A family moved in next door today. They had two boys, from what I could see through my curtains. I asked Dada if I could go outside to meet the boys but he said no. "You're unique, kiddo." He said. "People are going to hurt you because of that."

I pouted but nodded. I suppose I didn't want to meet the new kids that much.

After that, Dada taught me my two times tables and when I asked him if I could go and play in the garden, he said I could.

I told Dada a lie, however. I didn't go and play in the garden. I went into the garden to look through the fence and spy on next door. Hopefully, someone will come outside soon.

I spent a long time with my eye against a small hole in the fence until two boys came out. They looked almost identical but there were some small differences. The first one had wavier, lighter hair and his eyes sparkled more. They were also a lighter green. The other boy had darker brown hair and his eyes were a flat, dark green. They had little wooden swords and were sword fighting.

"Release the princess, foul dragon!" The first one yelled. The other boy giggled and jabbed at his brother with the sword.

"Never, Roman!" He declared. 'Roman' laughed and jabbed his brother in the chest. "Hey, no fair!" His brother whined. Roman laughed.

"All's fair in pancakes and war!" He yelled before tackling his brother in a hug. "I love you Remus." He said, picking his brother up by the shoulders and twirling him around.

"Roman, put me down!" 'Remus' shrieked, grinning. Roman put him down but then their dad called him inside.

Once Roman had gone, Remus practiced some new sword movements. His hair kept falling in his face and he had to keep blowing it out of the way. It looked so funny that I couldn't help giggling.

"Who's there?" He asked, looking over in my direction. I pressed by back up against the fence, keeping my head down and pulling my hair over the left side of my face. "Hello?" He asked again, walking closer to the fence.

I held my breath, I didn't want to get in trouble for talking to someone. Just then, someone called Remus inside the house. "Coming dad!" He yelled as he ran off.

"Hey Dada?"

"Yeah kiddo? What's up?"

"Why can't I go and meet the people next door. They seem nice."

Dada's face darkened. "Were you watching them, Janus?" He asked and I knew I'd slipped up.

"No, no, I wasn't. They were just outside at the same time that I was."

"There's no point lying to me, Janus. It won't do you any good."

I started crying. Dada scared me. "I'm sorry Dada. I won't do it again! I promise! Please don't hurt me!" I begged.

Dada took a deep breath. "Very well. Now, I'm going to meet the neighbours and I want you to stay in your bedroom the whole time, understood? If I catch wind of you having moved out of your bedroom, there will be serious trouble, mister. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Dada." I sobbed, running to my bedroom and locking my door.

***

"Hello! Who are you?"

I looked up, panic stricken. The little boy from next door was leaning against the fence, talking to me. I shook my head at him. "I can't talk to you! I'm not allowed!" I said hurriedly, pulling my hair over the left side of my face.

"Why?"

I shook my head again and ran inside.

The next day, I found a little note taped to the fence. Written in a green crayon, it said "My name is Remus. Sorry if I scared you. What are you called?" I smiled. I guess I could write to him. I ran inside and grabbed a blue crayon. On the other side of the paper, I wrote. "My name is Janus. I am not allowed to talk to you because Dada says. I think he would be fine with us writing to each other, though." Then, I folded that up and threw it over the fence. Was I lying? Yes, I was. Dada didn't want me to talk to anyone because he said that they would make fun of me.

***

"Hello!"

I looked up. It was one of the boys from next door. "I got your letter." He said, smiling. "I'm Remus, if you haven't guessed."

I smiled at him but went back to running my little car over the grass.

"Did you know that a shrimp has its heart in its head?" Remus suddenly told me.

"Oh, cool." I muttered, not really interested.

"Oh, sorry. That was meant to stay in my head. I've got this thing where whatever I think comes out of my mouth." Remus said apologetically. I pulled my hair over the left side of my face a little more.

"I should go now. I'm not really supposed to talk to you." I muttered, standing up and running inside.

That night, I couldn't fall asleep for some reason. I kept thinking about Remus. I guess it makes sense. He's the only boy my age who's ever talked to me ever and I guess I associate him with danger seeing as I'm not allowed to talk to anyone. I don't understand why Dada won't let me go outside. I can pull my hair over the left side of my face any time and kids my age seem nice. Or at least, Remus does. I frown as I brush my hand over the left side of my face in the dark. It's uneven, lumpy and feels too warm for my liking. When Remus sees what I look like, he's probably going to hate me. But maybe he won't. He seems nice if a little odd and annoying. I fall asleep with a smile on my face, thinking about the way Remus' flat eyes sparkled when he started talking to me.