Hello, I am Mary Lennox and due to the epidemics happening in India I am being shipped away to England; my parents old home. I was born in India, but I hated the heat and dreadful way my parents would ignore me. They cared nothing for anyone but themselves and maybe some of their horrid parties. It doesn't matter now; both are dead and I have no home. I didn't cry when they died, I don't know how to cry.
On this steamship there are plenty of other boys and girls. A few tried to be friends with me but apparently I wasn't one that was good to play with and they would leave. I sat on that boat for a long time with nothing to do. All my toys were left back in India.
When I woke up one morning to the odd and eerie silence I wasn't accustomed to I was quite angry. No one was there to dress me and to please me as I wish. All that was there was a little cobra under the bed. He would do me no harm I thought. I walked around the house hoping that I would meet someone. All I found was a soldier who was shocked to see me. He said something about a disease and how I was the missing child. I didn't care for that, I just wanted out of my nightgown. He started dragging me away and I was not pleased at all. I could not go anywhere in my nightgown and I told him so. He said that I could not get anything from my house for then I would die too from the disease. That is how I ended up with nothing to do and these drab black clothes.
When the boat came into the harbor the other children were more rowdy and loud than usual. They were excited to see their family. As far as I knew I didn't have a family other than my mother and father who had already died. Soon the line grew shorter and it was my turn to be called this was the moment of truth, to see if I did have a family. The man at the podium had a pair of round glasses, a rather large mustache and thin nose. He was pale and had a dark brown hair that reminded me of my father. I pushed my way through the crowd of bustling children, he called my name and my number twice before putting me on the side. The hours went by and yet nobody came to claim. The man who was at the podium now was waiting impatiently at my side. I remember what he said to me 4 minutes before 9 quite clearly. He bent down to my ear and whispered, "You Miss Mary Lennox seem to be quite abandoned. I cannot stay here any longer for I have a family of my own waiting for me. Grab your bags and hat and come. It seems that your family up in Misselthwiate Manor does not want you. The only option left is to leave you at the orphanage."
"Wait, are you telling me that I do indeed have someone who is related to me in this country?"
"Why yes, what ever did your mother tell you about your family. Apparently your Uncle lives there."
"I have and Uncle?"
"Yes, but that really doesn't matter now does it. He doesn't want you and that means all that's left is to bring you to an orphanage, a workhouse, or to leave you on the streets."
"Well, if I ever." I had stomped my foot at the impertinence of my family not coming to get me. Who did they think they are leaving a blood relative of 10 years all alone in a new country? With that the man grabbed my hand in his and drug me off to a dirty old orphanage filled a bunch of street rats and miscreants. I did not belong in that place then or now.
That is where I am now in the same old dirty orphanage. The only difference between then and now is now I am a bunch smarter, streetwise; and that I am now 6 years older and can now live on my own with out that wench who wants us to call us mother. Tomorrow though I'll be leaving and going to my uncle's home. I want to know why he never came or sent someone to pick me. That has been the thought that has kept me going and it will keep my going.