MARCUS (ongoing)

Chapter 17

After a few hours they get on a taxi and leave. The whole way no one talks to the other, they get to the next town and go into a tall building. They walk up to a receptionist.......

Clare: [smiles] hello.
Receptionist: hello, welcome I'm Jane how may I help you?
Clare: umm, I found him stranded without a home.........
Marcus: [smirks in the background]
Clare: so I brought him here.
Jane: oh I see. This way ma'am [took her to an office]. Sir she'd like to speak with you.

Sir: [reaches out for a handshake] hello, I'm John Phil you can just call me John.
Clare: hello John, I'm Clare.
John: please take a sit.
Clare: thank you. So I brought a kid Marcus he umm....... has nowhere to go.

John: what's his history? Where did you find him [opens a notepad ready to write]?
Clare: he refused to tell me anything I only got his name. He seems like a difficult kid.
John: I see. Okay that's fine then. You can just sign here and here.
Clare: [signs].

John: that will be all.
Clare: oh okay
John: I can show you round the establishment....
Clare: no, no need. It's not like his my kid or something. Not that I don't care for him; I mean I do that's why I brought him here. Besides I can already see looking around that it's a great place and it's comfortable like a home. [They stand and walk out]
John: yes thankfully we're well funded [while walking back to the reception window].

Clare: how does the adoption system work though?
John: we screen parents who'd want to adopt, when they pass we bring them here to meet with the children and they choose who they'd want. With us it has to be a two way system; both parties have to agree. So if the child doesn't want them, they have to find another one.

Clare: I see. Umm..... Marcus this is goodbye; these are good people [her voice gets shaky and her eyes teary] they will take good care of you. It's a beautiful establishment and you'll meet a family that will give you good education [tears fall].
John: you're okay ma'am?
Clare: [sniffles and wipes her tears] yeah it's just in the few hours I've been with him I kinda bonded so........
John: I understand.
Jane: you could take him in.
Clare: I don't think he'd want me.
Marcus: hmmm.
Jane: Marcus right this way please.

They leave while Clare walks towards the door and turns back.

Clare: Mr. Phil, please do take good care of him, he's a good kid.
John: of course Miss Clare.
She walks out.

They walk into a beautiful room.

Jane: Marcus this is Joshua; Joshua, Marcus. He is going to be your new roommate.
Josh: [nods]
Jane: okay. I'll leave you to it.
Josh: you can call me Josh.
Marcus: sure. How long have you been here?
Josh: two years.
Marcus: you haven't found a family yet?
Josh: I'm good here, I don't want no family.
Marcus: great then. At least I won't be alone then.
Josh: [smiles].

Clare arrives home and begins packing up her things. She then finds a note in her bag from Chris. She throws it in the trash bin and continues packing.

After a few hours she's all done and sits on her table with her computer and spends time on the net looking at maps and internship sites. She finds a place across the ocean.

Clare: Brazil it is [she buys a ticket online]

She packs up her computer and prepares for bed. She sits on it and stares at the dust bin for a few minutes, she decides to pick up the note and read it.

My Clare,
I'm sorry to have to leave like this, I know you're mad but please understand I had to do this. Take care of our little Marcus. I promise it will all make sense when I get back. I'll love you always.
Chris.

Clare: hmmm please. [She tears up the paper and screams out] AHHH!!! [She cries bitterly].

The next morning she packs up her bags into a taxi, goes into Marcus empty room and finds the portrait they got for his birthday. She takes it, locks up the house and leaves.
She gets to the Austrian airport goes through all the processes, gets on the plane and later it takes off.
She is still holding the portrait tightly in her hands.
While on the flight she barely ate and slept.

Hours later she arrived and had someone from the hospital she was going to work at, pick her up.

Man: [holding a paper written her name] welcome to Brazil Ms. Brown.
Clare: thank you.
Man: [helped with her bags and boxes, and directed her to the car].
Clare: I didn't get your name
Man: I'm Lucas, Lucas Santos people usually call me Santos. I'll be your chauffer while you live here.
Clare: oh really? I don't think there's a need really.
Lucas: it's my job Ms. Brown.

Clare: Clare is fine and I think I can......
Lucas: Ms. Brow....
Clare: Clare.
Lucas: Clare. The form you filled in online clearly stated you're new to Brazil. So I have been paid to ensure you're helped around.

Clare: the hospital paid you?
Lucas: you did Clare. It comes from your salary pay.
Clare: oh [smiles] okay. That's fine then.
Lucas: great.

Some minutes later they arrive at her new apartment.

Lucas: so this is where you'll be staying.
Clare: okay [looks around] I like it.
Lucas: great. Let me get your other things.

Clare: so what exactly is it you do?
Lucas: [carrying a box] for you?
Clare: [gets a box] yeah.
Lucas: Clare, I'll get them don't worry.
Clare: its okay.
Lucas: no, no don't worry. Well help you around with whatever you may need.
Clare: okay, okay.
Lucas: alright, all done.
Clare: thank you so much Santos.
Santos: de nada
Clare: sorry?
Lucas: it means you're welcome.
Clare: oh [smiles]
Lucas: learn some Portuguese with time too [laughs] I'll teach you some
Clare: okay.

Days later she settles in and packs up her stuff. Within a week she begins her internship.

Marcus gets settled in as well. He and Josh grow closer.