The Dragon of Dreams

Althea

 I certainly hadn't thought that I would be visited by a dragon, only known to myth and legend, on the night of my seventeenth birthday. "My mind can play such tricks on me easily." I thought that fateful morning. It just so happened that the dragon, Tatsu, was not lying when he said that there would be a letter in the mailbox to my orphanage for me that morning.

 "Hmm, no return address." I said as I scrutinized the letter. "I guess I won't get my money back."

 "Quit laughing at your own little jokes and open the letter Althea!" said Jasmine, my best friend, who accepted me after I was sent to this orphanage shortly after my parents had died in a terrible hurricane while on a trip together.

 "Alright, alright. I'll open it." I said as I tore into the paper of the envelope. "It's a written note."

  Dear, Althea

 Please accept this scholarship to the Maryland Institute of Art for you outstanding works of art. We hope to see you on Monday, September 5 at eight thirty, for a meeting with the Dean. Prof. Elizabeth Urie.

                                                                            Sincerely,
                                                                                 Prof. Elizebeth Urie

 "That's tomorrow!" I said as Jasmine read over my shoulder. "I have nothing to wear!"

 "I can lend you a dress or maybe a skirt." Jasmine said, trying to calm me. "Besides, this is great news! You need to tell Ms. Carly."

 The thought of the old owner of the orphanage made me shiver. Ms. Carly was the oldest person that lived in the orphanage. Her being sixty-five years old, and sharing my birthday, made things a bit wierd. We thought she was going to retire today and give the orphanage to her daughter, Kaleigh. But rumor says that isn't going to happen until she dies. So came the conspiracies against her. They came so quick that I had barely noticed them.

 "No! She would kick me out of here as soon as she hears about it!" I replied. "I just need a reason to leave tomorrow.

 "Well what's your excuse for all the months of school later in the year gonna be?" Jasmine said "It would be impossible to hide the fact that you would still be going to school after the fact that you're still a senior in school."

 "You're right, but I still can't tell her or else consider me homeless." I replied "Unless someone actually adopts me, otherwise goodbye."

 "Althea." Ms.Carly said from her office. "Would you come in here for a second."

 Jasmine looked at me in bewilderment. All that we could get out was a simple "What." As I walked over to Ms. Carly's small office, I noticed a petite woman standing in front of her desk. Ms. Carly never kept more than one chair in her office, and that chair always seemed to be the one she kept at her desk.

 "Yes, you wanted me?" I asked as I walked in.

 "Yes, Althea. This woman is looking for a girl your age, and I would like to say happy birthday as well." She said

 "Thank you, Ms. Carly." I replied. "And you would be?" I said to to the woman standing in the small office.

 "Sarah. Sarah Davis." She replied.

 "I guess you already know my name since those are my case files in your hand." I said I'm surprised you want a child whose almost fully independent."

 "Well, it's not necessarily for my own benefit, it's to prepare me for my child to come." She said "I'm only four weeks pregnant but I want to see what could happen when she reaches your age. Like I said, to prepare myself."