Meet The Walkers

~1~

      "Welcome back Matthew, long time no see," greeted Ms. Young. She gave the tall man and woman a warm hug before sitting them down to converse. I could only hear them a little bit because they were so far away from me.

I felt something cold tapping my shoulder. I looked behind me to see that my long hair had smacked the face of my friend Elizabeth.

"Eww," she complained as I scowled at her. "Shhh," I shushed with my index finger up against my mouth.

"What?" she questioned as she took a seat next to me.

"Be quiet you, I'm trying to listen to what the grownups are talking about and you're being loud."

"Oh I'm sorry," Elizabeth apologized as I got up from my seat and hid behind the wall.

"Yes, we are here today to look for an addition to our growing family," the man said. "Perhaps, another girl?"

He looked over at the woman who seemed to be his wife as she nodded in agreement.

"Oh I wonder if I'll get adopted today," Elizabeth remarked with excitement. "I don't know but we'll find out soon enough," I smiled. I ran up the stairs with Elizabeth following right behind me.

We sat at a table in a small room filled with other girls who were waiting to find a loving family. While we waited in the main area I grabbed a crayon and started coloring on a piece of paper.

I loved to draw and would always draw everyday. Drawing made me very happy. I was so into drawing my picture that I didn't even notice that the grownups had walked in. I was frightened by their loud voices coming from behind me.

"And who might this little one be?"

I jumped and turned around, getting a closer look at them. The woman chuckled as her brown eyes looked over me.

"I'm sorry did we frighten you?" the man smiled. "It's okay," I giggled. "You're such a beautiful little girl."

I felt fluffy inside. For once I felt loved and cared for. He thought that I was beautiful.

"What are you drawing Brianna, may Mrs. Walker and Mr. Walker see your picture?" asked Ms. Young. Before I had the chance to even say yes she had already taken the paper off of my desk and put it out for display for them to admire.

"Oh honey this is such a beautiful drawing," commented Mr's Walker. I had drew a family of four stick figures. One was a tall man which was supposed to be the daddy and the other figure beside him was the mommy. Next, was me in front of the mommy, standing next to the littlest figure which was a little boy.

"It's a family," I say standing up. "I would assume so," chuckled Mr. Walker. "Do you want to be a family with Mrs. Walker and I?" he said crouching down to my height. I gasped happily jumping up and down cheering.

"Yes, yes yes!"

Mrs. Walker and Mr. Walker smiled at my answer as the others began to clap and cry. Some where happy for me, that I had finally found a family who was willing to take me in, while others cried out of spitefulness and envy.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker were then brought to Ms. Young's desk. They then were given a thick packet of paperwork to sign. Mrs. Walker then took out a pen and began to fill out everything.

While they did that, I was ordered to start packing my things immediately while they filed out the paperwork. I eagerly grabbed all of my clothes and stuffed them in my suitcase. I could hear sniffles coming from behind me.

I turned around to see Elizabeth wiping away her tears. "You're leaving me," she cried. I suddenly began to realize that I would be leaving her and all of my friends behind. I felt sad and I gave her a hug.

"Oh don't worry," I reassured her. "I'll have the orphanage phone my family and we can talk on the telephone."

"I won't get to see you anymore," she sobbed.

"Yes you will Elizabeth I promise you that you will. You're my best friend for forever."

She looked into my eyes and smiled at me slightly. "Do you promise me that?" she whispered.

I did promise her, and I meant it. I loved all of my friends here and I hated the fact that I was leaving them. But also at the same time I loved my new family even more because that would mean I would finally have a mommy and daddy.

I gave her one last final hug along with the rest of the other children before grabbing my heavy suitcase and dragging it down the steps.

I struggled as it was far too heavy and dragged it. I was startled yet again by a large and calloused hand coming in front of my face and grabbing the handle of the suitcase.

"I'll take that from you," Mr. Walker chuckled. He took it from me and went back down the stairs to Ms. Young and Mrs. Walker.

"Thank you Mr. Walker," I thanked him.

"Call me daddy," he smirked.

I looked up at the tall man and smiled with pure happiness. My mom and my dad bid Ms. Young a farewell before we left the orphanage.

I looked back one more time to see Ms. Young waving back at me while she comforted my crying friend. The doors closed shut and for the first time in forever I walked out into the snow.

I hadn't ever been allowed to play in the snow because Ms. Young wouldn't allow us. I would sometimes sit by the windows and just stare with my nose pressed up against the window. All of the beautiful white snowflakes falling to the concrete floor with such lightness. Airiness.

"Wow," I say breathlessly. I heard my mom giggling slightly at me. I ran over to a mountain of whitness and touched it.

It was cold!

It was so pretty. I removed my hand to see that I left a hand print on the cold white mountain.

"Come on Brianna, we have to go to our home now," I hear my mother. I turned back around to see her and dad smiling at me.

I rushed over to them nearly falling over and ran over to the car. I was buckled into the backseat while the adults sat in the front.

It was a very silent ride home.