Dear the killer of my parents,
I'm getting adopted finally after eighteen months. I'm so happy.
Just before that though, we're going on a three day trip to the Welsh beaches. My friend Dyllan's getting a little proud because that's where he was born. There are four siblings, though due to traveling parents, one's Irish, one's Scottish, one's Welsh and their sister's English. I guess I'm going to miss them, their cousin and Kiki a bit- but they're the only thing from the orphanage I will miss.
So, I guess I can't write letters until I get adopted because I'll be in Wales? What, did you think I was going to stop just because I was adopted? You're having a laugh, aren't you?
So, have you been on holiday recently? Guess what? As usual, I don't really care.
Signed,
Clive.
~x~
We ended up going to North Wales- Prestatyn actually. It took about half a day to get up there, so quite a lot of people were restless or asleep. Daniel was actually quiet since Alice was asleep in his arms.
I was sat next to Arthur while Richard and Dylan sat to our side and Daniel and Alice in front. Blain was behind Richard and Dylan. Kiki sat a couple of rows back with this girl who had asked her to sit next to her. Kiki was quite good at hiding her emotions, but I could tell by how she played with her hair she didn't really like her.
Jenny said that Constance lived about three quarters of an hour's East drive from the Orphanage. I had never been much further East than the Orphanage, so I couldn't picture what it'd be like.
"Arthur, you're from Eastern London, aren't you?"
"Yes, why?"
"What's it like? That's where Constance lives…"
"It's hard to describe." He said, straightening himself a bit. "I only lived there for a little time. I lived in Kent more than London, then I moved to the Midlands. I spent three years there- and you don't remember anything in your first three years of life usually."
"Oh, thanks anyway."
"Sorry I can't say anything to add that on. It's not too bad though, you'll like. And if you're with Constance Dove of all people, then you'll probably be one of the best off in the country, never mind just Eastern London."
"Hmm, I guess so."
"Ireland's still better than crappy England!"
"A) The rest of the United Kingdom stayed with the English instead of the Irish, B) Northern Ireland would have stayed with you if Ireland was so 'Amazing', and C) Swearing in front of a lady, a 5 year old one at that isn't how you should act!"
"I'm not English so I don't have to act all Gentlemanly."
"Bouncing around like a Leprechaun suits Daniel much better anyway." Richard muttered.
"Oi, I heard that Sheep Humper!"
"Well you should do, you're not deaf."
"If you want to fight I'll swap with you, Daniel." Dylan said.
"You're not swapping with him!" Richard snapped back.
"I think Richard's had a stick shoved up his ass." Blain whispered loudly so that his brother could hear to Daniel.
"Me too." He replied. "We all know he doesn't want to swap because the eldest wins any day. He even lost to Arthur."
"Well that contradicts what you just said since Arthurs older than me."
"I'm surprised Alice sleeps through you lot!" Arthur shouted at them.
"Used to it." Blain and Daniel replied monotonously at the same time.
"That's the only reason I haven't strangled them yet." Richard muttered.
"Hey, guys, we're here!" Someone yelled from the back of the bus.
The bus was filled with yelling which woke Alice up. Luckily she isn't a cry-baby so she just yawned and went back to a normal 5 year old personality.
Eventually, we all managed to get off and onto the beach. "Now, I want you to stick in at least 3's, and be back by the bus at 7 so we can take you all to the hotel."
We all nodded and each group went their separate ways. We were the largest group of 8, but most groups mingled together eventually. Our group decided to sit on a patch of rocks next to some of the coast.
~x~
I guess I tried to make the most out of those three days, since that would be that last time I would see the seven of them for a long time, if not never.
Today was the day I'd meet Constance and see whether she liked me and I liked her. If both were true, then I'd be adopted, if not, then I'd get stuck in the orphanage. I tried to make myself seem presentable to someone like Constance Dove and Kiki had been giving me lessons on how to act posh. After all, this might be my only shot if she doesn't like me.
Arthur was right, I don't think I'd have any problems about living in Eastern London. I could see her house a mile off. Actually, ignore that British slang, it was more like ten miles off.
I couldn't believe someone like Constance Dove had chosen a tiny orphanage full of troubled children and picked hostile, emotional Clive Roberts out of everyone. I mean, in a house as big as hers, she could have just taken the 'British Package' as Duke and Jenny called them. Daniel hated it- "I'm not something you'd order and they deliver it to your door. First of all I have legs, and Secondly, I'm worth way too much for them to just order me!"
Ahem.
The garden was probably the size of the whole orphanage and then some. Several gardeners were attending to an already immaculate garden, another woman feeding some of the birds (Doves- Big surprise) that were in white cages.
If you picture one of the Walt Disney films that have been going around thirty years or so now, and turn the castle Prince Charming lives in into a Manor house, you're close enough.
Constance had brought one of her chauffer's to pick me up, so after he opened my door (which felt strangely weird since I was so used to not even being in a vehicle and just walking), I walked up the wide staircase leading to the door. I rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.
"I've got it Mistress Dove!" I heard someone yell. Without the visual aid and the wooden door, I could only tell it was a woman.
Spring more precisely.
"Oh, hello Master Clive. How has your week been?"
I cut out surprisingly to what I was going to say, leaving myself with "Not that bad. How was yours?"
"Good, good, thanks for asking. But very busy, as always!"
"At least you don't get bored when you're on your toes haha." I smiled.
"That is indeed a very good point Master Clive." She smiled back. "Now, would you like me to get you a drink since the kitchen is just here?" She said, pointing to the door directly to the left.
"No thank you, but thanks for the offer." I smiled. Though over the last year and a half my temper and hostility had gone out the roof, I still had manners for the people who actually were willing to talk to me like I wasn't a piece of dirt.
The two of us climbed a flight of stairs before walking down a grand corridor I wouldn't have dreamed of. I didn't realise I had stood there for a while just staring at it
"I see you like the corridor, Master Clive, but there are many other interesting rooms that have the purpose of staring at, not walking through, my dear." Spring said. I wasn't bothered about she worded it, she said it how it was, but more politely that most other people would have put it as. She seemed friendlier now, probably because she was more one-on-one or she didn't want to seem too positive for the children whose parents died less than forty eight hours ago. Some of them were already adopted to some families since they were so young and what Kiki had said about younger kids being adopted first, Alice the exception.
"Oh, sorry! I get easily distracted..." I said.
"It's OK, we all do when we see things that take our interest." I could tell by her face that she meant, 'Our lifestyle doesn't let us see' meaning I'm an orphan who has no money, but I guess I'm just good at reading people.
"Constance is currently busy so she said to let you look around until she's finished." Spring said. "Just don't go in that room three doors down on the left, that's where she is."
"OK, I'll be sure to miss it out." I said. Unlike a few people I know (E.g.- Blain and Daniel come to mind), I wouldn't try and sneak in there.
As I guessed, all the rooms were enormous and full of expensive things. The master bedroom even had a Chandelier in. There were six rooms on this floor- The Master Bedroom, a Guest Room, the room Constance was in, a Bathroom, a Library and a Study. When I checked the library, there were lots of Special Edition Copies of some really famous books, some even signed by the Author.
I had my head down in a book. It was one that we had at home and I promised myself to read it, but well…the house blew up before I got the chance.
"So, you must be Clive."