The Gifters

Chapter 2~ Transfer Day

Denise's POV-

It's transfer day at Wickenson's Orphanage. It's the day where, when people spend too long at one orphanage, they get transferred to another. It doesn't happen very often, as many people don't like transferring. But when it does happen, I'm usually one of the first ones on the bandwagon.

Wickensons was the first orphanage I transferred to from the kids orphanage, or McMeadows as it was called. They only took kids up to ten years old, when they stopped being cute, and started being seedy.

That's where Wickensons came in. I've stayed here for about four and a half years. But today will be my last day.

~

It's mid afternoon. We are all about to go in for supper. I only know a few people here who haven't left or been adopted yet. I don't know why no one has chosen me yet. Its just one of those things. And I have the thought that I will never be picked- and I'm okay with that.

We are all lined up outside the Supper hall, waiting to go in. It's always the same routine here- grab a tray, get some food, sit down, and shut up.

Well, not exactly 'shut up', more just sit down and don't talk loudly.

As we file in the door, age group by age group, I grab a fraying tray like all the other kids. For supper tonight, it's mashed potatoes and meatloaf, just like every other Thursday night.

I pick up my tattered tray and take it to an equally tattered table. There at least three different types of chairs at each table in the cafeteria. I sit in my usual spot, near the window in the very corner.

As I sit in my seat, eating the dry and powdery food, I chat quietly with some kids in my age group. It's more of an understatement really, as I don't really talk. I'm only half listening to them. I'm more focused on the official looking men standing in the doorway of the hall, with their attention on my table.

They're chatting to each other and I can't read their lips to see what words they're forming.

As I continue to eat my cardboard and plastic (or meatloaf and potato), the men walk out of the hall, not to be seen again.

I finish my meal and place the plate in the centre of the table with my cutlery beside them, as the routine goes. The twelve year olds are on dishwashing duty tonight.

I sit in silence and wait for my table to be dismissed for showering.

I sit there listening to the racket around me and thinking. What were those men here for? Why are they here? I'm racking my brain for any reasonable explanation when finally, one of the sisters come and dismiss us. We gather our belongings and leave the crowded dining hall.

As we walk to the dorms, there is excited chatter of tomorrow. I walk along by myself, letting the breeze toss my hair playfully.

~

As I emerge from the shower hall, I pull my night gown on and retreat to the recreation room.

There are games in session tonight, but I prefer not to join in. I walk to the arm chair in the corner of the room, and sit reading quietly.

Some 45 minutes later, a sister dips into the room and I look up briefly, watching her gracefully cross the room.

She speaks to the sister in charge and their eyes scan the widespread room.

At almost the same time, their eyes lock with mine and I quickly duck my head back into my book.

Then with one simple sentence from the sisters mouth, the breathe rushes from my body like air escaping a balloon.

"Denise Hunt, I'm gonna need you to come with me."

~

I feel eyes of curious children burning into my back as I exit the room as gracefully as possible.

I walk to the main building and take a seat outside. I sit there for roughly five minutes before the sister calls me in.

I walk to the door and look in.

It's the men from dinner hall.

The breathe catches in my throat.

~~~authors note~~~

~ thanks for reading this chapter guys. Please leave feedback in comments section.

I'm sorry for ending it on a cliffhanger. Next chapter should be up in a couple of days.

~littlemockingjaypin