Adopted by Falsettos

Chapter 1

Let me get something straight. I'm not complaining about my life. Despite me never knowing my biological parents and living with my aunt who never went to college, I think my life is pretty good.

I've played cello in the string ensemble at my school, have been dancing hip-hop for the past four years, and I'm pretty popular at school and have a lot of friends.

"Josie! Check the mail!" my aunt Samantha said from downstairs. I could hear the oven beep and the dishwasher start running. She had just gotten home from her job as a barista at the local coffee shop. No one ever stops in there with all the Starbucks shops around, but they have some loyal customers, which Samantha's ever grateful for.

I went out to the front steps, feeling the air hit my skin as I went out to the mailbox. I made sure there were no cars in the way that could hit me, then I opened the mailbox.

Bills, bills, bills. Junk mail. Catalogs. The normal things for our house.

But just in case, and because Samantha said so, I bring the mail in the house before throwing it in the recycling.

"Aunt Sam? I have the mail!" I exclaimed, popping my head in the door. Samantha turned the oven down a little and grabbed the papers from my hands. She filed through the bills and the catalogs, setting most of them aside for me to recycle.

But one letter seemed to catch her eye, and I noticed her staring at the return address with wide eyes.

"Who's it from?" I asked. I heard my aunt squeal as she ripped the envelope open and unfold a letter.

"I GOT INTO MY DREAM COLLEGE!" Samantha screamed from the kitchen. She wasn't talking to me.

"What?" I asked. Here's something about my aunt. She never went to college. She never saw the point in going to college. Her parents made her go to college.

My birth mom and dad both went to Harvard. That's where they met and fell in love. And then my sister Katrina was born, and then me.

Katrina and I were separated when I was one and she was four. Our mom gave us up for adoption after our dad died. Katrina got put in the foster system and I believe she's still there, and I got put in the care of my aunt Samantha.

"Josie? Can you come here?" Samantha asked.

"I heard the college news!" I yelled back. Samantha stopped short and stared me in the eye.

"If I go to college...Josephine...I don't think I can afford to take care of you anymore." Samantha said.

"Are you putting me in the system? Maybe I can see Karina-" I yelled.

"No." Samantha responded. Now I was truly confused.

"Josie, I don't have any other option." Samantha said. She handed me a backpack and a granola bar and ushered me out the door.

"Are you-" I started to ask, but it was no use.

"Before you go, Josephine, I got a call from someone. Your sister, Katrina, died last night."

"I'M SORRY, WHAT?" I screamed, bursting into tears and grabbing twenty dollars from my piggy bank. Then I ran out the door.

_________

I stopped in a grocery store and was picking out some instant noodles and some deli meat.

"You need some help?" a young girl asked, coming up to me. "Where are your parents?"

I didn't want to explain my entire life story to this lady. Not only was she a stranger, I don't think she had time. I looked at her name tag.

"Ollie." I said softly to myself.

"Yes, that's my name." Ollie laughed. "And you are?"

"Josie." I responded. Ollie nodded, finally seeming to realize I didn't have any parents. She grabbed some candy and potato chips off a shelf, put them in a bag, and handed it to me.

Then she gave me a bubble gum flavored lollipop.

"Take care, Josie! Hope to see you soon!" Ollie said.

"Wait, I have to pay!"

"Nope, it's on me!" Ollie said. I smiled and skipped out of the store."

______

I was walking towards Broadway, finding a nice spot in front of a theater. I sat down and pulled out a bag of salt and vinegar chips the nice lady Ollie gave me.

"Excuse me?" I heard a female voice ask. I sat up and looked up.

"Hi." I said softly.

"Hi." said the woman, sitting down next to me. "My name is Stephanie. Are you out here alone? Where are your parents?"

"Gone." I said. Stephanie looked into my eyes and I continued.

"My dad died when I was one and my mom gave me up for adoption." I said. "I also had a sister." I didn't really feel like mentioning Katrina. It still hurt.

"So who do you live with now?" Stephanie asked.

"I lived with my aunt. She kicked me out because she got into the college of her dreams and chose that over me." I said.

Stephanie nodded and said, "I have to get to work. Want to come with me, whatever your name is?"

"Josie Harford." I replied. "What do you do for work?"

"I play Trina in the musical Falsettos."

I stopped short.

"Trina was my sister's nickname." I said, running the other way.

AN: To everyone that asked, IT'S FINALLY HERE! Also yes, Ollie from the grocery store is Isle_Of_Spaceheaters I'm so excited! Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!