Bonded

Prologue - Tea party

               I’m different, I always have been. I have something that none of the other kids have, his name is Avery. He has been with me for as long as I can remember, always looking out for me. Avery and I are connected, I can feel him but I can’t see him, no one can see him. I don’t know how I got him; I really don’t even know who I am. The ladies at the orphanage said that I just appeared on their door step one day, wrapped in a red blanket with the name ‘Lucy’ pinned on my chest.  

Growing up wasn’t an easy thing for me, I had to watch people come and go. None of the kids wanted to be friends with me because they thought I was ‘weird’ and no one wanted to adopted me because Avery would always scare them away. Avery doesn’t like people; he doesn’t really trust anyone other than me.
               I remember the first time he scared someone away. I was about four years old; I had rosy red cheeks, a sparkle in my bright blue eyes, my light blond curly hair constantly in two piggy tales and a slight tan to my skin for being in the sun so much. I was sitting on the swing, enjoying the sun while Avery pushed me. The heat of the sun mixed with the cool breeze coursed bumps on my skin but I didn’t care, I just enjoyed being outside. As I was swinging, one of the ladies that worked at the orphanage approached me with a big, fake smile on her face. I mentally told Avery to stop swinging so he wouldn’t scare her away.  

               “Hello Lucy,” She said with that fake smile. “I have some amazing news! Mr and Ms Collins are going to foster you. Do you know what that means?”

               I slowly shook my head from side to side.    

               “Well, it means they are going to take you to their house for a little while. If they like you then you could stay there forever. Isn’t that great?” She asked enthusiastically.

               “But what if they don’t like me,” I questioned slowly.

               “Well, then you just come back and stay with us.” She shrugged.  “But I’m sure that won’t happen.  Now, come on. We have to pack all your things; they will be here to pick you up soon.”

               Then, a few hours later, I was saying goodbye to the only home I knew. Sitting in the back seat in a car I didn’t know, with people I have never met, I looked back at the orphanage committing its image to memory. The double story building was made out of blue stone, rows of window lined both levels, several chimneys lined the roof and some had dark smoke curling out of them. The late afternoon sky had turned a beautiful purple with orange on the horizon.  At that time, I thought it would be the last time I saw my real home again.
                The drive seemed to take a life time. I gazed through the window and trying to count the endless amount of tree that lined the road. Mr and Ms Collins constantly asked questions and I answered them robotically.
               Finally, we pulled into a small red brick house with a white picket fence and a cream coloured front door. There was a simple wooden cross hung on the front of the door. The house was small, simple and very nice.
               I took a deep breath. I can do this, we can do it. Come on Avery, this may be our only chance for a normal life. Please don’t screw this up for us!  
               In response Avery slightly nudged my right shoulder. I looked up to the right where I felt he was and smiled. Thank-you….                                                   
              

I was with the Collins family for a week before the incident happened.  It was a cold, rainy day and I was in my room, playing with Avery as I usually did. We played like this all the time but I always made sure that Mr and Ms Collins wouldn’t notice Avery but this time something went wrong.
               It was a Sunday and we had gotten back from church a few hours ago, I was still in my nice clothes. We were having a tea party with my teddies; we ate imaginary biscuits and pretended to drink tea.  Whenever Avery finished his tea he would knock the cup over or throw one of the plastic plates lightly and sometimes, if he had the energy, Avery would hold the tea cup so it looked like they were floating in mid-air.