I will never forget you…
By Mallory Quinn
In this story, I wanted to have a little fun… "What if the situations were reversed?" Enjoy! Oh yeah, one more detail, it's set in modern times!
Chapter 1
"Happy times"
I was snowing, big snow flakes that year. Spring had mad itself scarce, it was the beginning of May, but it was snowing like it was January. There was a house who took in children who didn't have parents. The house was called the Pony Home. There were two women who took care of there poor children; Miss Pony and Sister Maria. They had a heart of gold and they took care of those children with the help of some volunteers and the government who was helping them. Some companies were helping them too, but it was to get a big tax exemption… But you couldn't refuse the money, especially when they needed it so much.
The two brave women and the volunteers were feeding the children in the evening. One of the little girls, Tam, who was about a year old, was being difficult.
- But, what's going on? Said Miss Pony, she's usually not this difficult… come on Tam, calm down and eat…
But the little one continued crying, she pushed her plate away, splashing Miss Pony on the face and she walked to the window.
- Oh! Said Miss Pony looking for a paper towel, Tam!
- She walked to the window and she's pointing outside, said sister Maria
- Don't you hear the cries? Said a little boy
- What cries? Said Miss Pony
She listened more carefully and she heard baby cries; a crying baby.
- Sister Maria, do you hear that? Said Miss Pony
- Yes, sounds like babies crying, said Sister Maria, outside in the snow, let's go see!
The two women walked to the door and they opened it. A freezing breeze was felt in the hallway of the orphanage, with the snow. Sister Maria followed the baby cries, and she found one by the big tree. It was covered with snow, and it was crying because he was starting to get cold. She took the baby and she took the snow off its face. It had a little sponge car and there was name on it that said; "Terry"
- Oh, look at you, all covered in snow, all white… Terry, that's your name? Since you're all white, we're going to call you Terry White…
The baby stopped crying as soon as he was in the nun's arms, secured and warm. But they could still hear baby cries.
- Sounds like there's another baby, said Sister Maria walking towards the house, take this one…
She gave the baby to Miss Pony who had stayed at the door. This last one took the baby and Sister Maria walked towards the other baby cries. She found another baby, crying, a little further from the tree. There was a note which said;
I can't take care of my baby, please take good care of him. He's name is Arny.
- Arny, said Sister Maria, I'm here now, stop crying…
She took the baby inside and put him in a crib next to the other baby.
- Terry White, let me introduce you to Arny, said Sister Maria
- We need to find a surname for him too, said Miss Pony
- Well his name is Arny…why not Jones?
- Arny Jones? Jones sounds so common
- Well it's now the name of our new boarder! Said Sister Maria smiling
- Tam, said Miss Pony, here are your two new little brothers, whom you just saved from the snow…
Tam burst out laughing, looking at the babies, and she ate her meal like she should. All she wanted was to alert her two mothers that there were two new little brothers outside who would've frozen to death in the snow…
The two babies were raised together. Since they were found on the same night, of May 7th, the year when spring made itself scarce, had become the day of their birthday. Ten years later, Terry became a happy little boy, prankster, who bothered little girls. Arny was blond and he was a little more reserved than his brother, a little more scare, but he still bothered little girls. Terry love to bother Tam, pulling her hair, or lifting her skirt. This last one would always follow him to fight friendly with him.
- Terry, that's enough! Said Tam
She was now a pretty little girl with dirty blond hair.
- When are you going to grow up and treat girls well?
- You're not a girl, you're my sister… said Terry laughing
- But I am a girl, Terry, I'm your big sister…
- And I love you so much, big sister Tammy, said Terry lifting her skirt again…
He ran from there. Tam looked at him shaking her head smiling. Terry was impossible, but it was hard to get angry at him. He was very nice, despite his pranks.
Kitten cries where heard and everybody turned around to see what was happening. All the little kittens were tied by the neck to their mother and they wanted to free themselves but they couldn't. Sister Maria looked at the scene horrified.
- TERRY!!!! Yelled Sister Maria, what have you done again!
- What? Said Terry, why are you accusing me?
He was on the top of the big tree. Sister Maria panicked to see him so high on the tree.
- What are you doing up there? Come down immediately!
- All right, said Terry coming down from the tree
- You're really not possible!!!
- I'm sorry I worried you, Sister Maria…
Sister Maria looked at him, he was sorry… but no, this was not the time to be sentimental.
- What are you accusing me of today Sister Maria? Asked Terry
- The kittens…
- How do you know it's me?
- Because only you can get those kind of crazy ideas! Go to Miss Pony's office!
- All right, Sister Maria, said Terry sad
Terry went to Miss Pony's office, who had followed the scene from her window. Terry knocked on the door.
- You wanted to see me, Miss Pony? Said Terry
- Terry, come in my boy, have a seat, said Miss Pony
- Thank you Miss Pony
- Terry, why did you tie the kittens together? You don't know that you hurt them?
- I didn't want to hurt them, Miss Pony…
- Why did you do it then?
