Not Alone

01

Life in the orphanage wasn't bad, but sometimes we go to bed hungry.

The orphanage I am from was unknown and very poor. There are not a lot of kids here and we are rarely ever adopted. Whatever that is. I've never been adopted, nor do I think that I ever will. I've been here all my life. And I don't think that that will change.

Me being one of the oldest means that I have a lot of responsibility with helping out, taking care of the kids, having a job, getting good grades, and cooking meals. The list goes on.

The day was like any other. We were woken up by Mrs. Houchens screeching for us to get up.

Don't get me wrong, Mrs. Houchens is nice and all, but her voice will make you want to carve out your eardrums.

I get up to get dressed for the day. By the time I'm ready it is time for me to go get the little kids ready for school. Once the five toddlers were ready for daycare and the two preschoolers and three elementary kids were dressed and ready, I and Mitchell, the only other high schooler in the orphanage, walked everyone to the different school areas.

I took the all kids to where they are supposed to be on time. I was better at dealing with the kids than Mitchell. Poor guy can't get a break. They make him cry and overwhelm him a lot.

"Okay, guys have a great time!" I say while hugging all of the toddlers' goodbye as I drop them off. "And Thomas, no biting!" I say sternly. He just gives me a toothy grin and runs off to play.

"I'll pick them up around three-thirty, Miss. Gina."

"Okay, we will be here. Go before you guys are late!" She shoos us off. I walk the elementary kids, Jenny, Andie, and Grayson to the elementary building.

"Be safe and be kind!" I say to them as they hug me before walking into the building. I was a mother figure to the kids I guess, they don't know anything else. I don't know maybe. I quickly make my way to the other side of the elementary school and down half a block.

I quickly rush to my locker and grab my stuff for my first four classes. I slam my locker shut and turn around to rush to my homeroom.

My actions are completely destroyed as I ran into someone. My folders and books fly all over the place and papers fall out and slowly fall to the ground.

"I am so sorry!" I exclaim, knowing that this was partially my fault.

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart. It was my fault." The deep voice says kindly and helps me pick up my stuff. The late bell rings and I look up at the stranger that I knocked into. "Do you think that you could help a fellow out and point me to the direction of the office?" The mysterious man asks. He has a familiar accent. Australian I think.

"Yeah. It's on the other side of the building, I'm sorry. I have to get to class, but here is a map of the school. I say while getting it out of my locker.

"Thanks, hun." He says with a smile.

"No problem! Bye, sir!" I wave to him and rush off to my homeroom.

We were waiting for the announcements to go on. Apparently, there is something big going on.

"Hello everyone good morning! Today we have a special announcement! Starting tomorrow ending at the end of the month, there will be a physical that everyone will have to do." This makes me feel sick. I really don't like doctors. Never have and I don't think that I ever will. "Your teacher will pass out consent forms that will grant the doctor permission to do the physical.

They will commence in the health room next to the nurse's office...

The boy's basketball team has an away game with..." The announcements continue for the next five minutes. All of us were bored out of our minds.