Everything Started Here With You

The Beginning pt.2

It's been close to a year since I last saw Derek. His parents had left in a rush, forcing their children to come along. It might have been my fault, but who was complaining? I had so much fun and it was probably the most fun I had in months.

After they left, the orphanage went back to normal. The staff was rude to us once more and no one was adopted for a few months. I was left with all the hard chores, but I never did them. The older girls were the ones to take up for me. I don't know why, but most of them loved me. I was annoying. Who could possibly love that?!

Today, I was finally getting into some real trouble. Our headmistress addressed the fact that everyone needed to do their share of chores. She had noticed that I was always messing around and never working. She suspected that I had paid the girls to do my work, but where would I have gotten the money? Exactly. She only wanted me to get into trouble, so she could send me to a group home somewhere in the middle of the country.

"I hope you feel good about yourself, Sha'Kera," the headmistress grumbled. I shrugged and crossed my arms. "Because of your messing around, my cat is now in the ICU. I should make you work to pay for the bill."

"Like you would force a nine-year-old to work," I snapped. "I'm not shoveling horse poop again."

"You little--"

"Headmistress, the Harrisons are here," the janitor informed when he came into the room. "They want to see Sha'Kera."

"Sha'Kera?" She questioned. "As in the Sha'Kera who is currently working in the kitchen or the Sha'Kera who is constantly in trouble?"

"Sha'Kera who is always in trouble," he confirmed.

"Are you sure, because I think otherwise."

"They specifically asked for Sha'Kera Michelle Nicole Alverez Davis."

The headmistress looked over to me in disgust. Maybe I am getting out of this hellhole. Maybe I'm not. Doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm getting attention from a family who happens to know my whole name. I smirked and tried to run to the door. The janitor saw me coming and shut the door.

"You really think you're about to be adopted?" Headmistress sneered. I sucked my teeth. Then, why would someone want to come and see me? "Stay here until I come and get you."

"How do I know you won't tell them I already got adopted?" I challenged.

"Who would be stupid enough to believe that?" she snapped and laughed at me.

Well, that was a little harsh. Anyone would believe that if they didn't know me. She was just being mean. She opened the door and I could see the family standing right outside. I noticed the little boy and he looked a little miffed. I would be too if my parents decided to adopt someone else when they already had me.

They conversed for a few minutes about their day when the question was asked. I found myself walking closer to the door to listen. Headmistress saw me coming and moved to block me from their sight. Hey, I was trying to listen, not see them. Not until I figured out if they were adopting me or not.

"Anyway, we're looking for a little girl--"

"We have lots of nice little girls looking to be--"

"She goes by the nickname Keke. We want to adopt her."

How did they know my name? Who were these people?

When Kahlan was born....

"Here is our son, Thomas," Christina said. I took a long look at him and decided he would make due as a servant for a while. I also noticed how skinny and tall he was. I thought he was like seven or something! Quit it, Keke. My conscience scolded me. He had done nothing to you.