- Because I didn't want them to become like me…
- Like you? What do you mean?
- Like me, who lost my mommy… I thought that by tying them together to their mommy, they won't lose her like me… I didn't want to hurt them…
Miss Pony looked at the little boy, who was now very cute and who had long brown hair and big bleu eyes. He was a handsome little boy… so unpredictable; he could be playing tricks one minute, and the next minute show a lot of compassion.
- It's ok, my boy you're not going to be punished. Go untie the kittens and play with your friends…
- Thank you Miss Pony, said Terry smiling
Sister Maria was at the door, and she had listened to the whole scene.
- Miss Pony, you're too good with him, she said
- Sister Maria, when I heard his explanations, I didn't have the courage to argue with him… he had no bad intentions at all…those children need us, they already lost their parents…
- Terry is so full of life, and Arny is sometimes so reserved, but you barely see one without the other.
- If they get adopted by different families, the separation is going to be hard…
Every Sunday, couples came to see if they could adopt a child. Terry had no intention of getting adopted and live with strangers. He wanted to stay at the Pony Home for ever.
- Arny, you want to get adopted? Said Terry
- No, I want to stay here with you forever! He said to his brother
**********
One Sunday, Tam was adopted by a family of farmers. Every body was sad to see her go. Terry was more hurt than the others. He wouldn't have his big sister to tease anymore. He started to sulk and stopped talking to her. Miss Pony noticed what he was doing. She talked to him about it.
- Terry, she said, why are you ignoring Tam?
- Because she doesn't love us anymore, she's leaving!
- She was adopted and she's going to have a mommy and a daddy now…
- Why? Why do we need a mommy and a daddy? We're fine here with you!
- I know, but we're giving you a temporary home, while a mommy and a daddy come and adopt you…
- But why? We're going to be apart and sad…
- You won't see Tam everyday aymore, you really want to ignore her until she leaves?
Terry started to think, and he said to himself that Miss Pony was right. Tam won't be there for him to tease anymore… it wasn't fair!!!
- Alright Miss Pony, I'm going to talk to her…
He got out of the office and he went to see Tam, who was outside getting some fresh air.
- Tam, he said softly
- Terry, said Tam smiling, you're talking to me now?
- Oh Tam! I don't want you to go! He said jumping on her to hug her
- Terry… oh… I got adopted…
- But you can refuse to go…
- No, I want a mommy and a daddy
- But why is everybody like that? Aren't we fine here?
- Yes, but everybody wants to be taken care of exclusively…
- Not me…
- You're special, Terry, said Tam
- Stay with me…
- I have to go; you'll leave some day too…
- No! I'm going to stay here forever!!!!
Terry ran and went to cry on the Pony hill. Why wasn't anybody understand him? All he wanted was, to stay with his family at the Pony Home… he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around
- Arny, he said
- Terry, I'm going to stay with you for good…
- Really? Even if everybody leaves?
- Yes, I'm going to stay with you….
- Thank you Arny, said Terry smiling and hugging him
The time came for Tam's departure. Everybody was outside to wish her good luck. Tam's new parents were there smiling
- Good bye everybody said Tam smiling
- Good bye said everybody, good luck
Tam was going to get in the car with her parents. Miss Pony told Terry, who was still sulking…
- You know, Tam was the one who heard you cry in the snow the day we found you
- What? Said Terry, Tam found us?
- Why haven't you said anything until now? Asked Arny
- Tam! Tammy, yelled Terry
This last one turned around, she was about to get in her parents car.
- Yes? She said
Terry ran to hug her with Arny
- Thank you, thank you Tammy for finding us!
- Oh, she said moved to tears, you're very welcome, little brothers…
- Good luck Tammy said Terry
- Thank you Terry said Tam
- You're going to come and see us? Asked Arny
- Yes, when I can, said Tam
- Good bye Tam, said Terry releasing her
She got in the car with her parents and the car left. She cried in the car. Terry and Arny were also said.
**********
The calm was back at the Pony Home a little time later, a couple came to adopt Arny. Terry was devastated. What? What about their agreement?
- Arny? He said, what is this?
- Terry… I… want a mommy and a daddy…
- But…
- I love you Terry, but… I want a mommy and a daddy for myself…
Terry felt betrayed, but he couldn't be angry at Arny… he had the right to want parents…
- Arny, if it's what you want, said Terry sadly
- You have to understand me, I'm not as brave as you, as independent, I want a mommy who will read me stories, and make my meals…
- I understand, you're going to write me?
- Yes, every week!
That's how Terry found himself without his brother for the first time ever since they found them. The separation was terrible for Terry, he had felt a void… Arny, his brother, his twin, and his best friend wasn't there anymore to play with him… They wrote each other everyday, for a while, than one day, Terry received a letter that was going to devastate him.
My dear Terry,
This letter is the last one I'm writing you. My parents want me to put my old life behind me and to concentrate in my new life. I'm sorry but I won't be able to write you anymore. Don't answer this letter. It's a farewell letter.
