Laughing thunder [#Wattys 2018]

Chapter 1: Fire! Fire! Yes I'm serious this time

"Baking paynes" heh I still remember the first time I was here. I was around 9 years old and I ran away from the orphanage. But it was winter, and I barely had clothes to begin with, so I was freezing but I didn't stop running. Eventually the cold caught up to me, and I collapsed. I began falling in and out of consciousness. I saw a woman walking up to me her lips said,

"a boy?" After that I fell unconscious. I woke up to warmth, and jumped awake, looking around frantically.

"Wh-what? Where?" I was wrapped in a blanket.

"Oh your awake" I heard a gruff voice speak.

"Hmm, here kid." He handed me a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of food.

"Th-thank you," I said through a shiver. The man who gave me the food had a pudgy face with a thick black beard and black hair covered in a chefs hat. A long sleeved green shirt with a apron covering his pop belly with jeans. After I ate the food and drunk the cocoa he spoke again.

" You alright kid?"

"Yes sir."

He breathed out, "that's good to hear. My wife brought you in here nearly dead. Your a strong kid so, anyway what's your name?"

"Thomas sir."

"Thomas, huh? Nice name, I'm Jack Payne, my wife's name is Mattie." A woman with brown hair walked in, I saw the man named Jack face light up with happiness. She has her hair in a ponytail, her skin is pretty fair with red rosy cheeks and she's wearing a navy blue shirt with khaki pants. Heh, speak of the devil."

"Oh my your awake! That's good, your okay."

"I should th-thank you. You helped me, thank you miss."

"Oh, it's no trouble. Now, rest up ummm "Thomas".

"Miss, thank you."

"You'll need your rest."

"Oh I don't want to bother you two." She put her hand on my shoulder

"nonsense Thomas, we would be happy to." my face lit up,

"grazie," I said

"excuse me?"

"Oh it's thank you in Italian."

"Huh interesting well on up to bed mister."

"But I'm not sleepy." Jack said.

"Not you, Thomas!"

"Right. Come on Thomas." He held out his hand I grabbed it and he led me up to a bed. I got under the covers it's comfortable extremely more comfortable than the orphans beds. If I could describe them, they're like prison beds but with one layer of padding. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. Downstairs Mattie is pacing back and forth.

"Mattie, what's wrong?"

"It's Thomas. Doesn't he look familiar to you?"

"No we just saw him today,"

"but he looks so much like...like Eliza and that man."

"It's just a coincidence honey"

"but he even spoke Italian to me like Eliza, he even has the same wavy hair."

"Listen, it won't do you any good to worry yourself over this. We can ask him any questions tomorrow all of us need sleep" sighs

"yeah your right let's go to sleep. I woke up scared frantically looking around me, oh right, those two took me in last night. After a few minutes of silence i jump at a knock on the door,