The story I'll never finish probably

Part Only

    My name is 013, but most people call me Farah. (It's pronounced Far-uh) I swear I'm not a robot or an alien. I am human. I am a very mature 13 year old. Along with my best friend 141 or Maya, we take care of four children. We are in this "program", if you can call it that, where the older girls take care of the younger ones.
Usually sisters are matched with sisters, but Maya and I don't have siblings. So we had to take a survey and match up with the younger kids who needed us. The survey was very accurate, I love living with my two girls Nevaeh and Natalie. They almost never fight, they're polite and they love me! Maya loves her kids too, Laila and Lily. Everyone in our house barely fight. Some other peoples' matches can't even sleep without a problem.
I am so grateful for my girls. Nevaeh is the more creative type while Natalie is a sport lover. I protect them with my life. I walk them to school, I feed them, anything for them. Technically, you can only care for kids if you're 18 or older. Maya and I were so responsible, we could take care of even six kids each!
We live in a condo basically. The security is high where we live, there has been break ins before. In order to enter, you must scan your eyes, fingerprints, and your electronic key. It all scans these thing very quickly though. You just put your hands up, and stare. When you walk in, you see white, flat walls with dark hardwood floors. Across the room in the right corner, there is a flat screen TV. In the middle of the left wall there are two twin beds. One's mine, the other is Maya's. Along the right wall is our kitchen, completed with a stove, refrigerator, table, chairs and cabinets. There is a hallway that veers to the left. Down that hall is the girls's rooms and the bathroom. Yes, six people and one bathroom. It's actually quite manageable.
Our household is a busy bunch. Our schedule stays the same everyday, except those special days. Special days is when only the older girls attend a meeting that says how to watch the girls better. I think special days are useless and I can take care of Nevaeh and Natalie on my own.    
Besides special days, our week goes like this:

