The Girl in Lace

Chapter 4

So did you ever visit Brazil, or any unusual country? I never went to Brazil, but I plan on going there when I’m older, I’d love to work in an orphanage there too J

What about you? Is there anything you want to do when you’re older not including work?

Ok, this story won’t stay in Brazil forever; Nalia will be leaving in the next few chapters. So savour it! ;P

The first thing I thought after Alessandra slammed the door quite rudely on me was Wait..didn’t she not speak English?

Apparently she does now. Good to know.

Slowly awakening from my slumber, I rose and put on the first shorts and top I could find. It was deep into the night, I knew. The whole house was unnaturally silenced by the deep slumbers of the inhabitants, and the streets outside were not only darkened, but also noticeably quieter.

I turned the handle on the door and pushed it open. It creaked and I cringed, hoping I wouldn’t wake anybody up. Then I remembered that no one had woken up by Alessandra’s outburst and her slamming of my door. Well, I was in the attic, and they were in the floor below. Maybe they were all good sleepers too.

I found myself walking in the direction of Alessandra’s room. I knocked twice and when I didn’t get an answer, I tentatively opened the door. She was the only other person sleeping up on this floor. Her room was slightly bigger than mine, but only by a few feet. Still, it was a nice room.

Her single bed lay on one side. A worn, old, brown teddy bear lay haphazardly beside her pillow. I smiled, comforted and surprised at seeing him. She had a simple wardrobe and a little box for her belongings. A few photos were stuck onto the plain, peeling plastered wall. I stepped closer, finding something intriguing. I squinted my eyes in the semi lit room. The only light that came in was from the half moon outside. Getting right up close to the photos, I realised to my shock and surprise that it was Ria beside her. Ria hugging her, young Ria sucking a lollipop next to the equally young Alessandra sucking another lollipop beside her, heads touching. Another photograph displayed them slathered, from head to toe, in dark, wet mud. It stuck to their clothes and hair and even parts of their faces. They were grinning like they could have been for a world record. The next photo showed them side-by-side, in a group with others. All the other kids were smiling politely, while they stuck their tongues out and gave each other a knowing, laughing look. A small giggle escaped from my throat. I studied the next picture, which were them when they were young teenagers. They had on matching silver chains. They decorated their bare necks beautifully. On the end clung a soaring bird, with a few tiny crystals embellishing it. Their arms enclosed around each other’s waists. They smiled happily at the camera.

I wanted to look at the other promising photos too, I was completely engrossed, but a loud laugh rang from the street, up and in through the window and straight into my ear. I blinked in surprise, feeling that I had gotten one too many surprises and shocks that night.

Straining my ear, I made out Alessandra chatting cheerfully in Portuguese, then I heard the long, flowing laugh again, and realised that it was Alessandra’s laugh.

I ran over to the open window and leaned out eagerly, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. I guess I leaned out a bit too eagerly because I saw her quite easily, right across the street, talking to a few guys and girls a bit older than her, I guessed. Also, my centre of gravity was quite questionable and I shrieked, fear striking up to my heart as I swung over towards the threatening ground.

“Hey!” A booming voice shouted and met my ears. It successfully managed to get me to snap out of my state of still bodied fear. I gripped the ledge with sorely clenching fingers, feeling like they were about to fall off, and slowly, but surely, I just about managed to push myself back in.