~~PROLOGUE: 18 And Counting~~
"Once upon a time, there was a peaceful country. This country had many peaceful villages with peaceful neighborhoods and peaceful families. These families had peaceful lives and every human and animal was at peace. Their world was a peaceful place. Then, one day, something not-so-very peaceful happened..."
"What," my smaller 'brother' Taro asked, "What happened to the peaceful people?" He, unfortunately, got really into every story I told him. To his downfall, of course.
"That day, in this peaceful village..." I took a big dramatic breath and practically yelled, "Aliens invaded the city, killed everyone, and ate their puppies for breakfast!"
My 'brother', being a gullible six-year-old, immediately screamed and ran crying for our 'mom'. I didn't know I could laugh so hard.
"SORA!!!!!" That... would be my 'mom' calling. As I take this time to walk calmly towards the kitchen where the screaming was heard, I think I should fill you in on what's going on.
My name is Sora. Yeah. That's it, because I hate my last name. It isn't even mine. I was adopted into this current home. Note I said current, because this is my eighteenth adoptive family. My real parents dropped me into an orphanage at age two, I think. Something about illegitimate childbirth. (I still kind of hate them, but at least they didn't have me aborted.)
I stayed an orphan until I was six, when an elderly couple adopted me. I was happy with them, but they returned me to the orphanage after a week because I was "too much of a hassle for their kind, loving hearts." I couldn't believe it. They just returned me like spoiled milk at a grocery store. Wonder if I have an expiration date, too. During the next eleven years, I was shipped to and from homes and the orphanage, and now I'm here.
I looked at my "mom's" face, noticing the all-to-familiar glint of anger and malice to her frown. She hated me from the first day I was here. I guess scaring her real kid was too much for the old hag. Not my fault she adopted a seventeen-year-old into a single-parent one-kid home. I looked intently at the linoleum floor as she chewed me out. At the end of her rant, I noticed her dialing the phone, calling the only number I've ever memorized, the Chicago Public Orphanage.
With a blank look, I walked slowly out of the kitchen, as my now 'ex-mom' called for arrangements to pick me up. I walked up the short staircase to my bedroom and began repacking my suitcase. I'd only been here for three days. That has to be a new record. Throwing in the last of my shirts and my small wallet (containing only about $30 in cash), I closed the zipper. Sitting on my bed, I fiddled with my lucky ring on my right index finger.
It was pure platinum, dotted with miniscule emeralds and sapphires. It was a going-away present from my first adoptive family, the old couple. They were so kind about the whole situation, giving me the ring at my departure saying it was lucky, and I should wear it wherever I go. I knew it had to be worth hundreds, yet I would never dare sell it.
"Sora, dear. Can you come down here for a minute?" A forced-out sweet voice called, and I took the suitcase down with me. Appearing around the corner, I saw my 'mom' and 'brother' holding hands sitting on their couch. I sighed, resting the suitcase against a wall, and stood before the jury.
"Sora," apparently 'mom' was surprised I packed already, "You overheard?" I nodded. "Well," she stated, "Your ride will come in five minutes. I'm sorry to let you go back there, but..." She shifted on the couch, hands folded on her lap, "I guess adopting an older girl like you was too much for me to handle. You are so sweet and pretty, but you are..." She said looking up at me again, "not the right person for Taro to grow up with." She nodded at the boy, who was currently playing with a toy cal, making sound effects.
I took in the scene. One overbearing mother, trying to display her hatred-soaked feelings with sweet words. One small kindergarten-aged boy crashing a plastic toy repeatedly into a pillow. And me, one punk-looking teen who has heard this speech so many times before. I couldn't help my self. I took a step forward, clenched my fist and...
...Laughed harder than a hyena getting it's hair done in a beauty parlor watching a clown dressed like fish juggle flaming rubber chickens while balancing on a turtle eating spaghetti. I couldn't help myself! Sorry! Still guffawing after a minute I looking my 'mom' in the eye, and stated-
"Don't worry! I've been to eighteen families with the same problems! If I have lasted this long on my own, I'll be fine wherever I go next! Besides, if I am still at the orphanage when I turn eighteen. They'll let me go to start my own life!" I finished with a smile, and started giggling again at the confused face this woman was making. Outside I hear a car horn, a very familiar one. "Bye!" I said waving, taking my suitcase and walking out the front door. Behind me, I heard Taro utter 'bye' back. I smiled and got into the car.
Author's Note--
My other story is a flop so far, I guess because of it's pointless prologue. I hope you people think this prologue is of decent size and valor. Yesh, the story of an orphan being put into a crazy sitaution has been told before, but I will give it a twist. Nothing in this prologue has been copyrighted, but if there are any six-year-olds named Taro or an orphanage with the true name Chicago Public Orphanage, the resemblance is purely accidantal. Sora actually is my name though, so I'm fine leaving that alone. I would be pleased if any readers would like to submit a review of this story so far and/or give ideas for upcoming chapters (yes, this will not be a one-shot. next chapter in a few days.)
P.S.- The whole 'hyena conundrum' was my idea. If you wish to use it, please mention I was the creator! :D