Practice Round: Throwback 80s - Prompt: Cabbage Patch Kids
Best Friends Forever
Today is it again. May 2nd, four years after the end of the Second Wizarding War. This day is a very special day to all children at the Roberts orphanage. Today the heroes Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley will come to spend a day of fun and gift-giving with the orphans.
Roberts orphanage is an institution that was founded specifically for all the new orphans left behind in the wake of the War. Safe to say, there were sadly lots of them. Too many to put them all in the orphanages that had already existed. So in a joint effort by the Ministry and the people, a beautiful new building was built in Dulwich Village – a small suburb of London.
It had taken just about three months to finish everything off: furniture was added to all rooms, the garden was worked on until there were trees and bushes, small plants and flowers, lots of grassy space to run around on and a small playground with swings and a slide. Summarizing, it was as perfect as an orphanage property could be.
Sadly, Nina, a small girl, six years of age, can neither appreciate the beauty of her surroundings nor the fact that her hero Hermione Granger is coming to visit today. One might think it to be for the fact that she, too, is one of the many orphans at Roberts orphanage, but to Nina it is her every-day life. She was put here when she had still been very small and can't really remember her parents. No, Nina is not sad because of that. Nina is sad because her best friend of all times Caleb will be adopted in a few days and when that happens, she will be left behind, on her own once again.
So when her usually favourite day of the year arrives, she does not run out to greet the three war heroes together with all the other children. Instead she walks after them very slowly, simply watching everything. Never in her whole life has she felt this detached from her surroundings.
Just this morning, Caleb had told her excitedly about the couple that will be adopting him. They're great, she bitterly had to conclude. The man, Michael, is everything one can wish for in a Dad. He's nice, obviously caring, fun to be around. Caleb was very excited to tell her that he plays Quidditch which Caleb loves and that he will teach him how to fly. The woman, Sarah, on her part, is everything one could wish for in a mother. She gives amazing hugs, can bake yummy treats and has the most beautiful smile Caleb has ever seen. She even brought him cookies that he immediately shared with Nina and she hated to admit it but they really were very good. Concluding her thoughts, they are the perfect parents to Caleb's shy but easily excited character and he'll be super happy with them and will soon forget all about her.
Moping, Nina finally arrives at the end of the small mass of children surrounding Harry, Hermione and Ron who are standing there, laughing in the shining sun, in their courtyard. For an outsider it must seem strange the way the three simply await the kids with open arms, giving hugs to anyone who wants one – which means basically everyone. The greeting alone takes ten minutes until finally everyone is satisfied. All but one: Nina is still standing at the back, not feeling like being pushed around today. Usually she's the one doing all the pushing to be one of the first to reach the three friends.
Knowing what will come next, she already moves to the shades of a big tree on the right hand side of the building. Every year they first sit down there and talk about what is planned for the day. But even though she is the first there and has all the choice in seating, Nina simply walks to the far left and sits down on one of the small cushions littering the floor. Lost in her thoughts, she waits for everyone else to arrive.
The other kids are noisy, chattering about everything and anything, telling their favourite hero this and that story about school or the orphanage, asking questions in return about their life. Each of the three is surrounded by at least five kids, all wanting to hold a hand or onto some clothing. Every kid at the Roberts orphanage craves attention and as much as the supervisers try, they simply can't give every kid as much attention as they'd like to get. So whenever guests come of course all the kids try to compensate.
Finally everyone is seated, Caleb has come to sit next to his best friend after greeting his hero Harry. „Hey, how come you weren't there?", he whispers to Nina as they quieten down to listen to Hermione explain this year's plan.
„Didn't feel like it.", Nina simply answers, stubbornness in her voice. Caleb frowns.
„But you love May 2nd. It's your favourite day of the year. How can you not 'feel like it'?" The small boy doesn't understand his friend.
„Just like that. Now leave me alone. That's what you'll do anyway.", Nina hisses defensively. A hurt look flashes across Caleb's face as he turns away to look at the front.
In silence they listen. Hermione is just telling them about some sort of dolls. Cabbage Patch Kids she calls them. Apparently these 'Little People' – just like them she says laughingly – are looking for a home and today each of them will get the chance to 'adopt' one, complete with its own birth certificate. They look funny to Nina. They're not at all like her other dolls. These have very big heads with smallish beady eyes, unproportionate limbs attached to a big body. They aren't ugly per se but not pretty either.
