Therefore, she called a cab and took off. She told Shay to stay put and not open the door to strangers. 

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 In Carmen’s apartment: 

 It was already late evening and Carmen was preparing for her DJing tonight at the Planet. This was her night job. She loved DJing and she was ofcourse really good at it. She loved her work and people loved her. Tonight was special though, because, Def Jams are going to be there. SO it was Carmen’s big night. 

 But in the back of her head something was bothering her….she couldn’t figure out what it was. Then it strike her head. Even though she thought that her neighbor whose name she doesn’t know yet….was horrible at parenting, she nevertheless couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Carmen couldn’t get over the helpless face of Shane, when she heard that her sister took off. 

 Carmen was sure, that taking responsibility for kids is something that Shane was not used to….she wondered what might have led her to take up this responsibility. ‘Maybe their parents died’ Thought Carmen. ‘They didn’t act like siblings….may be she’s their step sister or something’. She hoped that Shane already found her sister. 

 ’She probably doesn’t even know where to look, was I too harsh on her?’ Carmen thinks back to their encounter earlier in the day. Then she decides to check on her neighbor, in case, if she could be of any help. 

 When she knocks on her neighbor’s apartment, she is met by little Shay who didn’t open the door completely. 

 "Hello" Shay says in his tiny voice. "Are you a stranger?" 

 Carmen smiles at Shay…."No I am not a stranger. I am sure your sister told you not to open the door for Strangers. I live right next door" 

 "But I don’t know your name" Shay replies. 

 "Well my name is Carmen. "

"I am Shay" and then he opened the door and let Carmen in. Carmen noticed that they haven’t unpacked yet, so there were packing boxes everywhere.

"I just wanted to know if your sister is here?" 

 "No! Shane went to find Sharon" shay said quietly. 

 "She’s still out there…." ‘Shane! that’s her name….why does she have a guy’s name…although it was a nice ring to it, and perfectly suits her’ Carmen trailed off in her own thought. ‘I hope she’s looking in the right places….speaking of which….Shay might know exactly where his sister is…..’ From previous experience with her siblings and niece and nephews…Carmen knew that kids have a tendency to know stuff that no one expects them to know. 

 "Shay! do you know where your sister is?" 

 Shay nodded and looked down…..at his shoes…squirming. ‘He’s just like his big sister’ as Carmen remembered how Shane acted in the morning…when she apologized to Carmen. There was something about Shane that Carmen couldn’t totally dislike….and it left Carmen bothered and irritated….therefore, some of her words came out harsher than she wanted it to….in the morning. 

 "where is she?" Carmen asked politely…knowing that pushing him might led him to back off. 

 "She went to a new Planet" he said in a small voice. He knew it was somehow wrong that he didn’t tell Shane…’but Shane never asked’ he reasoned in his head. 

 ’a new…planet…?’ then it hit Carmen…ofcourse, The Planet….it was a new booming club and a teenagers dream. 

 "Sharon told me not to tell Shane! please don’t tell Shane." Shay pleaded. And was met with a beaming Carmen. 

 "I have to tell Shane….otherwise she would not find Sharon…..but I won’t tell her that you told me. How about that?" 

 "Promise?" Shay asked. 

 "Pinky promise!" as Carmen smiled at Shay, who felt relieved. He hugged Carmen. Carmen was taken aback by this sudden show of affection from this reserved kid…but hugged him back tenderly.

 "Here Shay, why don’t you tell your sister to call me…when she comes back." with that she handed Shay her business card. 

 "OK" 

 "And stay safe! don’t open the door until its me or Shane" 

 "OK" 

 "Bye Shay" 

 "Bye Carmen" 

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