Alone

Their Stories

Melony eagerly drags me downstairs to the kitchen. Along with the two of us, two other girls are sitting around the bar counter with their cups of coffee. One is a brunette that kinda looks like me, and the last one is a red head with freckles covering her entire body. In total the house holds four girls, not including me or Caroline.

"Jess can you grab the pancake mixture? Ugh... I...can't...reach...it." 

I look over and see Melony trying her hardest to reach the pancakes on the top shelf. She is a lot smaller for a 7 year old. 

"Get it yourself! And remember what I said about talking to me before I have had my coffee, the monster will get you!" Jess said not looking up from her book that she was reading. 

"But I can't reach it!" 

"Here, let me get it for you sweetheart." The red head jumped onto the counter with grace and grabbed the box. 

"Here ya go sweetie"

"Thanks Annabell!" 

"That is a beautiful name" I think to myself. 

"Come one Cassy, I make the best pancakes in the world!" 

"GOOD MORNIN' GIRL'S!" Caroline's voice boomed through the kitchen. 

"I hope you all slept good" 

"I DID! I didnt have a nightmare last night Caroline!" Melody said with pride.

"That's amazing Melony!" Caroline said giving her a side hug. 

I hear Kendra's footsteps come down the stairs and eventually join us in the kitchen.

"Ah nice for you to finally join us Kendra. Could you and Annabell please start setting the table? Jess can you please finish up the page that you are on and go wash up for breakfast? And Cassy I believe Melony wants you to help her make pancakes," she said giving me a smile.

The other girls started to do their assigned duties except for Jess. She continued to read her book.  

"Jess please go and so what I asked you to do." Caroline said in a softer tone. 

"Mmmmkayyy." 

Jess slowly got up and went to her bedroom upstairs. 

"With Jess we have to be a little more careful. She has Autism so she sees things in a different kind of way. Sometimes she will do the things that we ask her to do, and sometimes she needs a little encouragement. So if you try to talk to her, don't be disappointed if she doesn't answer you right away ok?" 

"Yea. Don't worry, I understand. I have two cousins that I am very close to and they both have Autism. One of them is really enthusiastic and the other is really shy, just like Jess. Don't worry, I know how to deal with this." 

"Well, I'm very glad that we will have somebody in the house who understands. Im really happy that you are here Cassy. I promise, you won't be hurt any more. We treat each other like family here. So...welcome to the family Cassy Green." She says while she gives me a huge hug. 

"Come on Cassy!" 

"OK I coming" I chuckle.

Melony hands me a bowl filled with flour, milk, eggs and other things.

"You have to stir it for 3 minutes. Once we are done, we can add either blueberries, strawberries or chocolate chips!" She looks so excited.

"You know what would be even better? What if we mix the fruit together in the batter and then once the pancakes are done we can add the chocolate chips on top?"