Hermione said they are special but Nina's mind stopped processing her words after she mentioned adoption. Once again all the hurt at her best friend's betrayal enters her mind and body, tears slowly filling her eyes as desperation makes itself at home. Not able to hold it back anymore, she gets up and starts running back towards the building. Up and up she runs to her room, where she hides in her bed underneath her covers. It's too hot outside to lie beneath a blanket but she doesn't care. She doesn't want anyone to see her, she doesn't want to see anyone either.
At least that's what she thought until a gentle hand clamps down on her shoulder while another starts to rub small soothing circles on her back. Slowing a little on her sobs and sniffles, Nina curiously pushes the cover back from her head. Sitting beside her on her bed is Hermione Granger, looking at her with a sympathetic look. Mortified, Nina quickly dugs back beneath her blanket. She doesn't want her hero to see her like this, at a weak point. She wants Hermione to remember a happy girl, not this little cry-baby. After all, Nina is already six years old. Much too old to be a cry-baby.
„Go away, please.", she tells Hermione, her voice breaking on the last word.
„I could do that.", Hermione replies, leaving Nina oddly disappointed. „But I'd much rather stay and have you tell me what's wrong. Don't you like the dolls?", she asks Nina in a soft voice. It is such a caring voice, full of emotion. It is almost as if her hero really cares about her. This is simply too much for the young girl feeling utterly alone. Breaking down into heart-breaking sobs, she throws herself in Hermione's arms and bawls her eyes out.
Hermione, after overcoming her first surprise, gently holds her, still drawing circles on her bag while saying sweet nothings. After a few minutes, she finally pushes Nina a little away from her.
„You don't have to tell me, but I've been told by very wise people that sometimes talking about something helps you. It worked for me.", she added smiling at Nina's look of doubt. Biting her lip, Nina looks away, leaving Hermione thinking she won't tell her, but then she starts talking, her voice barely loud enough to be heard.
„My best friend Caleb he...he's being adopted." Understanding dawns on Hermione.
„Don't you like the people adopting him?", she asks Nina quietly. Nina cautiously shakes her head.
„No, they're really nice. He'll be happy but..." She breaks off and shrugs, sadness etched into her face. Hermione sighs.
„But you're scared he'll forget you. Replace you with some kid with parents.", Hermione concludes. Tears once again pour into Nina's eyes as she nods, burrying her face in Hermione's chest. „Oh sweetie. He's your best friend, he won't forget you." As that doesn't seem to change anything in Nina's demeanour – not that Hermione had expected it to – she continues. „Do you want to know why I chose the dolls for this year's 2nd May?", she goes for a different tactic. It seems to work better as Nina looks up from Hermione's chest and nods shyly, making her smile, „I'm a muggle-born and those dolls were really popular when I was a little kid. One day, when I was about your age, I fell really sick and had to go to hospital for treatment.", Hermione quietly tells her. Nina follows her every word with rapt attention. Her hero is telling her something, something the other kids won't know. She feels very special.
„While I was there, I hated it. Everything was white, I didn't like the people working there, they were very mean. I couldn't even play with the other kids. Safe to say, I was miserable there. I hated that someone other than my parents were taking care of me. One day, a man named Xavier Roberts came to the hospital. He brought these dolls that he called 'The Little People'. Every child got one and was given a birth certificate with the name they had chosen for their doll on it. He told us these dolls needed our caring, just the way we needed the people at the hospital to care for us. Xavier said each doll was very special and when we give them names they become special to us. They become part of our family.
Even back then I always wanted to be best at everything, so I took very good care of my doll Ariana. I braided her hair, washed her, fed her – not necessarily in that order.", Hermione laughs a little. „And while taking care of her, the time at the hospital sped by. Soon I was released to go home. By then I loved my Ariana and because I took so good care of her, I knew she loved me, too." Hermione is happy to notice Nina smiling at her story.
„What happened then?", she asks eagerly. Laughing a little Hermione continues.
„Well, I took her home with me and continued to take care of her. But at home I had other dolls, too, and one day I forgot to feed her. As soon as I realized that, I was in tears, believing my Ariana would surely hate me. But the next day my parents assured me that because Ariana had grown with me, because she was family, she wasn't mad I forgot her. The next time I cautiously checked on her, my Ariana still smiled at me and all was well." With this Hermione comes to an end. Nina seems to be deep in thought.
