Scars

Prologue Part 1

Copyright 2012 duhsighpull, Copying strictly prohibited.

Prologue

Alabama ~1951

"Scoot over, Charlie." Mary whined at her brother with big green eyes. "You have enough room, Mary. Look out your own window." Charlie snapped. "Alright, kids. That's enough. We'll be stopping in just a little bit. If you behave when I stop I"ll buy you an ice cream cone. But no more fighting!" Mrs. Henderson admonished.

The three stopped at a gas station and as promised, Mrs. Henderson bought both children a vanilla cone. "Eat it quickly. It's hot out here and it won't take long for it to melt. We need to hurry so we can get to the orphanage, before it gets too late." Mary took her time with her ice cream. She didn't get good treats like that too often and she wanted to savor it. Plus she didn't really want to go to another orphanage. She sighed when as thought about Laney. Her sweet baby sister. Laney would love this ice cream. She wondered if her new mommy and daddy would let Laney have any ice cream. Mary missed Laney. She hadn't seen her since Mary's last birthday. Mary's only birthday present that year was the news that Laney would have a new mommy and daddy. She hadn't even got to kiss Laney goodbye.

"Alright, yours is melting, Mary. Throw it away. We need to go." Mrs. Henderson's voice interrupted Mary's thoughts. "Yes ma'am" Mary answered as hurried over to the trash can. Mary and Charlie climbed back into the backseat of Mrs. Henderson's car, headed south to the Cedartown Methodist Orphanage.

Charlie looked over at Mary, concern etched on his little 9 year old face. "Sister, are you okay? You don't look so good." "I think I'm allergic to ice cream." She stated. Mrs. Henderson laughed from the front seat. "That's impossible, Mary. You're file says you're only allergic to penicillin." Mary's face scrunched up with determination, "Oh, no Mrs. Henderson. I really am allergic to ice cream. I'm gonna be sick." "You'll be fine. We're almost there. You're just not used to riding in cars. Don't look out the window so much. It'll make you car sick."

Just as she said that Mary doubled over in the backseat, throwing up all over Mrs. Henderson's new car. Mrs. Henderson gasped and quickly pulled the car over to the right-a-way. Mary's only thought was that she hoped Mrs. Henderson didn't punish her. She still had bruises from their last foster home. "Are you okay, Mary? You should have told me to stop." "I told you I was allergic to ice cream and I was going to be sick." the seven year old stated matter-a-factly. Mrs. Henderson couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her lips. Such a shame, she thought. Four beautiful, smart children being split up like that. The children's father had died a couple of years prior and their mother was shameful. She honestly had no idea how to keep her skirt down. A shame indeed. The state's limited funding prevented the children from being able to stay together. Hopefully that would change in the future, she thought. Hearing Mrs. Henderson chuckle and seeing the concern and sweet, gentle eyes of Mrs. Henderson immediately let Mary know that Mrs. Henderson would not punish her for being allergic to ice cream. Mary sighed with relief.

After cleaning up the backseat, they continued down Highway 3 toward the orphanage. Arriving there, instantly sent butterflies to both Mary and Charlie's stomachs. They had never seen an orphanage this big before. Mary took a deep breath and silently prayed that everything would be okay, and that her mother would get better and then they could go live with her again, like she promised. She must be really sick to not be able to look after us. Mothers were supposed to look after their children. Mary made a silent promise to herself, when she had children, she would care for them, no matter how sick she was. She'd never let someone else have her children or hurt them like..... Mary shuddered at the thought. She didn't want to think about that last home again. Or him and what he did to her. No, her children would never know what that felt like.