look around. Do you see any cops? Say what you mean kid.”
Roshawn looked over to Emma’s trailer then back to Darius. “Well, now that you mention it, I do see some cops.”
“Then you better scram.”
“I am speaking to Darius,” His voice dropped down to a whisper, “the local drug dealer, right?”
Darius smiled, proud to be recognized by someone so out of place. “What can I help you with?”
Roshawn took out a rusty old knife and stepped close to Darius pointing the knife at him. “May if I come in?”
Darius’s expression changed immediately as he hesitantly nodded. He took his key out and nervously unlocked the door. Never before had he been threatened right on his doorstep. The two men slipped into the trailer.
Thoughts?
Should Darius of taken Lilly out of the hospital?
What do you think of Lisa?
What do you think of Brandon?
Where did Emma's mother go, and why?
Andrew, trying to be the nice neighbor, began going trailer to trailer and introducing himself. Upon knocking on the 4th trailer, a grunt sounded before the door was slightly opened.
"What?" Thanos demanded.
"I just moved in. The name is Andrew." He smiled and reached out a hand for the young man. Thanks just stared at it before looking back up at Andrew.
"What do you want? A present?" He went to shut the door as Andrew put his foot in the way.
"You seem lonely."
"Congrats captain obvious, you're right." thanks kicks Andrews foot out of the doorway and slammed the door shut. Why couldn't people just leave him alone? They had ignored him all through high school, so why try to be friendly?
The phone in Edward and Elijah's trailer rang. "Hello?" Elijah answered.
"Hey son."
"Dad, I thought you were out on a jog." There's the distinct beeping of a heart monitor in the background. "Are you at the hospital?" Edward sat up, startled by the information.
"Yes, but I'm alright. Don't worry." He always hated when his sons worried about him jogging out in the heat. They always told him he'd collapse from dehydration and end up in the hospital. This phone call certainly did not help.
"What's going on?"
"I just called to tell you boys to start dinner without me. Got called in to go through some paper work and it might take me alright."
"Ok dad. Love you." Tyler listened to the phone line disconnect. As much as his sons deserved to know what was going on, it wasn't his choice to tell them. If Darius wanted to tell the whole park his lack of responsibility nearly got his daughter killed he could go right ahead, but Tyler would not.
"Elijah? Is dad ok?"
"Ya. He's just got some work."
"So the translation is he's out on a date or something."
"Don't be childish. He's at the hospital. I heard the heart monitor."
"Maybe he finally passed out from pushing himself too hard."
"Maybe." Elijah got a pot out and began to boil some water watching Edward out of the corner of his eye as he does so. "You're hiding something."
"What? No I'm not."
"You're my twin Edward. I can tell when you're lying. What is it?"
Edward looked down. "I can't say. Not yet."
"What? You don't trust me or something?"
"No I do, it's just..." Edward couldn't find the words. "I'm..."
"High? Drunk? In love? Suicidal? Gay?" Elijah stopped when he saw his brother nod his head at 'gay'. "So what? You're still my brother. Mind giving me a hand with dinner? I'm starving."
Earlier that day, the last trailer had been sold. For the first time in forever, the park would finally be at full occupancy. The newest occupant arrived early in the morning, around 4am. A young man drove up and stepped out of his car like he was stepping out of the city: baggy pants, oversized hoody, backwards cap. He didn't belong. He grabbed the more important stuff from his car, like the bongs and pots he used for weed, and hurried into his new home. He can still hear his friend's voice in his head from before he left New York: 'Take them by storm. They'll never know what hit them before it's too late.' Roshawn planned to do exactly that.
Thoughts?
What has Thanos hiding?
Will Elijah tell before Edward does?
Who exactly is Roshawn?
Darius was busy distributing his new strand of cocaine to his buyers in exchange for a couple of bucks when his cell rang. He merely dismissed the call and each one after it. Once he got the last pit of cocaine sold and was sitting comfortably in his car smoking a joint of weed one guy gave to him, he went through his voicemails. One in particular made him on edge.
“It’s Jake. Lilly’s in the hospital. Come by if you want.” Darius’s mind went racing. Had she finally decided to taste one of his many drugs even with his numerous warnings not to? This could be the end of him, of his drug dealing job, of seeing Lilly.
Throwing the joint out the window, Darius sped off towards the hospital.
