Me and my Yapa (on hold)

Chapter 7 - Charlie

I had thought that I could tell Jasmine my story without getting emotional. I thought wrong. But it had felt good to cry, to get all the tears that I had been storing up over the past three years out. And when we were walking back to class, I thanked Jasmine for sticking with me, even though I yelled at her, and she didn't freak out when I burst into tears, she has helped me but I don't know how I can help her in return.

"Are you ok, dear?" Mrs. Lee asked when she noticed my bloodshot eyes that afternoon. I looked at her before deciding to tell her the truth.

"I was talking to Jasmine about when I was brought down here and I got a bit emotional." I didn't say it rudely but I definitely didn't say it warmly either. She gave me a small smile and nodded understandingly.

" Maybe you should just forget about that part of your life now Charlie. We are your family now so it might be best if you don't talk to anyone about your other life now, ok?" She said this in a sweet tone like she knew what was best for me. I started at her, speechless, until all the anger from this morning came rushing back.

"How dare you say that," I yelled, "You don't know what's best for me. You never have and you never will! You people took me away from my family, friends and homeland. I will never forget them. Ever! You think that you're such good people taking in the poor black girl. Well you are not good people, good people don't take kids away from their homes. So in answer to your question, no that's not ok." I said the last part in the same tone that she had used, gave her a big smile and walked off to my room, leaving a shocked Mrs Lee behind me.

That night, I ran away. I wasn't stupid enough to think that I could run all the way back to Arnhem Land in one night. In fact I would probably come back before the Lee's realised that I was gone. But I just needed to get out. To be free. I walked around the town, admiring shop windows and enjoying the silence. Back home there wasn't a lot of talking. Often people were either shouting or not talking at all, unless they were gossiping about the latest piece of news.

I thought about going to see Jasmine, but I knew that her parents weren't fond of me so I decided against it. I just walked. Eventually I arrived at the school. I hadn't even known I was heading there until I arrived. I went to our tree. I climbed it quickly and found a branch that was thick enough to support my weight. I sat down and started crying for the second time that day. I sobbed for my family, for my friends and for me. Eventually I quieted down and watched the stars.

I woke when the sky began to lighten. Judging by the sky I had an hour to get home before Mr and Mrs Lee woke up. I quickly jogged back home and climbed the tree outside my window and got into bed just as I heard my foster parents get up. I then went and had a long shower, getting rid of my red eyes and bed hair.

At school I could see that Jasmine was trying to figure out if I was ok without asking me. I smiled at her hoping it reassured her, but I don't think it did. The day passed quickly despite my tiredness. When we were walking home I told Jasmine about the argument and me spending the night at school in a tree.
"How did you fall asleep in a tree?" She was amazed.
"I just did." I laughed at her look of shock.
"But weren't you uncomfortable?"
"Nah, trees are pretty comfy, you should try it sometime." Her horror was evident. I started giggling which turned into full out laughing, Jasmine soon joined in. We got weird looks from other students but we didn't care, we were happy in our own world.