Chapter 1/Prologue type thing

My name is Eden. According to Charlie and Anita my name is the only thing my parentd gave me. Besides my long, dark eyelashes, thick, curly, unmanagable, raven black hair, and too-light, thin lips. I never knew my birth parents but their gifts were pretty crappy in my opinion. I was always ridiculed because I had a holy name no one thought I deserved. And it's not as if I'm ugly, but I'm not pretty enough to get the kids at school to accept me. Plus there's the old taunt about my hair matching my dark soul. I'm not quite sure what problem they have with me. I mean sure I wear old clothes that don't fit right, and mostly keep to myself. But that doesn't mean I'm evil. 

My adoptive parent's aren't all that great either. The only reason they even adopted me was to get a monthly check from the state. That was the only reason they adopted any of us. They had adopted three kids including me. Conner was two years older than me and working two part-time jobs to help out with the money. Sweet Ellie is only ten and still believes Charlie and Anita are her parents. She still believes I'm her older sister.

In this house it's a tradition to tell the child they were adopted on there eleventh birthday. After that birthday the presents stop coming. It's a way to save money. And you don't really care much because you don't want to celabrate with our "parents" anyway. Conner and I get eachother presents, though, if we can scrape up enough money to buy them. Of course sweet little Ellie picks us flowers and draws us pictures at school. 

Out of us three I feel the worst for her. She's so young and trusting. Charlie and Anita picked her out from the adoption center when I was twelve. That night I heard them saying she was a good choice because she would be quiet and wouldn't cause trouble. They said that she would be easy to handle and that with her being so small they wouldn't have to waste all their money on her food. 

I told Conner about the conversation later that night. Ever since then we have tried to cause as much trouble as possible. We caused so much trouble that they threatened to get rid of us. That made us scale it down a little. We may not like it here, but we have to protect Ellie. Conner and I may not be the best people, but we know Ellie needs our help. 

Chapter 2

Today is December sixteenth. Today is my birthday. I'm turning fifteen at eleven p.m. Today I will go to school and pretend that I don't care that I won't have any friends coming over for a party. Pretend I don't care that I have no friends, besides Conner, to begin with. Pretend I don't care that my birthday, the day I should celebrate my life, has been ruined by my foster parents. 

Today I will struggle to decide if I should just run away, then dismiss the idea when I realize that it would mean leaving Conner and Ellie to fend for themselves. Leaving the only two people who have ever shown me kindness behind. 

Right now I have to struggle with dragging myself out of my warm bed. After sitting wrapped in my blanket for another minute, I crawl out of bed and tentatively put my foot on the ground. We can't really afford to heat the house, so the floor is usually freezing in our cold Indianna weather. 

I lay my foot flat on my floor, and suprisingly I don't have the urge to scramble back under the covers. The cold hardly affests me.

Ignoring this phenomenon I walk to my dresser and pull out the first clothes I can find. After changing into my ragged old sweater and blue jeans, I walk to the kitchen to eat breakfast before Charlie and Anita wake up. 

"EDEN!!!" A small figure hurls itself at me and almost knocks me over.

"Hey, Ellie," I scoop her up into my arms and squeeze her tight, trying to warm her.

"Eden it's your..." she paused for dramatic effect, then screams, "BIRTHDAY!"

"I know, Honey, but you've gotta be a little quieter or you'll wake up Anita and Charlie."

"But I'm so excited, I made you a birthday present and everything."

 "I know and I'm excited to see my present, but how about we make breakfast first."

 "Okay... can we make chocolate chip pancakes?"

"Sure, we'll make whatever you want. Now why don't you go wake up Conner?" 

"Alright!" she wiggles out of my arms, and runs down the hall to Conner's bedroom.

She's going to turn eleven in eight months but she still acts so young.

I hear a small rustle behind me and turn around. Conner is rounding the corner in the hall, trying to sneak up on  me. 

"Hey, no scaring the birthday girl!" I say in mock anger.

He gives me puppy dog eyes, "I wasn't trying to scare you, I'm offended you'd even think it."

"Yeah, I'm sure. Now come over here and help make breakfast."

"Yes, mam..." I narrow my eyes at him. He holds his arms up apologetically, "I mean yes sir."

"Much better," I smile at him, "now you start the eggs, and I'll make the batter with Ellie." 

I walk into the living room to get Ellie. She's watching cartoons on the small tv, as per usual in the morning.

"Ellie, do you wanna help me mix the pancake batter."

"Hmmmm..." she strokes her pretend beard, "do I get to eat some chocolate chips?"

I laugh, Sure, why not?"

"K, then I'll help."

"Alright. You get the chocolate chips, flour, and sugar from the pantry. I'll get the rest."

"Okay... do I get to stir?"

"If you want to."

"I do," she replied, as she follows me into the kitchen.

 After breakfast Ellie brings me my present. It's a drawing of us when she fell off the swing at the playground and I had to carry her home. 

"This is really good Ellie, thank you."

"There's more on the back."

On the back she wrote a note, "When I get hurt, my big sister always helps me. My big sister is the best. She always makes me have good days, so I'm going to give her the best birthday ever." Tears well up in my eyes, Ellie somehow manages to be both younger and older than she really is.

I swoop her up in my arms and spin her around. "Oh Ellie it's perfect, I love it." I kiss her forehead, and hug her tighter. "And you accomplished your mision."

For a moment she's really solemn, like she knows how much I needed that present. Then she's her crazy self again, "Yay, I'm so glaaaaad you like it!" She's got the biggest smile on her face. It makes me smile, too. 

"Well after that present I feel like mine is lame,' Conner speaks up.

"I'm sure it's amazing."

"Yeah, but not as good as Ellie's."

"Of course it's not," Ellie crawls out of my arms and walks over to Conner with her arm out. "Pay up, Conner.'

"Wait, did you guys make a bet?"

They look at me guiltily. I spear them with my eyes.

Conner speaks first, "Ummmm... maybe..." He looks like he's going to wet himself.

I laugh until I can hardly breathe. "I'm just kidding," I choke out between gasps. "You should have seen your face." I laughed again. "I mean I"m not saying it's great that you're gambling with a ten year old, but..."

Ellie is giggling.

"Hahaha very funny, Eden," Conner grumble, but he looks slightly amused, too.

Conner hands me a small box wrapped in blue paper, and hands Ellie a five dollar bill. Conner's present is a beautiful silver locket, with the design of a full moon with a wolf head inside of it on the front.

"I saw it, and I know how muchyou like wolves, so..."

"It's beautiful, but it must have cost a fortune."

"It was on clearance at the antique shop."

I smile at him, "It's great."

I put the chain around my neck, and open the clasp on the locket. I fold up Ellie's picture and place it inside.

"There, now I'll always have them with me."

 

Chapter 3

School is dragging by. I can't wait to leave. Usually I would rather be at school then home, but today Charlie amd Anita are going to ne gone late. That means Conner and I are watching Ellie. It also means we will all get a real meal.

Impressum

Texte: Me
Lektorat: Me
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.06.2015

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