The Middle Class

As they walked through the small, bustling street, Star clung tightly to both Lanet's and Beau's hands. His steps faltered as he glanced up at Lanet with curious eyes.

"Mr. Hines?" Star tugged at Lanet's arm gently.

"Yes, Star?" Lanet replied, glancing down at the boy with a warm smile.

"Do you think there's a school in the city that could take someone like me?" Star asked.

Lanet was confused for a moment. "Someone like you?" he repeated, his brows pinched together. "What do you mean, Star?"

Star hesitated, his little fingers gripping Lanet's hand tighter. "Well... our school got demolished, and Uncle Beau was—"

"Star!" Beau's voice suddenly sliced through the moment.

Star flinched, startled by his uncle's tone. Beau immediately dropped to one knee, bringing himself to Star's height. His hands cradled the boy's face gently, though his expression was firm.

"Star," Beau said again, his voice lower now, though Lanet could still sense the tension in it. He stared into the boy's wide eyes.

Beau crouched down to Star's height, placing a steadying hand on the boy's shoulder. "Look, I told you we'd find a good school, okay?" His voice was softer this time, though the strain behind it was unmistakable. Even with the smile he forced onto his face, the faint shimmer of tears in his eyes betrayed him.

Star fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, looking down as his voice quivered. "I'm sorry... I thought Mr. Hines might help me since he stays in the city."

The boy's face crumpled slightly, his lips trembling as he blinked rapidly to hold back tears. Beau's reaction must have startled him.

"Hey, hey," Beau said quickly, pulling Star into a firm hug. "Look, you'll find a school, okay? I promise. You don't have to worry about that." His tone softened further as he gently rubbed Star's back, his words carrying the weight of a vow he refused to break.

Star sniffled and buried his face in Beau's shoulder. "Okay," he murmured, his voice small but calmer now.

The silence that followed felt heavier than the warm morning air as they continued walking toward the park. Beau kept his gaze firmly ahead, avoiding Lanet's searching eyes. Every so often, he blinked quickly, as though fighting off the tears threatening to spill over.

Lanet said nothing, though his mind raced. He didn't know the full story, but it was clear something here ran deep—far deeper than he'd realized. He resolved to bring it up later, once Beau was ready to talk.

They walked a few blocks in near silence before arriving at the park. Lanet blinked, surveying the area. The playground looked run-down, its rusted swings and peeling paint a far cry from the vibrant parks he was used to in the city. Compared to the activity he'd seen yesterday when he first drove through, it now felt eerily empty.

"Alright, buddy. What do you think?" Beau asked as he squatted down again to Star's level.

Star placed his hands on his hips, his little face scrunching up in concentration as he studied the area like a young architect surveying a project. "We could put the two swings over there by the..."—his voice was abruptly drowned out by the rumble of heavy trucks passing by, their engines roaring too loudly through the otherwise quiet street.

"Hey, you there! Can't you read? This is private property," a sharp voice cut through the air.

The three of them turned to see a well-dressed man striding toward them, his polished shoes crunching against the gravel. He carried a signboard under one arm, the bold letters on it barely visible from a distance.

Lanet narrowed his eyes to study the man. He knew this man from somewhere, but where?

"Excuse me?" Beau said, rising from his crouched position to stand between the man and Star.

"This is a public place!" Star protested, his small voice sounding like he was about to cry.

The man sneered, his lips curling in disdain as his gaze shifted to Star. "You'd know it's no longer open to the public if you could read," he spat. His eyes narrowed into slits, the hatred in them was so visible and the man didn't even try to hide it.

Lanet clenched his fists at his sides, his instincts kicking in. There was something about the way the man looked at them—at Beau, at Star—that ignited a protective flame inside him. 

"And who exactly are you to decide that?" Beau challenged, he looked like he was about ready to put the man's lights out. His shoulders squared as he took a step forward, shielding Star behind him.

The man huffed, clearly unimpressed by Beau's stance. "The name's William Porter, not that it should matter to you. I represent the company that now owns this property." He slapped the board he was holding down on a nearby bench, revealing bold red letters: PRIVATE PROPERTY – NO TRESPASSING.

Lanet watched the exchange with a growing sense of irritation. The man could have asked them to leave like a decent human being, but no—he had to be rude about it.

"I am very educated and literate," Star finally retorted, quickly wiping his silent tears and puffing out his chest with as much bravado as a small boy could put on. Lanet couldn't help but smirk at the remark—it was exactly the kind of thing Beau would say. Star had clearly learned it from his uncle.

William's face twisted with frustration as he angrily jabbed a finger toward a board. Lanet's eyes followed the motion, and that's when it hit him. The smug face on the company logo jogged his memory, and he finally placed where he knew this man from.

Lanet glanced at Beau, whose expression had darkened. His eyes burned with such intensity that Lanet wouldn't have been surprised if William spontaneously combusted on the spot. The hatred Beau held for the Elite, he could see it in those burning eyes, and in this moment, Lanet completely understood why. Of all the places they could have claimed, they had to target the only recreational space this community had left.

"We're very sorry, sir. We were just leaving," Lanet said smoothly, grabbing Star's hand while looping his arm through Beau's. He gave Beau a slight tug, urging him to move before things escalated further.

As they passed William, Beau slammed his shoulder into the man, sending him stumbling back with a startled grunt. Lanet caught the venomous mutter that spilled from William's lips but chose not to react. It wasn't worth the trouble.

"Now we have no place to play," Star huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as they continued down the street. His little face was scrunched in anger, and it broke Lanet to see that the boy's enthusiasm had been snuffed out.

"I'm sorry, Star," Beau said quietly.

Lanet turned his gaze to Beau and froze. Beau's face was unreadable, but his eyes said a thousand words. There was a hollowness there—a deep, crushing emptiness. It wasn't hard to see why. He had tried so hard to bring some light to this place, to give Star and the community something to hold on to, yet every effort seemed to be met with another roadblock.