Hi everyone. My name is Kyria Montoya. Yeah, I know… Kyria. What kind of name is that, huh?
Well, I’ll tell you. It’s my name. Don’t like it, then leave. This is my story. Or, it's my story of how I got a new family. The story of how I got a very strange family, but a family nonetheless.
Now, lets begin.
- - -
‘I wonder if they have a sandwich booth at lunch today… I need to get more tuna for Blaze, Drac, and Happy…’
“Kyria!” Mr. Lewis yelled, snapping me out of my daze.
“Yes sir!” I yelped.
Mr. Lewis face-palmed and shook his head while the class laughed at me.
“Please answer the long-division problem on the board…” He sighed.
I stared at the problem, my mental calculator working on over-drive. One minute later, I had the answer.
“246.3, sir.” I said, not bothering to get up.
He wrinkled his brow.
“How did you…?” He said.
“I… I like numbers… That’s all…” I said shyly, looking at my desk in embarrassment while my classmates snickered.
Fifteen minutes later the bell for lunch rang.
I grabbed my empty lunch box & slinked out; visible to only my tormentors who don’t know what they say hurts.
It’s fine, though. I’ve gotten used to it.
At lunch the sandwich booth and salad bar was open. They had tuna today! My three kitties I have at home would be happy.
…Especially Happy!
I giggled at my own little joke as I opened my lunchbox. I grabbed one of my empty plastic bins. I filled it to the brim with tuna. They also had brown rice. Grabbing another container, I filled that one with brown rice.
They had GRAPES today! They rarely have grapes! I love them! I filled another container with that. I stuffed as much bread into a container as I could. Today’s lunch was meatloaf. Not too bad to have for dinner a couple nights.
That too went into a container. As much as possible. Then I fixed at least 4 or five PB&J sandwiches, stuffing those into the last container. I grabbed a to-go Styrofoam plate and loaded my lunch onto that. The teachers noticed what I did. They were smart enough not to ask.
I ate my lunch with my lunchbox on my lap protectively. It was my food.
MINE.
- - -
I was walking home from school, lunchbox in my hands and backpack hanging from one shoulder.
In a happy mood I began to sing.
“Darling, what's your name and can you hear me?
Tell me why you're out so late alone
The diamonds sparkle in your face, I hold you
The gravel glistens black and red below
Hollow, you drift into the night
Hollow girl
When I close my eyes, I see you
When I close my eyes, you're here
In the dead of the night, I feel you
When I open my eyes, you disappear
The metal wraps itself around your bones
And when it penetrates you, it feels cold
As you were born, you leave this world alone
A stranger on an unfamiliar road
The droning engine sings your Hallelujah
The broken headlamp lights your path to God
Hollow, you drift into the light
Hollow girl
But when I close my eyes, I see you
When I close my eyes, you're here
In the dead of the night, I feel you
When I open my eyes, you disappear”
It was the song Hurts by The Road.
I really connected to the song.
As I finished singing, I looked up at the darkening sky. Hm… Looks like a storm’s coming… I should pick up the speed. And just as I did so, I tripped and fell over something.
It yelped at me.
A box.
I tripped over a talking box.
Scrawled over the top in big handwriting was ‘PLEASE TAKE US HOME!’ Curious, I lightly kicked the box. I heard scuffling and a couple different surprised mewls coming from inside. My ears perked. All of a sudden a yowl came from the box.
“Kitties!” I squealed. I placed the lunchbox on top the cardboard box and lifted it and set off on my way home.
It started raining before I got home, so by the time I got home, I was practically drenched.
I set the box on the porch as I fished in my pockets for the house key as water dripped off my hair.
I found it and unlocked the door. I opened it, grabbing the box and walking in.
As I closed the door with my foot I hear Drac yowl. Walking into the living room. Drac was attacking Happy yet once again. And Happy was dodging Drac’s attacks effortlessly. Drac yowled infuriatedly with swipe that Happy dodged.
“Drac, please stop. I’m home. And remember my strict ‘no-fighting-while-I’m-in-the-house’ rule… Or have you forgotten the consequences?” I said loudly, hands on hips, quite annoyed at my cat.
Both Drac and Happy froze at turned to look at me. Happy meowed happily and walked over to me. I sat down taking off my backpack.
“Hello to you too, Happy.” I said, scratching Happy behind his ears.
Drac meowed flatly and sat next to the box, looking at me with an ‘open the box’ look on his kitty face.
“Not until Blaze gets here. Happy, could you go get Blaze? I want everyone to see the newest editions to the family.” I said.
Happy meowed happily and trotted off.
“C’mere you.” I said, grabbing Drac and placing him on my lap, “Gosh, even for a cat, you have that ‘I am awesome. Do not doubt my mad ninja skills.’ vibe!”
I scratched underneath Drac’s chin. Drac’s barely-audible purr made me relax and lean back against the wall closing my eyes.
“MEOW~!” I cracked my eyes open.
Happy and Blaze were in front of me.
“I love having smart kitties…” I say, petting all three of them. Drac climbs off my lap and walks over to the damp box again.
I dash into the kitchen and grab a pair of scissors.
“Alright, Drac…” I sigh, “Everyone, meet the newest additions to our family.”
Using one side of the scissors, I sliced it open.
“What the…” I said, mouth agape at the 10 pairs of eyes that stared up at me.
The silver-furred cat took one look at me and began yowling.
YOU ARE READING