Monday: I wake up Maya and we start breakfast. Nevaeh wakes up first so I scramble eggs and start up some toast. Maya works on Lily's pancakes with whip cream. Nevaeh gets up, eats and gets dressed. I start Natalie's yogurt parfait. Lily is up, eats and showers. Natalie is up along with Laila. I serve Natalie her parfait and help Maya with Laila's complicated cereal, then milk, then apple juice. Natalie and Laila eat, brush hair and brush teeth. Then the girls rotate stations. Nevaeh takes her showers at night so she brushes her hair and teeth. Lily gets dressed while Natalie and Laila take turns showering. We rotate again so that everyone is ready. Maya and I make lunches and get dressed. Once everyone is clean, full and clothed, we put on shoes and backpacks. We double check there isn't any left out 4th grade homework, and head out. I lock the doors and make sure I have my key.
We walk to school along a dirt path. It never snows here so we all wear sneakers. We deliver each girl to their classrooms. Natalie has Ms. Reddy, Lily has Ms. Kinton, Laila has Ms. Felt and Nevaeh has Ms. Easton. Maya and I wave goodbye to each girl. Before we leave, I see all the other older girls just drop their girls off. None of them even walk inside.
We leave the school campus and I head to the "program" grocery store. I work and buy our food there. I only work there for money and discounts. The "program" gives us a card to afford food because we are 13. Maya and I think that it's better to show our girls the example on how to do things right.
I work from 9am to 2:30pm every weekday. I am a cashier, and I scan the items that you want to buy. Sometimes if business is slow, Vicky my boss would say I can purchase things for the condo, good thing that business is always slow on Mondays. So that's my shopping day.
Once I'm off work, I pick up all the girls from school. Laila comes first because her class gets let out early, Neveah is next because she had recess. Natalie comes after because she doesn't like nap time. Finally, Lily is last because she has snack time with her class. We all walk home because Maya still works at the ice cream shoppe. If it is hot outside, we'll occasionally go visit her. The girls help me carry the groceries into the house.
After that, it's homework time. If you don't have homework, then you get to read. Once all homework is finished, everyone helps to make dinner. I make it fun because we play music and dance. I also teach them how the government works. We all vote on what we have for dinner. If it's a tie, then one group chooses dessert and the other gets their dinner decision. Similar to a democracy for 4th graders.
Right when dinner is about ready, Maya comes home and eats with us. We play or watch TV when dinner is finished. After that, we prep dessert. We enjoy dessert and Nevaeh takes her evening shower. We change into our pajamas and tell stories and sing lullabies. Once the girls are asleep, Maya and I talk and do the dishes. We also get ready for bed. One Monday night, Maya brought up the strangest thing.
"Farah? Are you sure we're raising the girls correctly?" She asked.
"Of course we are! Why would you ask such a preposterous question?" I replied.
"Well, I overheard my boss today, Kinsey."
"Yeah?"
"She said something about how 13 year olds should be raised not raising. Also shouldn't we be going to the school and not working?"
"Don't listen to Kinsey. She doesn't know how mature we both are." I finished before falling asleep.
Tuesday: The morning is always the same. Dress girls. School. Work. Girls. Homework. Dinner. Play. Sleep.
So is Wednesday.
And Thursday, and Friday.
Saturday: I wake up first around 8 am. Natalie wakes up five minutes later.
"Hey Beautiful!" I say.
"Good Morning Farah." she replied yawning.
"How did you sle--"
"I heard Maya and you talking last night. Are we going to have different big sisters? Farah, are you leaving? Can you not take care of us Farah? Farah don't leave me. NO DON'T LEAVE FARAH!" she yells.
"Shh!"
"I don't want you to leave us Farah. We love you..." she starts to cry.
"Listen Natalie. Maya nor I are leaving any of you. Maya and I were talking about... big girl stuff. Since we aren't adults yet, people think we shouldn't be raising you guys. But we don't have to worry about any of that. People just aren't used to different."
"Oh" she said sniffling.
Lily walks into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.
"Natalie... why were you yelling? You woke me up." Lily whines.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lily. Is there anything I can do for you to forgive me?" Natalie apologized.
"Umm, no it's okay. I already was half sleeping anyway." Lily said.
"Hey, who wants to help me with breakfast?" I asked.
"Me!" Lily and Natalie said in unison.
Lily and Natalie helped me make the family favorite, chocolate chip pancakes. I was really surprised that Maya didn't wake up. The clatter of pots, pans, and mixers would surely wake me up!
After everyone was up, breakfast filled hungry tummies. Everyone left to go to their usual Saturday activity. Our condo is assigned to help with charity work with the Adults. I really don't like Natalie and Nevaeh going out with them. The Adults are very scary. They always say things like "give our children back" or "where are the boys?", the meetings always say to ignore them and protect your girls.
The Adults we help are screened and security checked by the head girls or women that are about 35. The Adults aren't allowed to say anything accept "Thank you" or tell us what they need. There are not many of The Adults allowed inside. Most of them yell too much.
I enter "The Giving Hall" first. Nevaeh follows, then Natalie and Laila. Lily sticks in the back with Maya. We work in the blankets and soup section. We make sure we are close together in case of danger. The first wave of morning Adults enter.
Some pass the screenings, most don't and try to make a break for it. When their bodies hit the glass, the sound makes my girls jump. I hug them for support and safety. The Adults that do make it through, look miserable and collect their new clothes, blankets, and soup for the week.
One adult catches my eye. She looked familiar. Like... me.
"Good morning! What kind of soup would you like this week?" I ask her.
"Remind me what kind you offer?" She whispers, knowing she can't speak much.
"We have England Clam Chowder, Chicken Wild Rice or the usual Chicken Noodle Soup."
"Chicken with the wild rice." She tells me making eye contact.
She looked like me but, older. She choose my favorite soup. What made her look like I knew her? Why? No adult had ever looked me in the eyes before. It's like her eyes lit up a bit in that cloud of sadness. She suddenly reached for something in her torn jacket, she makes the movement slow so security won't force her outside. The woman passes an old looking sheet of paper.
"Here, tip to the workers." She takes her bucket of soup and leaves.
I turn the paper over and read it.
Dear Daughter,
I hoped I someday meet you. If you're reading this, I've finally found you! God bless. I come to the soup kitchen every Saturday to find you. I notice that there are older girls with younger ones. You must be taking care of them! At least you have the independence. Your family really misses you, Far. Please come back. I will keep coming to the soup kitchen and giving these notes until I either convince you to run or until you get married. You will see once you're 14 about that, if your younger than 14.
                    Love,
                        Sapphire (Mom)