It was a long day for Max Ride. She had just finished sweeping the floor and making the beds for all rooms of the orphanage, and tucking in her favorite child, Gazzy.
Gazzy was strong for his age. He had broad shoulders and spiked up blonde hair. His eyes were always tired and gloomy, but that didn't stop Max from loving the handsome ten years old. Max always thought to herself that one day when he's adopted she would not be able to be as strong as she was in this shit.
"Get your asses up, you scrummy little good for nothing children!" Mrs. Goldren hollered. Her voice echoed throughout the tiny room of six children so loud that everyone sat up alarmed in the next second. Her big frame made its way to Max with a threatening death glare.
"Maxine-"
"It's Max." Gazzy corrected quietly. Mrs. Goldren turned to face him, but right when she was about to slap his already bruised face, Max held on to Mrs. Goldren's hand so Gazzy could make a run for it behind the bed.
"Get your filthy hand off me, ugly, blonde creature!" And Max took the slap instead. Hiding the pain that the slap had caused her, Max got up off the bed and headed towards the four younger kids. "I want the dishes downstairs cleaned, and the beds reorganized. If I return and nothing is done correctly one of you kids will be spending the night outside." With those final words, Mrs. Goldren slammed the door shut. A minute later the little kids huddled up against the window to see her get into her old Mustang and leave the orphanage.
"Any brilliant plan now, Max?" Iggy asked. Iggy was the same age as Max, except much taller. Him and Max were the ones who basically took care of the four younger kids for three to four years now. (depending on the days the kids first entered the shithole) Iggy's strawberry blonde hair started glinting from the birght light outside and inside, just like his light blue eyes that were hoping for an escape plan.
"No." Max murmured. Gazzy let out a sad sigh, not even noticing that his hand was still clutching the bed's legs tightly. "But I know one thing."
"Do tell." Iggy said sarcastically, rolling his eyes and falling back unto the crappy bed.
"We clean till we die."
When Mrs. Goldren got back from her daily shopping, Max had just finished scrubbing the last dirt spot off the wall. Her eyes became droopy an hour ago, but her messy blonde hair covered her chocolate colored eyes and dirty face. "Very nice." Goldren smirked. "Now go on, Mommy needs to make her dinner." Max rolled her eyes and headed up the creaky stairs into her shared room.
"Max, Max!" Gazzy cried.
"yeah?" She asked, not really in the mood for the childish play.
"Sophie got to take a shower! Why don't I get one?" Max, being the sixteen year old she was, became so jealous that moment that her eyes probably turned green. Sophie was about seven years old, but Max always thought she looked about eleven till now.
"How?"
"Max! Don't tell Mrs. Goldren, please! I was dirty and tired and I wanted a shower." Tiny tears filled in Sophie's eyes and fell unto Iggy's finger that just magically appeared.
"Family doesn't tell on family, Soph." Iggy smiled down to her. Sophie gave a tiny nod, but Max couldn't utter one word of comfort. Sophie, the little girl that came here not so long ago got a shower but not her? She, who had been her for six years wiping shit off everything?
"I hate this place! I want to get out! I need to get out!" Max had finally cracked. Gazzy, Sophie, Sam and Fred all took a step back from her but Iggy placed a hand on the small of her back.
"I know, Max. I know." Just then the doorbell rang. Everyone went quiet in that little room, and so did the rest of the rooms in the halls.
"Somebody's leaving today." Fred, ten years old, whispered. Max nodded at him then inched closer to their locked room door.
"Hello." A friendly voice spoke form downstairs.
"Why, hello there!" Mrs. Goldren voice sent shrills down Max's back, it was so different. "Follow me, Miss….?"
"Martinez."
"Very well." Max's room was always the first door in the hall so she backed away from the door quickly and ran to her bed. The kids and Iggy followed along. Max's breath stopped when the door creaked open slightly and four people came in.
The first one was Mrs. Goldren. After, came in a pretty, tall woman with a little curly haired girl holding on to her hand tightly. Behind them stood a black haired, tall, messy haired boy. He looked exactly like the mom, but nothing like the little girl tucked behind her mother's long jacket. "Maxine." Mrs. Goldren spoke. Max stood up, ignoring the fact that her name was mispronounced. "May you please introduce everybody to Mrs. Martinez here, sweetie?" Not going to hit her, not going to hit her, Max thought to herself loudly.
"This is Gazzy. Sam. Fred. Sophie and Iggy." Max took a look at the little girl hiding and smiled at her. She loved little kids, mostly because she spent half her life parenting them. But also because whatever they did they were always innocent. That's why Max was never adopted. People that came to adopt always want little kids to start off from the beginning. So if Max couldn't get adopted she was always hoping for Gazzy.
"And your name is Maxine, my dear?" Mrs. Martinez asked. Max shook her head but managed a small smile.
"Max. Just Max." Mrs. Martinez grabbed Max's dirty hand by surprise and held it firmly.
"I have decided." Damn. This woman was quick. Max hoped she would say Gazzy. She prayed Mrs. Martinez would pick Gazzy. He was the brightest little boy here, plus still young and innocent.
"We can talk about it downstairs if you would like." Mrs. Goldren said, but Mrs. Martinez shool her head, seeming so sure of herself it shocked all six kids in the room.
"Max."
Once those words were out Max stopped breathing. Her body filled with goosebumps and he hairs stood up. No sound was made in the room, no sobs, anger, or chokes. This was real. This was happening. Max was going to be adopted. Somebody had finally said her name.
.