Emma sat in her room, trying to get the rest of the polish out of her prized possession purple nail polish and onto her toes. She still had 6 to go but not nearly enough polish. Hopefully tomorrow she’d have enough money left over to splurge on a new bottle. Her old flip phone buzzed next to her on her bed.
“Hello?”
“It’s Jake, Lilly’s in the hospital.”
Emma dropped her nail polish bottle and brush and sat straight up. “What?? Is she okay?”
“The doctor’s say she should be.” ‘Should be,’ Emma thought, ‘not will be.’
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Come visit. Darius wasn’t picking up his phone so I don’t think he’ll be coming by any time soon.”
“You have no idea how badly I want to Jake. But you know I don’t have a car or the money to take a cab. Tell Lilly I send my love.”
“Alright.” They both hung up. Emma had always felt bad for neighbor Lilly; probably because she could see herself in the young girl. They both had one parent messed up with drugs. Both were from teen pregnancies. Both have lived in a trailer park for most of their lives. Emma just wanted a better life for Lilly, if that wasn’t so much to ask for.
An unfamiliar car pulled up into the trailer park. It was a beat up SUV filled with boxes. Zach watched from his room as an all too familiar man stepped out and began to unpack the car. Andrew, his all time favorite YouTuber. Zach couldn’t contain his excitement as he ran out of his trailer and over to that of his new neighbor’s.
“Andrew? The Andrew Hutham??”
Andrew sighed. “Yes, that’s me. Do you want an autograph?”
“Yes!” Zach felt like a little kid, but he didn’t care. His role model was standing right in front of him. “And can I ask you for some advice?” Andrew nodded. “How do I make my YouTube channel famous like yours?”
“Famous?” He chuckled. “I only have a couple thousand views. I’m no where near famous kid.”
“Then how do you get to thousands of views? I can’t seem to break 400.”
Andrew smiled. There was something about this kid that he liked, something he admired. He plopped an arm around his shoulders. “Come inside. I’ll help you.” With a friendly smile, Andrew led Zach into his new trailer.
An hour later, Zach emerged from the trailer smiling ear to ear.
“So?” Robbie asked as Zach approached him and Alexander. “How’d it go?”
“I’ll show you.” The three boys piled into Zach’s tiny bedroom and shoved for a good view of the computer screen. Zach brought up a video on Andrew’s channel titled ‘My New Neighbor’. The 5 minute video played with a link to Zach’s YouTube’s page in the description.
“No way!” Robbie couldn’t believe it. The video was just uploaded and already had 200 views. Normally it takes Zach a week to reach that.
“This is my break guys.” Zach noted confidently. “This is my big break.”
Thoughts?
Does Darius care more about Lilly or drugs?
Has Zach's big break finally come?
Alexander sat outside on his porch strumming his old guitar and quietly singing ‘Firework’. His hands and mouth were on autopilot as his mind was elsewhere. Whenever he played his guitar, he thought about what life could be like away from the trailer park. Like most of the young residents of the trailer park, he was born there and believed he would die there as well. But, unlike most of the young residents of the trailer park, he did not worry about this. All he worried about was figuring out the notes to the newest songs.
“Hey!” A voice shouted at him. Thanos’s voice. “Cut that crap out before I cut your guitar strings!” Thanos was a bitter young man and communicated through only his window.
Robbie walked out of Zach’s trailer and over to Alexander. “Ignore him. You were doing good.” He commented. “He’s just bitter because he can’t find anyone to love him!” Robbie directed towards Thanos who then slammed his window shut.
“He is mysterious.” Alexander replied as a new red Jaguar rolled into the park. From the car, Tyler, Edward, and Elijah Mott stepped out in their hospital uniforms.and quickly made their way into their trailer.
“And so are they.”
“I’m just going to get changed then go for a run. Either of you want to join me?” Tyler asked his two twin sons.
“You know the answer dad.” Elijah, the older twin, responded. “No.”
“Ok, suit yourself.” Tyler walked off to his bedroom.
Edward opened the window a bit to let some of the warm desert air in. Outside, Alexander had begun to sing ‘Firework’ again. Edward sighed as the chorus was sung. ‘Maybe it’s time to tell dad, time to finally tell him who I really am...’ Tyler walked back out into the room and towards the door. ‘Now’s my chance.’ “Dad wait!”
“What is it son? Change your mind?”
“No, but-”
Tyler had redirected his attention to the two boys outside. “Look at that. Two young boys showing off their gayness.” He scoffed. “What were you saying Edward?”
