Crap Shot

The Names

CRAP SHOT

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

APRIL FIFTEENTH, NINETEEN NINTY-SEVEN

BY THE TIME THE CHILDREN WERE EIGHT, they had been bugging to get real names.

Seven had read a book, and found that the people in it had real names, not numbers. So, of course, Seven spread this around, and each kid was as fascinated as the last.

Reginald had refused, telling them that they already had names, and it was disrespectful if they were to get new ones. The children felt bad, just like he had hoped, and they had dropped it for a while.

That was, until, Number Three read her own book, and was back on wanting a real name. It took some convincing, but finally, they managed to get Reginald to agree. He rudely told them that he would send Grace to the living room, and if they could be quiet the whole way there, and while they waited for her, they would get real names, but if they didn't, they didn't get new names, and would be sent to their rooms.

So, all Eight children managed to stay silent, and hoped Reginald would be fair, and not pick someone out for being 'loud' when none of them have made a sound.

Thankfully, Reginald didn't seem to be in the mood to torment his children, because he walked out as soon as Grace walked in.

"Hello, children. Your father told me I could give you all real names. How exciting is that?" She said, her tone happy. "Now, we'll start with Number Eight, and go down to Number One. Does that sound good?"

The children nodded.

Grace walked forward, and grabbed Eight's hand. She hummed, and closed her eyes, and the kids watched her in fascination. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes, and said, "How does Vanya sound?"

"Yes!" Eight exclaimed.

She loved the name, but she was also overly excited at being first in something.

Grace did the same to Seven, and a few seconds later, she offered, "What do you think about Benjamin?"

Seven gave her a shy smile. "I like it...but it's kind of long."

"We can call you Ben!" Four exclaimed.

When everyone looked at Seven, he nodded. Grace went to grab Six's hand, but she pulled it away. "I don't want a name?"

All of the other kids looked at her like she was crazy.

"What?" Three asked. "Why not?"

"I just don't want one." She snapped. "I have one already."

"All right," Grace said, giving the girl a smile.

She turned to Five, who shook his head as well. "I don't want one either."

Two scoffed. "Y-Y-You only don't want one b-b-because Six doesn't."

"That's not true!" Five snapped at him, even though it was. "I just don't want one."

Grace gave him a smile as well, and turned to the other Four. Four became Klaus, Three became Allison, Two became Diego, and One became Luther.

Once One had been named, the kids all ran off excitedly talking about their new names. Only Five and Six stayed behind. Once the room was empty, Five turned to Six, tilting his head.

"How come you didn't get a name?"

"Why didn't you?" She demanded, though her tone quickly softened. "I mean, I don't know. I-I didn't think that I...I just didn't want one. What about you?"

Five shrugged. "Same."

Six nodded, standing up and stretching. "Well, I'm going to my room, Dad said that we start 'training' tomorrow. Whatever that is."

Five nodded, slowly shuffling out of the room. Six opened a riff, and made it to her room, and plopped down on her bed, tears threatening to fall.

How was she supposed to tell any of her siblings the real reason she didn't get a name? It's not that she didn't want one, she wanted one more then anything.

But Reginald has told her she didn't deserve one. She wasn't special enough for one, so she just needed to tell Grace that she didn't want one.

But now, she had ruined Five's chance at getting a name, because he copied her in not getting one.

Six lay on her bed, cursing her father in her head for messing everything up.