“Why are they cruel to me?”

Chapter Two
Kira and Symphonies

Rain rhythmically pit-pats on the kitchen window. A girl of about thirteen years old sits on the window seat in the dining room and stares at it. To most people, Kira Stacy Benson would look depressed. Who stares blankly at a window on a rainy day?

Kira does.

She is creating a symphony in her head. Kira can't hear a sound without making it music.

"Kira, get your face away from that window and eat!" Kira's mother, Cynthia, says good naturedly. Cynthia shoves a plate into Kira's hands and says, "Eat."

Kira sighs exaggeratedly. Cynthia smiles at her then walks away.

She stuffs her mouth with Pringles and lunchmeat. "Done!" she cries (though the cry is muffled due to her full mouth). She hears a laugh from the other room, then the sound of footsteps down the hall.
“Finally, you come out of that God-danged room of yours,” Cynthia’s voice fusses.
There is a deep chuckle, then the other voice says “Alright, sorry, Mom. Can I have lunch now?”
“Is that all you think about, Angelo?” Cynthia asks, traveling to the kitchen.
“No…..Well…..Yeah, but I’m hungry!” Angelo says, sitting next to Kira on the window seat.
“Gosh, Angelo. I thought you’d never come out,” Kira teases, bumping her brother.
Angelo rolls his eyes and ruffles Kira’s hair.
“Quit!” Kira giggles, trying in vain to push his hands away.
“Lunch, hermit,” Cynthia says, handing her son the plate and going back to the computer room.
“What are you doing in there anyway, Mom?” Kira asks as she follows Cynthia to the computer.
“Oh, just another boring old newspaper article,” Cynthia says, sitting down on the computer chair.
“Oh, what about?” Kira asks, pulling up a chair.
“Here, come and read what I have so far.”

On December 12th, 1987, “The Cat Burglar” of Jenkins Town, Texas, was brought to justice. It was said that The Cat Burglar, Manny Ramirez, had robbed over 250 houses. On April 15th, 1990, Ramirez was released and robbed around 100 more before he was brought back to jail. This month, January 16th, 2005, Ramirez is being released again, in hopes that no families will have to fear their valuables being stolen.
Ramirez seemed to mainly target jewelry, such as wedding rings, that included diamonds.
Still, many families are paralyzed in fear. I interviewed Robert and Georgia along with their two sons, Joel and Andrew Martin about Ramirez’s release.

“I like it, Mom. Good job,” Kira said.
“Eh. I wish I could write about what I want to write about. And I want to write a novel. But I can’t, I’m too busy with journalism and newspapers,” Cynthia says.
“I’m sorry. You know, you should quit the paper.”
“Quit the paper?” Cynthia seems shocked at the idea. “Quit the paper,” she mumbles.
“Mom?” Kira asks.
“What, sweetie?”
“Go quit the paper.”
Cynthia smiles. “I think I will, Kira. I’ll see you in a while. No parties while I’m gone,” she says. She gives Kira a kiss on the cheek, grabs her purse and walks out the door. “See you later, guys!”
“Bye, Mom,” Kira calls after her.
Kira smiles to herself. She just did a good thing.