Mr. Raemon

Isabella Winston laughed as she ran from her twin sister, Annie. They ran through the halls of the small apartment building, taking the corners quickly. They lived in a small, two-room apartment with their mother and her boyfriend. In their minds, their mother's boyfriend was, in fact, their father, as their father had vanished from their lives nine months before their birth. Ten years later, her boyfriend was all they could remember and all they had ever known.

Isabella could see the light streaming through the open door of the building. A grin spread across her face as she triggered a final burst of energy to speed her through the door. She ran through the door and turned hard to the right, skidding slightly and careening into a tall man. He stumbled backwards a little bit, accepting the blow to his lower body. Isabella jumped back and looked over at the man skeptically.

He wasn't a very tall man, but anyone of average height seems tall to a ten-year-old. He had a fairly large, hooked nose and his brown hair was cut neatly along his head, though the curls in it made it stand up slightly. He was dressed in a brown suit with a mint colored tie. A brown briefcase sat on the ground beside him, having been dropped due to the surprise caused by a small figure running into him at full speed. He seemed slightly distracted, straightening his suit. He stopped almost abruptly, as though suddenly realizing that there was a pair of large, green eyes watching him. He smiled. He had a lovely smile. "What's your name?"

Her skeptical look did not alter or flicker even slightly. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she mumbled, wondering suddenly why Annie had not yet run out of the building.

"I'm Juan Raemon. It's a pleasure to meet you. I take it you live here as well?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she said slightly louder.

Mr. Raemon laughed slightly, "Alright. Maybe I'll see you around the building." He gave her a slight nod, picked up his briefcase and walked into the building.

Isabella stared blankly forward, barely hearing her sister's voice ask her who the strange man was.