Moon

1

The prospect of starting my life all over again slightly excited me, while I was mostly brought down. Cherylville, Georgia wasn't half bad, the foster family welcomed me but immediately left me to my own after a day of meeting everyone in the town. I took care of myself, which I always seem to end up doing in each family. Though the mother became pregnant and decided that they could no longer care for the extra child anymore, I went back to the orphanage for two more months until another family volunteered. Two kids and one mom, she must be strong, unless she was a very stupid person. The car slowly pulled up into the long, gravel drive, it circled around a bush before stopping in front of the double oak doors. The bleak sky covered the sun above us, casting gray shadows around the silent property, shaded by trees.

Miss Lee climbed out of the front seat, papers in one hand and my "suitcase" in the other, which consisted of only a suit, two polos, two khakis, undergarments, and socks. The family would provide my toiletries. She sighed, climbing the front steps that led onto the brick platform housing multiple pots holding varieties of plants. After a few attempts at the knocker, the door slowly creaked open to reveal the face of a thin, tired looking woman whose hair was tied up in a large knot, and wore a bathrobe.

"How may I help you?"

Miss Lee cleared her throat, she showed the papers to the woman, "Mrs. Stellard?"

The woman nodded, pulling a pair of glasses out of a pocket. She took the papers from Miss Lee, "Oh, Miss Sharol Lee? I'm terribly sorry," a tinge of pink appeared in the woman's cheeks, "I never expected you guys to have arrived so early. If I had known, I'm so sorry, come on in, it's rather cold here in Vermont."

I entered the grand home gratefully, a wall of heat hit me as soon I stepped into the threshold. Quickly shedding my thin coat and gloves, Miss Lee instructed me to stay in the parlor while she and Mrs. Stellard discussed about the paperwork. I didn't mind, the parlor was bigger than any living rooms I've ever seen, and it isn't even the living room. Plush couches lined the walls, the rich material gave away to a worn look, the sign of being used or sat on many times. On the walls around the tall windows were pictures of the family, or rather modern art. I glanced around at the pictures, two daughters and a dog. The daughters had no resemblances to Mrs. Stellard, unlike her graying, auburn hair, one had dirty blond and the other had dark brown hair. Their facial features were too blurred for me to distinct in the dark lighting of early morning, as I was wandering around the door to the office opened and out came Miss Lee, followed by Mrs. Stellard. Both of them were smiling.

"Well, Elis, welcome to your new home for now," Miss Lee exclaimed, "We'll be checking up on you every few months, if Mrs. Stellard thinks she's ready, you'll be officially a part of the family." Mrs. Stellard nodded. I gave them a soft smile, I've heard that phrase too many times to be excited or eager of the idea. It's because in the end nobody wants a teen who's never had a real family before, which makes the idea more exciting at first for the family. Soon, Miss Lee's car pulled away, back down the mountainside, back to the orphanage in Virginia.

"Elis!" Mrs. Stellard said, as we stepped back inside the house, she ran her hand through the loose strands of her hair, "I'm extremely sorry to have not been prepared for your arrival. My daughters are in no better state, so excuse me for a few minutes, breakfast is ready though in the kitchen. I'll be right back and show you your room."

I nodded, I was fine with being alone. A marble island sat in the center of the kitchen, three bowls were set out on the marble, a carton of milk and cereal box accompanied it. I searched through the counters until I found the bowls, and helped myself to the cereal. Outside slow winds caused the pines to rustle as I listened to the sound of footsteps upstairs. Soon enough, Mrs. Stellard hurried back down the stairs, dressed in a peach blouse and straight skirt, her hair brushed and tied back in a tighter, neater bun.

"You ready?"

I raised my eyebrow, "For what?"

She laughed, straightening the fruit bowl next to the entrance. "To see your room, and your sisters for now."

I nodded, and got up, as I followed her I set the bowl next to the sink, where she looked at me disapprovingly. "Don't worry about that, it's Emily's turn to do the dishes, we just let go of the maids last month. I want them to learn how to take care of themselves."

Upstairs was a main room where a large bay window looked out at the front drive, and split into two hallways on either side. She led me down the darker side, where the shades were drawn at the end of the hallway. "The guest side." she explained, "Your room is getting done right now, so you'll be staying on the left side." She opened the closest door, leading to a spacy room with a canopy bed in the center of the back wall, windows on either side.

I set down my bag, looking at the floor to ceiling dresser next to me. Mrs. Stellard laughed as soon as she realized why, "Oh, don't worry about filling it up. We already did for you, Miss Lee gave us your size, and we just chose some simple clothing you can wear to school and at home."

"Thank you," I opened the bag and took out the suit, hanging it in the walk in closet.

"Anyday," Mrs. Stellard sighed, leaning against the doorframe, "Hey, once you're done, come out into the kitchen, my daughters will hopefully be ready. Unfortunately they have school today, but I'll show you around town, and tomorrow's weekend."

"Sounds good," she left at that note, leaving a trace of lavender perfume in her wake, which I wrinkled my nose at. Unpacking took only a few seconds, but looking around the room took longer. My room led out onto a small balcony, where I can only stand and look out at the mountains surrounding us. "Not bad." I mumbled to myself, taking in the view.