Born A Rocket || FIRST

4. DIRECT LAKE ORPHANAGE AND NURSERY HOME

Settling in this room, nobody really looked at us, a quick glance or two but nothing important. They all probably Have seen people come and go all the time, so i guess they're used to it. I decided to get a top bunk, which creaked at every move i made. Enoise Was the bottom bunk under me, and she was already asleep as soon as she laid down because it was 11:00 O'Clock at night. The kids and teens were heading to sleep, and I stayed up for another hour just, thinking... thinking about when ill see Mama again, thinking about how long ill have to live in this... Place.

I miss the toys i played with, the tiny rocketships, planes, and i miss my laptop...I wish it was here so i could look up more things about space. I always wished to work for a space station, but Mama told me that was just a dream. A dream that wouldnt come true, Because we were black.

But i dont think its a dream. One day, i wish to see the atmosphere, see the moon and all the pretty stars that me and Anita used to so when i was 6 years old. We would be outside for hours just, gazing out. Sometimes we would skip our bedtimes just to go outside and look, A plane would fly by a few times and i never forgot the times where Mama would come outside screaming her head off at us so we would go back inside. Memories...

It was now 12:13 and i was starting to get sleepy. I called it a night and slept in the creaky bed, listening to snores and not being comfortable, but it was better then if we slept on concrete.

***********

Ring! Ring! Ring!

I rubbed my eyes and leaned to my side and saw a stamped of kids and teens running out the room making a ruckus all at once, i didnt understand why, but All 9 of us got up and followed. When we got to the destination where everyone ran too, I was shocked.

There were over 200 kids crammed in a cafeteria, eating. I realized why everyone was running, it was because there were almost no seats left. The line everyone was in was so long, it was almost like 4x the size of the ones i go through at my old school!

Oh, yea... School...

I miss school.

After a few minutes, i finally got to the trays as i picked one up and stared at what was infront of me. It was a cup with two chicken nuggets in it. I picked one up and i wanted to cry almost, nothing to eat? wow, what a home. That was ALL they had aswell, No milk left, no Oranges left, not even a PB&J. All of us couldnt sit together because there was no room, so we all had to split up. I decided to go to a table with around 30 teens, Which i guess was decided by age, i didnt want to eat the chicken nuggets, because if i ate them too fast i wouldnt have anything to eat.

"Hey You, curlyhead."

I looked up and i laid my eyes on a boy, he had Chocolate like skin, And he had beautiful light brown eyes. For a second, i studied his face and then I smiled.

"I have a name, actually." I said.

"Well, tell me. Im Devon." He held his hand out.

I put on a smug face. "Im Juniper. Nice to meet you Devon." I shaked his hand.

************

1:00 P.M.

Back on The top bunk, I covered my ears as the loud screaming and running around was happening around the room. But, somehow i heard a sudden knock on the door.

I got off the creaky bed and went and opened the door and i was a bit stunned, it was Devon.

"Oh, hey Devon." I smiled looking at his pretty brown eyes.

"Hey, Hey- Juniper, Do you want to go to the playground with me?"

I raised a brow at him, "Playground?"

"Here, ill show you!" He took my arm and we dashed down the hall, down the stairs, and we entered a giant room with a few kids in it playing, it wasn't so noisy though. He took me to a bench and we made small talk. I told him how i just came here, and, About Mama...

"Im sorry to hear about your mother, Ive been here for 8 years." He sighed.

My jaw dropped once again, "8 YEARS! Thats so long! you...You haven't been adopted?"

He shook his head. "Ive been here for 8 years, because my mother was a huge alcoholic and one night she got in huge car accident, and died instantly... The authorities asked if any of my other family members would like to take custody of me, but they all shut their doors on me."

I wanted to give him a hug but that seemed too weird, so i just said I'm sorry.

I learned alot about him, and he learned alot about me. I told him how i wished i would work in the outer space, and explore outside of earth. He laughed, and i don't think he thought i was serious. Nobody thinks i am. Because one, I'm black, And two, I'm a Woman.

************

3:30 P.M.

We were heading back up to my room and then i looked over my shoulder and i saw the blue lights. The same blue lights i saw as when we first got here. I wanted to go see them, just to see what they were.

We walked up the stairs, down the hall, and back to my very noisy room. I said bye to Devon, and climbed up my bunk. But then i heard Anita call my name, so i got through the crowd of kids and went to her side of the room.

"Sooooo, tell me the details!" She said shrieking.

"What details?" I said confusingly.

"Um, the boy you just left to go out with." She smirked.

"First of all, i didn't go out with him we just went to the playground, 2nd of all, his name is Devon, and were just friends." I scoffed at her, turned around and started heading back to my bunk.

When i got to my bunk, i decided i should go and see what those blue lights were. Maybe it was a disco room? I'd have to find out!

I got off the bunk and I headed out the door and i went back down the stairs and i found the blue lighted room. I walked in and it was dark, and it had a giant glass between me and the lights, and then i saw it, It was babies!

I love babies, they are so cute and sometimes they're annoying, but i love them so much. And ontop of that, these were newborns. I felt bad for them, because they were born and they are going to grow up in this place, but those are only the lucky ones. Some wont find a home, maybe for a few years...

I looked at them for a while before i decided i should go back.

I went all the way back to my room and everyone was gone. I wondered where they were, And i assumed they were at lunch.

Crap, I'm the last one!

I ran faster than ever to the cafeteria and i saw that everyone was seated and there were no seats left, and there was only milk left, and it was hot- not cold.

I picked up my milk and i left the cafeteria. Nowhere to sit, so i had to go and eat in the room. I went all the way back up and i drank my milk.

*************

7:00 P.M.

The kids and teens were just talking and talking and i was so bored. I dont know if i can stay here longer, i really just want to see Mama, i dont know why we cant see her- I just hope shes alright.

CODE PURPLE! CODE PURPLE!