[h1][color=662d91][b]Malik Tobias Wright[/b][/color][/h1][hr]

"[color=f49ac2][b]--and you know how I said Mrs. Rossi let us have a class party, well Elizabeth ended up bringing cupcakes and cookies for everyone, and this other boy in my class named Jonathan ate [i]all[/I] of them! Mrs. Rossi was so mad at him and--and before she could yell at him he ended [i]puking[/I] all over her dress![/b][/color]" 

From the house to the trolley station, and the many miles that separated Priscilla and Rosalina isle, Kiara had been talking nonstop. Stuttering over her sentences, and gasping for air in between words, his niece was talking faster then she could think. She talked about her friends, her school, her teachers, and finally her last day of third grade. Which happened to be a week ago. All of this was not news to Malik, however. He had been told this story at least four times in the past week, and by now he could comfortably repeat the story word for word. It didn't even matter that they were at the summer festival, or the fact that they were currently eating lunch, Kiara just kept going, "[color=f49ac2][b]So Mrs. Rossi started screaming and then Elizabeth started to puke and this other girl in my class named Terra started to pu--[i]Oooh[/i].~[/b][/color]" 

Lowering a two scoop cone of mint chocolate chip ice cream before his niece, Malik forced back a sigh of relief once Kiara stopped talking. He loved his niece more then anything in the world, but right now, Malik just needed a few minutes of to focus on his own thoughts. Handing five dollars to the vendor, Malik patted the truck in thanks before leading his niece to an empty bench beside the food truck. "[color=662d91][b]There, you like that?[/b][/color]" He asked, giving his tea can a shake before cracking it open. Without a word, his niece nodded in reply as she merrily ate her ice cream, humming happily with each bite.

Kiara had been talking about the Festival since it was announced last month on TV. It was supposed to be a family trip but with his grandparents arthritis acting up, and Imani's never ending busy schedule, it was just the two if them. Malik didn't mind really, considering he hung out with his niece quite a bit. But what he did mind was having to take money from his grandparents. He didn't have a job yet, and with no source of income Malik was broke. It had taken quite a bit of coaxing from his grandad, and a hard shove from Kiara for him to finally accept the money, but at the end of it all it made him feel pathetic. When he was working for Moses he had so much money. So much that he didn't even know what do with, but now he didn't even have a penny to his name. 

His grandparents were at that age where he believed they should be enjoying their final years, and using their retirement to go through their bucket list. Instead, they were still raising kids, and spending their money on other things besides themselves. It made him feel like shit every time he had to ask for a buck, so now that he was in the heart of downtown, Malik was determined to get a few job applications before they headed home. Besides, his grandparents weren't going to be around forever, and Kiara was going to need someone to take care of her.

"[color=f49ac2][b]Is Imani still going to meet us?[/b][/color]" 

Pulled from his thoughts suddenly, Malik threw an uncertain glance at his niece before taking out his phone "[color=662d91][b]I.. think so.[/b][/color]" Flipping through his text messages, his thumb tapped on his sister's name before lazily tapping out his message: '[color=662d91][[/color][b]Hey, you still meeting us at the Festival?[/b][color=662d91]][/color]' 

His younger sister Imani was almost always busy with school. If it wasn't classes, it was training, and if it wasn't that then she was doing some sort of extra curricular activity to keep her busy. She was a smart girl, but Imani's dedication to the academy often left her little time to be with family. She had told Kiara the night before that she would try to make the Festival, but her promises were always hit or miss and Malik knew better than to take his sisters word for it. Still, that didn't mean he wouldn't to get a hold of her for Kiara's sake.

Sending the text, he tucked his phone into his pocket before standing up from the bench, "[color=662d91][b]Come on, K. Let's go play some games, and try to win some prizes.[/b][/color]" Even in a [url= https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/15/17/e8/1517e85819868bc5c79d33e09a8e6253.jpg]tank top and shorts[/url] the heat was beginning to get to him. "[color=662d91][b]Can you eat and walk at the same time, or is that ice cream gonna' give you trouble.[/b][/color]" He asked, holding out his hand for his niece to take. "[color=f49ac2][b]No, I got it.[/b][/color]" She said, furiously licking her cone. Unfortunately ice cream was already melting down her hand, while small splotches of mint ice cream dotted her [url=http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/32299167901_3/2015-summer-kids-clothes-floral-bow-100-cotton-child-party-princess-tank-girl-dress-sundress-size.jpg]floral patterned sundress[/url]. Malik was prepared however. Left pocket filled with napkins, he cleaned off Kiara's hands, face, and dress before taking her hand and being tugged behind her.