The Courage That It Takes To Live

Chapter 1/ Thrown Out

It was late at night and everyone was sound asleep, well except for me. I just couldn't sleep with all we had to worry about, the shortage of food and the threat of sickness in town. We couldn't afford anyone who got sick, we simply wouldn't have the money for the medicine. I should mention that my names Mary a young fourteen year old girl who lives with my mom and five siblings, I'm also act as if I'm the second parent when mother out at the saloon or returns drunk. I sighed and then looked out the window and up to the sky and silently prayed to God that my family stayed safe and that no one got sick. After I finished I layed back down and I started to drift off to sleep.

The next morning
My mother came in the room and woke me up early she said she had something to discuss with me. I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I was in trouble, yet I didn't know why. She took me outside to the garden and told me to sit down on the cold stone bench. "Listen Mary, it hurts my heart to say this but... I can no longer afford to take care of you and your siblings, from now on you must work at Ms. Pearls orphanage as a maid and you have to take your siblings with you" she said sadly. "But mother there is no way I can work at an orphanage and take care of my five siblings, plus I don't want to leave you" I said as I started to cry. She put her hand on my face and told me to dry my tears " Once your siblings are awake get them dressed and leave please" she said as tears rolled down her face. I got up and walked away,  I went upstairs to wake up my siblings. I have five siblings one is Tim he's 5, then there Angie she's 7, Eliza who is 8, John who is 9, and Ben who is 12. I'm closer to Ben because he's almost as old as me so we have a stronger bond. I walked up the stairs into the bedroom, I woke Ben up first so he could help me get everyone ready to go. "Ben c'mon it's time to wake up and get ready to go" I said quietly "What are you talking about it's Saturday we don't have church today" he said "I know but we have to leave, I'll explain it on the way there" I said. "Yes Mary" he said as he slowly got out of bed. We both woke everyone else up and helped Tim and Angie get dressed. We all went downstairs and ate porridge for breakfast, mother wasn't even there, you think she would be considering this was the last time she was going to eat breakfast with her kids before she kicked us out for financial reasons... When everyone was finished I went to go find mother so everyone could say there last goodbyes. She came out of her bedroom and gave everyone a hug and a kiss. We then left and started walking to town, along the way I explained why we were leaving and what was going to happen to us. They were all shocked and confused as much as I was. "Don't worry guys everything is going to be ok, now Ben you'll also have to get a job." "Yes Mary" he said. We arrived in town and started walking towards the orphanage. As we were crossing the street a carriage was going really fast and was about to run into us it seemed as if they couldn't stop, I quickly rushed everyone to the other side of the street. But just when I thought we were safe I realized Angie was still in the middle of the road staring at the fast moving carriage in horror. I wanted to save her but I was frozen from fear, oh god please help us!