Different: Part5

Getting out of the house was amazing. It felt so good.
After Rachel realised that Marty had selective mutism she acted different around us all. Really different. It was days before she even left her room. We all heard sobbing at night.

So it was up to me, being the eldest, to help the others and become their carer.

My first decree as carer was to take them out. Take them into town. On the day we were going out, Rachel decided to grace us with her presence.
"What are you doing?" She asked, wide-eyed, as I helped Tilly into her coat.
"Carly's taking us out" Dot grinned widely, with a drawing pad under her arm.
"We could all do with some fresh air. Dot needs make up and pencils, Tilly needs some clothes, Crag needs shoes and Marty needs a haircut. We all need something and I know you do too. Either you come with us or not. I don't care either way" I replied flatly as I zipped Crag's jacket up, ignoring his protests.
Despite not wanting his jacket done up, Crag was smiling and it was huge. It was nice to see, he didn't seem like a smiler, and because he was smiling, Tilly was too.
Rachel noticed it too because she piped with a, "Yeah, sure, why not? Give me a second to get some stuff and then I'll get the van. Have you all eaten?"
I nodded then she ran off to her room.
"Dot, do you have pens?" I smiled at her.
"Of course I do, Carly" She said patting her pocket.
"How many?"
"One" She grinned.
"What if it breaks?" I asked then her face went hazy, where she was thinking it over, and she ran off upstairs.
Before I realised, the others had gone and it was just me and Marty in the hall. He was smiling at me, he seemed so happy. Bubbling with joy. He bent down before me, kneeling so we were face to face.
"Thank you" He grinned.
I smiled back then shrugged. "We all need to get out now and again."

Getting the others in the minivan was easy. Getting me in the car? Not so much. Marty ended up carrying me while Rachel put my wheelchair in the back. He sat me in the front next to him and held my hand the whole journey. It didn't take long to get there, about 20 minutes, but the journey was calm. There was no arguments about who's sitting where and what radio station is going to be on. It was nice.

"Carly is going to go with Dot and Tilly and I'll take Marty and Crag." Rachel said as she parked.
That didn't go down too well. They all wanted to go with me. I preferred it like that. We were together so we saw everything together.
I ended up with Dot beside me, Tilly on my lap and Marty pushing me. Crag was on the other side, holding Rachel's hand. I could tell he was scared.
There was more people than I hoped. Dot was freaking out a bit and there wasn't a way for me to comfort her.
"Dot, we can go if you want? Come another day" I said as she shuffled closer.
She huffed, frowning, then shook her head. "We're already here, aren't we?"
I nodded then pointed to a shop. To say that she got excited would be an understatement. She ran, yes ran, through a group of people. Touching people like she wasn't terrified. She was a woman on a mission and it was nice to see.
We followed quickly behind her. Marty decided to run. Tilly giggled all the way to the shop but I held her tight. I was too scared that she would fall but she seemed happy. They all did and that made me happy.