One Tear. One Smile.

Chapter 1: Orphanage

"Hello sweetie. Welcome to Holy Land Orphanage'' a big,plump lady smiled at Hugh and I. ''What's your name,pet?" She asked.

''My name is Fiona'' I said. ''What a nice name. And what's yours?" She turned to Hugh. Hugh started crying.

''Hugh,its OK'' I whispered,kneeling down. Hugh just kept on crying. ''His name is Hugh'' I said. The lady smiled. ''Well Hugh and Fiona,are you two brothers and sisters or friends?" She asked. ''Brothers and sisters'' I whispered. She wrote it down on a piece of paper.

''What's your second name?"

''Wilson'' I said. ''Well Fiona,I'm Sister Faith'' She introduced herself. ''Tomorrow morning,you and Hugh will take a bath. Sister Joyce will wash your hair,to see if you have bugs I'll show you the dinning room. '' Sister Faith smiled. Hugh held on to me.

We enterer a room full of children. "How old are you, Fiona?" Sister Faith asked,as a wailing boy,around Hugh's age,ran upstairs. ''I'm 12" I replied. ''And Hugh is 5". ''OK,Hugh,you will be going to that group'' She pointed to a corner,with small boys wailing and fighting. I could feel Hugh shudder. ''And Fiona,you will be going over there''. My one wasn't that bad.

There was around 12 and 13 year old boys and girls,all laughing and chatting away like nothing happened. ''Sister Joyce,please tell Sarah to make another pot of oats please'' She called. ''Right-o'' A scrawny woman called back,going into a small kitchen.

"You guys will have oats before bed'' Sister Faith said. I nodded. ''You can go and talk to people. If you need help,Sister Joyce is there''

When Sister Faith was gone,Hugh let out a sigh of relief. ''Fiona,I don't like it here'' Hugh wailed. ''Hugh we have nowhere else to go'' I said,jerking my hand free. ''You're a big boy now. Go play with them''. Hugh started crying. I sighed. Everyone was staring now. "Sorry Hugh'' I said,kneeling down and wiping his eyes. But he was still crying. From the corner of my eye,I could see a shadow coming up to me.

''Is he OK?''. I looked up. A big,plump girl smiled at me. I nodded,getting up. ''He's just scared and shy''  I said. ''My sister is still scared and shy,even though we've been here for a year'' She laughed. ''What's his name?" She asked. ''Hugh'' I said. ''Nice to meet you Hugh,I'm Winnie'' She smiled at Hugh. ''What's your name?" She asked,turning to me.

''My name is Fiona'' I said. ''I always wanted the name Fiona'' Winnie smiled. ''Hey follow me'' She said,disappearing into the crowd.

I was about to go,but as always,Hugh held me back. ''What now?" I hissed. ''I don't like that girl'' He wailed again. ''Well tough. I like her'' I said,dragging him with me. Hugh was still crying. ''Elsa,look at Hugh'' Winnie was carrying a slim,cute girl in her arms. ''Hugh,look'' I said,trying to make him stop crying. ''Hey Fiona,this is my sister,Elsa'' Winnie said. ''Wait a minute,Hugh is just being a spoilt rat again'' I sighed.

''I want Mammy!" He wailed. ''One second'' I smiled at Winnie. I dragged Hugh to the stinky toilets. ''Hugh stop it. Mum and Dad are dead. They're gone forever. If they were here,this wouldn't have happened...''My voice trailed away. Tears were filling my eyes,but I held it. ''Mum always said you were her big boy. And Dad used to say you were his apple in his eye'' I said,shaking Hugh. ''Now stop messing around,and show everybody that Mum and Dad loved us,they didn't dump us in a bin or a basket'' I ruffled Hugh's blonde hair.

He laughed quietly. ''Now come on,this place stinks'' I laughed too. I opened the door. Kids screamed and ran upstairs. ''Can I go play with them?" Hugh asked. I shook my head. ''They're too rough''.

''Fiona'' Sister Joyce called from the kitchen. "Come on'' I said. ''Here is your oatmeal'' She said,slopping yellow stuff on Hugh and I's plate. I took the two wooden plates. ''Thank you'' I said politely. ''You're welcome dear'' She smiled. I was looking everywhere for Winnie. ''Over here,Fiona'' Winnie waved.

''We have to go to bed soon'' She said,with her sister,Elsa, sleeping. ''I know'' I said. Having Winnie around was fun,though I expected I would make better friends. Like the popular ones. I filled my wooded spoon with the yellow oatmeal. ''Come on Hugh,eat up'' I said,waving the spoon in front of his face. He shook his head. ''Hugh,you didn't eat anything since yesterday'' I sighed. ''I don't blame him'' Winnie said.

''Elsa wouldn't eat it too''. I sighed. My eyes filled with tears as I remembered our nice supper at home...