„Do you still have her?", she asks Hermione wonderously. Hermione nods her head.
„I do. I even have her with me today. Here.", she grabs into her bag that is hanging around her shoulders, taking out a worn-out looking red-haired doll in a blue dress. Nina eyes her in amazement. Slowly she reaches out to touch her before stopping and looking questioningly at Hermione as though in permission. Hermione nods and Nina takes her doll in her small hands, smoothing over her hair.
„She's really pretty.", Nina breathes.
„Thank you.", Hermione smiles. „I think so, too." She can see that Nina is completely enraptured by the doll. Pondering, a thought comes to her mind. She cocks her head to one side and scans Nina's face. Nodding she comes to a decision. „Do you want to have her?", she asks Nina. Immediatly her head snaps up, eyes wide, unbelieving.
„Wha-? Do you mean, I can...keep her?" As Hermione once again nods her head, a big grin breaks out on Nina's face. „Oh thank you, thank you!", she jumps Hermione, holding onto her with all the strength her little arms can muster. „I promise to take really good care of her." Hermione hugs her back.
„It's okay. I trust you will. I just have one small favour to ask.", she tells Nina. Nina swiftly nods her head rapidly.
„Anything!", she half shouts in excitement. Trying hard to keep a smile off of her face, Hermione gives her a stern look.
„Don't push your friend away because you're scared of being hurt. Just like Ariana wasn't mad at me, he won't ever forget or replace you. And you know why?" Hermione puts her hands on both sides of Nina's face, focusing all her attention on her. „Best friends can never be replaced. Have you wondered why you two became best friends on not with someone else? It's because you chose each other. And that choice makes you special to one another. Caleb could've been friends with anyone at this orphanage, but he chose to be your friend. And no new friend he meets with his new parents can change that. You two are family.
Understand?" Nina nods her head that 'yes' she understands. And she really does. She's Caleb's best friend and he's hers and no matter how many other friends he'll have away from Roberts will change that. Suddenly a thought comes to her mind.
„But how will I talk to him? We've never spent more time than a few days away from each other." And once again tears threaten to spill down her face. Another pondering look enters Hermione's face as she thinks about the question.
„Leave that to me, okay?", she replies. Confused, Nina simply agrees, them jumps up as another thought enters her mind.
„I have to apologize to him!", she yells and runs out of the room, Ariana clutched in her right hand tightly. Nina speeds down the stairs and out into the courtyard, scanning it just to notice Caleb standing next to Ron, looking at a small doll with black hair and green eyes. „Caleb!", she screams. Confused, the small boy looks up and sees his best friend running towards him, a doll clutched in her hand, too. Huffing and puffing she skids to halt in front of him, almost running into him. „I'm so sorry...for what I said...I was sad because... you're leaving soon and I'll miss you...so much.", Nina exhales between deep inhales of breaths. Caleb simply hugs her tightly.
„I'll miss you, too. But it's okay because you'll always be my best friend. We'll see each other at Hogwarts.", he exclaims, smiling widely as he pulls back a little.
„Yeah, I guess so."
One week later a small parcel arrives at Roberts orphanage for Nina. Wondering who it's from she takes the small card attached to it. It's from Hermione.
Dear Nina,
this is a two-way mirror. Give the second one to Caleb and you two will always be able to talk to each other. It may not bring him back, but at least you'll still be in contact. Simply call his name to connect the mirrors. His will feel warm when called.
Love, Hermione
Grinning widely, Nina opens the parcel and as described finds two mirrors the size of two of her hands inside it. Quickly she runs to Caleb's room, where he is currently packing. „Caleb! Caleb, look what Hermione sent us." Proudly she hands Caleb one of the mirrors but Caleb simply gives her a funny look.
„Why does she give us mirrors?", he asks Nina confused.
„Because we can talk to each other that way. Look, I call your name – Caleb – and your mirror should be warm. Is it warm?", she asks excitedly.
„It is.", Caleb says in wonder. „Hey, I can see your face!" His voice rises a pitch, joining her giddiness. In that moment, Nina decides that perhaps Caleb being adopted will not mean the end of the world. It still hurts but she has come to terms with it. After all, they're best friends. Forever.