Edward became nervous. He could feel his heart race and his palms sweat. Maybe this wasn’t the right time. Maybe the right time would never come. “Never mind… I forgot.” With that, Tyler walked out.
“You’re weird, you know that?” Elijah chuckled. Edward tried to dismiss his brother and went to his room.
“Lilly??” Jake picked Lilly up in his arms and tried to shake her awake. “Lilly please!!” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Tyler Mott, a neurosurgeon, jog by. Jake grabbed a blanket off the old sofa, wrapped it around Lilly, and ran out after him. “Mr. Mott! Mr. Mott!”
Tyler stopped and turned to Jake, quickly noticing Lilly. “Is it safe for her to be wrapped in such a warm blanket in this heat?”
“She’s unconscious!” Jake spoke fast. “I don’t know what happened. I walked in and she was just lying there. She won’t wake up!”
Tyler slipped a hand under Lilly’s head and felt around. When he pulled his hand out from hiding in Lilly’s hair, it was marked in blood. “Get her in my car now!” The two hurried over to the jaguar.
“Where are we going?”
“The hospital. I think she must have fallen and hit her head pretty badly.”
The red jaguar sped off leaving a puff of desert sand behind.
“What’s up with them?” Robbie asked Alexander.
“I don’t know, but I hope everything’s alright…”
Thoughts?
Will Edward ever tell his dad?
What will happen to Lilly?
Robbie sat in Zach's room scrolling through his numerous YouTube videos. "I've just got to make it big and I'm golden" Zach commented. He had been working in his YouTube channel for weeks but was only receiving hundreds of viewers instead of the thousands he had hoped for. "This guy," He said grabbing the mouse from Robbie, "He's my inspiration. I want to be just like him." Zach brought up the YouTube channel of Andrew.
"He's awesome, but it's hard to become that famous you know." Robbie replied as he watched a video.
"Well I have to make it at some point. Can't just live here my whole life." There was a pause between them as the video ended.
"Why don't you pair up with that Andrew kid. Maybe have him do a guest appearance?"
"Eh, I don't know." Zach went back to his own YouTube page.
"Cmon, he is good." Another pause occurs between them before Robbie continues. "You're jealous of him."
"What??"
"You are. You're always watching the way the girls at school follow him around." Zach thinks for a moment, trying to figure out how he should respond.
"Daddy daddy!" Lilly exclaims happily as she runs into the trailer with a drawing in her hand. "Look what I drew!" She held her drawing of the two of them up proudly for him to see.
"That's great Lilly." Darius said without even a turn of his head. He was too busy making a line of crack.
Lilly sat next to him. "Ooh! Sugar, yum!! I want some."
"No Lilly, this is adult sugar." He grabs a straw and quickly snorts the line exhaling in relief and contempt as he thinks to himself how good this new product is. Lilly merely giggles.
"That's a funny way to eat sugar!" Darius stands.
"Be a good girl. Jake will be over shortly to watch you. I love you." He kisses her forehead as he walks out.
Emma wipes down the last table of her shift and begins to untie her apron when an older lady bursts in and runs right for Emma. "They're coming Emma! They're coming to get me!"
"Mother, stop. No one is coming to get you. This is why you need to stop doing crack."
"Stop?" Her mother laughs. "It's my best friend! If you hate my friend so much then why not just move out??" Emma thought to herself. 'I could make it out there on my own, away from her...' She finally replies.
"If I leave who would take care of you?"
"I would!" Emma rolls her eyes. Although she hated seeing her mother so addicted to crack, it hurt her even more to think of leaving her to suffer alone.
"Dad would not have approved of this..." Emma mutters soft enough for her mother to not hear it. "C'mon, lets go home." Emma walked her mother out of the small diner and down the street. She thought about that word, 'home'. Could a trailer really be home? In her trailer park , they were all the same. 2 bedrooms, one tiny bath and combined living room and kitchen. 8 out of the 10 trailer spots were occupied, and that's how she liked it. Big and small.
Jake walks across the way from his trailer over to Darius' wondering if Darius was still there or had already left. Either way, Jake's number one concern was little Lilly. Secretly, Jake hated Darius and would take Lilly from him in a heartbeat. And he would, if he wasn't only 16 years old. Jake pushed open the door to the Lakewan's trailer and saw Lilly lying there. Unconscious.
