youngerdrgrey:

reminder: Nova was nine when Rah was born, basically ten years older than her baby brother, while Charley was seven. // summers used to be different when they were little.

inspired by Charley and Rah getting along for once and the fact that they were def on the same side as kids for a bit

the thing about being seven years older than the baby of the family is that Charley always wound up babysitting. Nova could sneak off, claim that she had a job now since she was fifteen. All the grown folk had jobs too, so that left Charley. and it was either babysit Ralph Angel, or follow Aunt Vi to church and the High Yellow.

most days, all Rah wanted to do was be on the farm like Daddy. He tugged down a hat too big for his five-year-old head and slipped into his worn in boots. 

“Come on, Charley,” he said, like he was the one in charge.

She followed, instinctively reaching to tuck her hair behind her ears. She caught air, though, since this summer she’d convinced Aunt Vi that she wanted braids like Nova’s. Cornrows that frizzed up, no matter how she tried to take care of them.

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