Arny Jones Brighton
Terry was on the Pony hill, and he started to cry in silence. The last link he had with Arny, had just been severed for good.
"I don't understand; why are parents like that? Why won't they want Arny to keep contact with his old life, a life he's known forever? They just adopted him, they don't know him like us! Life isn't fair!!!" He said to himself
In the middle of his tears, he heard a weird noise. He opened his eyes, and he had the impression he was daydreaming. He saw a blond girl with a white dress and she was playing the harp…
- Hi, why are you crying?
- I'm sad, said Terry
- Oh come on, don't be sad, you have to laugh and be happy
Terry started by smiling and then laughing.
- You're right, I feel better when I laugh…
- And you're much more handsome when you laugh, than when you're crying…
- What's the name of the instrument you're playing?
- It's the harp…
- It's very beautiful…
- I'm going to play for you, close your eyes…
He started to play the harp and Terry sat down, closed his eyes and fell to the soft music sound. When he woke up, he was alone, he must've been dreaming…but he saw something on the grass, a sign with a "A" on it. He picked it up and put it in his room.
- She disappeared, my princess of the hills, she was beautiful, said Terry, I will give it back to her the next time I see her. I'm feeling much better, she's right; it's a lot better than to be sad….
Terry felt better after his meeting with the "princess of the hills". He became the little boy, prankster and he was also the boss, because he was now the oldest of all the children, the dean. He thought about his princess of the hills often and he was wondering if he would see her again.
**********
Time passed, and Terry was now a young teen, very very handsome. Girls were always after him. They were trying to charm him but… he sometimes did like he didn't see them, and sometimes he would make out with them, without promising anything. He went to public school and went back to the Pony Home to sleep. Sometimes, a lot of girls would come to the Pony Home to see him, so he could help them with their homework. Miss Pony thought it was funny but Sister Maria thought it was a sin…
- Sister Maria, they're young, let them have fun…
- But Miss Pony, the Bible…
- Oh come on Sister Maria, they are only children
- But they can succumb to temptation…
- I know, they're young and their hormones are raging right now, it's almost unavoidable…
- I can only pray for them then…
Terry went to see Tammy at the farm after he finished his homework, to help out a little. Tam's father was paying him for his services. Tam was now a very beautiful young woman who was also going to the local school.
- Terry, you're making yourself a Casanova's reputation…
- It's not my fault if girls are after me…
- You could try to avoid them…
- I like the girls' attention, Tammy, it's fun. What about you big sister, do you have a thing for a guy?
- No, said Tam blushing
- You can tell me…
- You're not going to tease me?
- Only if we're alone, I promise you…
- At least you're honest… ok. There's this boy, Martin Sutton…
- Sutton? That moron? Why would you want him when you can have me?
- Terry, stop! You're my brother and I'm a year older than you…
- A year, it's nothing, it's only… "525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments sodear.525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love.
Seasons of love."
Tam burst out laughing. Terry was so funny when he wanted to.
- You really liked the musical "Rent"
- I love it! I'm happy we went to see it with the school in Chicago
- I can see…if you put it like that… said Tam smiling, but I want Martin, and anyway, you've got enough girls drooling over you as it is…
- But none of them measure up to you…
- Because none of them are resisting you like me… said Tam smiling
They worked and continued talking and Terry went back to the Pony Home and he saw a car parked in front of it. He saw the license plate had the "A" like on the sign he found on the hill, "his princess"… he got in and he found a man talking to Miss Pony.
- Oh Terry, you're back, come in my boy, said Miss Pony
- Good evening Miss Pony, sir…, said Terry
- This is Terry, said Miss Pony. This man came to see if you wanted to be part of the Reagan family…
- The Reagan family?
- Yes, it's one of the richest families in the area
- Oh, said Terry
He thought about the "A" on the license plate. Maybe if he went, he would find his princess…
- Do they have a young girl in the family? Asked Terry
- Yes, said the man
- Then I'll go, said Terry
- What? Said Sister Maria, but Terry, think about it…
- Sister Maria, said Miss Pony, he's made is decision
- Yes, Sister Maria, I'm too old to be adopted, so I'm jumping on the occasion I've been given, said Terry
- But Terry, said Sister Maria heartbroken
- Everything is settle then, said the man, I'll come and get you in 3 days…
- I will be ready, said Terry
- Good, goodbye ladies, Terry.
The man left. And Terry was wondering what possess him to do that. He never wanted to be adopted, and now because he saw the sing of his princess, he says "yes" without thinking? He needed a change and becoming the son of a rich family was a start.
- Terrence, said Sister Maria, are you sure?
- Yes, said Terry
- Ok, then but if you're not ok, you promise to come back?
- Yes, Sister Maria, I will come back if I'm not ok…
She approached him and hugged him for a long time. Miss Pony approached him to hug him too.
- Good luck Terrence said Miss Pony
- Thanks Miss Pony, Sister Maria
Terry got ready for his big move in 3 days. He didn't know what life had in store for him, but he knew that he wasn't going to be bored…