Foster Days

Chapter 2 - Bird

June 4th, 2002, 6:30 pm

"I've got two days before I'm sent off to the next shithole. I decided with the time I had left to just fuck around the orphanage. I was running around and one of the caretakers told me to "go outside with that shit" so I did, I went out into the woods behind the orphanage which technically we aren't allowed to do but I don't care for following the rules.

I got Emma to come with me, she likes collecting leaves, rocks, and sticks so she was pretty excited. As we were walking around we found a cool tree and I climbed it, ( I pride myself on my ability to climb things :) ). When I got about halfway up I found a bird's nest. I tried taking one of the eggs but the mother bird was not having that and it almost pecked my eye out! Maybe I should listen to Emma.

We then went back inside because Emma was not going to deal with that shit anymore,
we sat in a corner and colored the rest of the day."

Saoirse rubbed his eye and looked up into the tree again, his face turned sour as he glared at the bird. "focáil leat!! Hey, what the hell man!?" he shouted at the bird."You gobshite!" He huffed in anger and flipped the bird off.

"I told you not to," Emma sighed. "That was stupid! You could have been hurt worse!"

"...I know Emma," Saoirse said as he turned toward her. "I should've listened, I'm sorry."

"Mhm, now let's go clean that eye up before it gets infected." She took Saoirse's hand as they walked back into the orphanage grounds. Saoirse tripped a bit as they walked back into the oh-so-dreary-looking building.  

He and Emma stumbled inside and saw a caretaker waiting for them, Saoirse's face turned into a pout and his shoulders slumped. The caretaker looked down at them and sighed.

"Now what?" The woman said, crossing her arms.

Emma inhaled, "So... Me and Saoirse went into the woods and," she paused as Saoirse stepped up.

"I fell." He said blankly.

The caretaker looked at Saoirse with a glare, "I'll get the first aid then," She started to walk but stopped for a second. "Oh, and please...Don't get into any fights or get hurt anymore before going to your home." She sighed out.

Saoirse groaned, "Fine... I'll try." He answered.

The lady came back with a tin lunchbox full of bandaids, disinfectant spray, and some wipes.

"There you go." She left the things she brought with Emma.

Emma turned toward Saoirse and looked at his eye. She got closer and grabbed his face softly, "I'm going to clean this up, okay?" She said soothingly. Saoirse tensed only for a moment, but then he relaxed once more.

She began to clean it and he just sat there while she did.

"And... Done! You're free to go-" Her words were interrupted by a hug. Emma slowly pat his back as he hugged her tightly. 

He sighed, "Thank you, Em."

"You're very welcome."