Kenadee Andersson, Thats who anyone ever cared about. The Andersson family were so famous because of their perfect blonde haired blue eyes girl with a smile that people would die for. Not me, I was overshadowed by my sister. No-one ever knew me... Salem, TJ... that other Andersson child. Thats why I left when I was 15. Why should I stay? No-one knew me, no-one would miss me. Well maybe Petter's family,but they'll get over it.
I ran to England when I was 15, sure over there you're meant to be with an adult, I was still a child... But I was just another mysterious girl who turned up one day, no friends and that is how it should stay. If I have no friends then I cannot be hurt by people.
I sat outside a colourful bright building and closed my eyes, imagining life at home. Sweden, the forests with an almost constant layer of snow. My home town, a small village built out of the wood of the forest, we didnt have much, but we had the earth. I started to sketch on the paper I had found. The pine trees delecatly tipped with pure white snow, lakes which were frozen over just thick enough to skate on. The elks in the forest just in sight, looking in wonder at the scene before them.
"Thats amazing" I heard a rough voice say. I looked up to see the shop owner looking at my picture. I looked at it and saw the lake by my home town, perfectly drawn out.
"Tak" I whispered. He raised an eyebrow "Thank you" I muttered and stood up, brushing myself off and looking around. "You probably want me to leave..." I muttered.
"Do you have somewhere to go?" He asked, looking down at me intently. I shook my head and pulled at my coat which was in tatters. "Family?" I shook my head once again.
"No-one. I ran from home" I admitted, he wrapped an arm around my back and I flinched.
"Its okay, Im not going to hurt you... just get you out of the cold" He chuckled and his old eyes sparkled, "Im Vincent, I own this place" He said and I smiled then followed him into the warm building. I was instantly overwhelmed by the buzzing and chatter of many people in the shop.
"Its so warm" I whispered, the warmth burning my skin. Vincent chuckled and lead me towards a rom in the back, I could see the people's eyes on me as I passed.
"Ignore them, they jus' havent seen a girl as small as ya in 'ere. 'ow old are ye anyway?" He asked and nodded to a seat. I sat down and sighed. My mind started to translate his words slowly, the accent making things more difficult. I think he was asking my age... or how long I been here. Shut up. He'll think you're stupid if you dont say something!
"16 I think, I'm not sure how long I have been here" He nodded and flicked a small red thing, light beamed out of it and my eyes widened. He chuckled and I looked aroudnt he room, why is it so lightwithout candles... and the colours on the perfectly flat walls. I wonder which tree this was made from... none from Sweden.
"When were ya' born?" His voice asked from behind me where he had cups and was clanging them slowly. I bit my lip.
"July... the 12th" I said and he nodded.
"okay, well it's now August so I would 'ssume you're 16 now love" He said and passed me cup which was warm and had a sweet smell pouring from it. I breathed in deeply and smiled. "Its Tea... you drink it" Vincent said and I smield then took a sip, the smell not comparing vastly to the flavour.
"It's good" I said and looked up.
"Indeed, so... why's a young lass like y'self doing all alone out 'ere?" Vincent asked softly as he sat in a worn seat opposite me. I looked down and sighed.
"Im... I was invisible, and my sister was so loved... no-one liked me if they did notice me. I wasn't as good as her. So I left when I became an adult. I was tired of it. Im not as perfect as her, as talanted or as beautiful" i said and my voice broke. Vincent placed one of his old hands on my knee and a woman walked in.
"ahh sherie, This is..." He started and I smiled.
"Im Salem" I said and she smiled then sat next to the rough looking man, wrapping one arm around him.
"Well salem, this is my wife Sherie... Sherie, Salem here ran away from home and she's all on her own... she was outside drawing and by god this girl's got damn talent. Possibly the best ol' Vince 'as ever seen. I was thinkin' we give 'er a home. She can work 'ere and earn herself some money?" He said and my eyes widened. The women looked in thought and she smiled at me.
"You're at least 16 right?" Her tender voice asked and I nodded. "Sure, we have a room upstairs. Have you ever tattooed before?"
"No, whats that?" I asked and she patted Vincent then walked out. He smiled and stood up.
"Follow me, I'll show you, if you pick it up fast then you can start working this week" He said and I jumped up. I followed him to another side of the room where there was more metal and colours. He showed me different things and named them. I repeated them and smiled. "The main thing is, dont mess up. Tattoos are permanent, but it's good work" I nodded and he turned on the machine. A small needle started to move and make a buzzing noise. "With this you draw a picture. Changing colours with this..." He pointed to a pallet of bright colours. I nodded and smiled. "what do you like to draw?"
"Trees, birds, animals... Im good at that" I said and he nodded.
"Nature huh, 'ave you ever tried to draw a person? Or a cartoon?"
"I use to draw Patter and his family. And draw pictures for stories. But we didnt have much in my town, so I couldn't draw much" I said and he nodded.
"Well if you just work on pratcicing drawing portraits an' cartoon type pictures... you should do well in 'ere" I smiled and he put out a pad of flat, snow white paper. He passed me many pencils and small bits of white rubber. I smiled and looked up at him then focussed on his face. He reminded me of a sailor. Scruffy beard, small eyes which had seen lots, a smile which made everyone smile. I started scribbling at the page and looked up at times to meet his eyes. Never once did they leave the paper I was using though. "Thats amazing" He whispered. I stopped drawing and looked at the sheet. I had drawn a comic strip of an old batman comic I found last week.
"What person?" I asked unsurly. Vincent looked at me and shrugged.
"What'ver you can think of" He said and I nodded then drew a small person with black hair which fell just into his eyes. I drew bright eyes and smiled then continued drawing his small delicate features. I sighed and glared at the sheet. His hair didnt seem right, I looked out the window and saw a raven sat on a beam outside. He was looking around, alone. His feathers sticking out in all directions and I looked back at my picture. My hand quickly started to scribble again, the man's hair now turning like raven feathers. Sticking out and falling down towards his shoulders. My own black hair fell infront of my face and I tucked it behind my ear then looked up. Vincent took the paper and looked at the man. "Who's this chap then?"
"I dont know... I drew eyes like the lake by my old house, light and deep. Hair like a raven and small delicate features like the fern's leaves" Vincent nodded and walked off with the paper. Moments later Vincent, Sherie and 3 others walked into the room and smiled at me.
"This is our new tattoo artist, Salem" He said proudly, like father use to when someone had just met Kenadee. I felt a smile form on my face and everyone cheered. Sherie walked to me and wrapped her warm arms around me.
"Welcome to the family Salem" She whispered and I smiled at her. "Now... lets go shopping huh, a young pretty thing like you should have lots of clothes and items" I blushed then shook my head.
"I dont need anything, you shouldn't spend your money on me" I said slowly and she messed up my already messy hair.
"Shush child, you are one of us now. Im going to treat you like the daughter I never had"
"Get ready to be spoiled" Vincent laughed and I smiled. They both seemed more caring than my parents ever were. I smiled and she took my hand then walked back into the shopping centre.