The Snow Globe(Kellic)

On a quiet street in Michigan lies a small two story home. The house is quaint, covered in mediocre red brick. Built years upon years ago, there is still a traditional chimney poking from the roof. Smoke puffs into the crisp night air, fending off any cruel cold attempting to invite itself into the home. The windows are dark except for the dim illumination shining from the Christmas tree in the corner. On the floor, mere inches from the tree, five children lay. Two small girls sleep together on a matt, two blankets wrapped tightly around them. The slightly older of the two, Annabel, is a nine year old blonde haired, blue eyed, American sweet heart girl. She’s the older though; she acted as the mother for the pair for years. That is, until the Morgan’s officially adopted them almost two years prior. Still, she tightly wraps her arms around the younger in a protective manner. Her sister, Kathryn, a small for her age, brown haired, grey eyed beauty snuggles closer to her. Their parents left them when Annabel six and Kathryn was merely four. So Annabel protected her, from everything.

On the matt next to them two boys sleep. One age thirteen, another age five. The two look quite similar; brown hair, green eyes, slightly tanned skinned. Jacob is the oldest, he lays a few inches away from his brother, he wants to think he’s an adult. He doesn’t need anyone. But his future is bright and will always be intertwined with that of his loving baby brother. So he leaves his arm next to Ryan, for which Ryan is grateful. He wraps his arms tightly around the arm Jacob gives him; thankful he’ll always have him. Their diagnosis: mother, father and father’s mistress dead in a murder suicide almost three years ago. Luckily the Morgan’s had adopted them as well. Their life is stable and happy, that’s all they ever needed.

To the right of the small group of four lays one small boy. Unlike the others he has no sibling to lie down next to, no sibling to keep warm. Young Kellin has no one in the world to look out for, nor does he have anyone to look after him. So while everyone else sleeps, Kellin lays on his back, staring at the ceiling. Kellin has no parents, three years ago, when Kellin was just four, his parents were killed in a car accident. He can’t even remember them. He can’t remember the way his mother would sing to him when he was scared, or his father would read him stories just before checking under the bed for monsters. He doesn’t remember how much they loved him. He just wishes they were there to hold him on nights like these, nights that are supposed to be happy. Kellin will never have a family. As much as Mrs. Jamie Morgan wants to take him in full time, for him to become her son, she simply does not have the money. Her and her husband did choose to foster him for the holiday season though; no one should be alone at times like this. And Kellin knew it; he knew he wouldn’t be staying here long.

“Kellin?” he hears his name being whispered. Slowly, he lifts his head, turning to find the source of the noise. In the corner of the room, Mrs. Morgan beckons to him. “Kellin, sweetie come here.” Careful not to wake the others, Kellin stands and walks towards her. Before he can say anything, she grabs him. She folds him in her arms, squeezing so tight he’s sure he’ll never be able to breathe again. But he doesn’t care; this is all he’s ever wanted. Instead of releasing him, she picks him up, holding him on her hip. Surely, he thinks, he’s too heavy for her to hold. But she doesn’t let go, not even when they make it into the next room where he husband stands. He smiles sadly at Kellin, and reaches in to hug the both of them. Kellin wonders if this is what it’s like to have parents. Would his parents have acted like this had they lived through the accident?

“Kellin, you know you have to leave tomorrow right?” Mr. Morgan whispers, once he releases them from the hug. Kellin nods, unable to hide the sorrow in his eyes. This is the best foster home he’s ever had, and, truthfully, the best foster home he will ever have.

“We don’t want you to leave, Kell, but we just can’t…” Mrs. Morgan says, cutting herself off with a small sob. Oh how she’s grown to love this raven haired boy.