Chapter 37 Children
7th August 1965
woke up at 8am to a knock on the front door. Went downstairs and opened the door. There was unfamiliar girl there not much younger than me. There was a car in the middle of the road with three other children inside it.
"Hello, may I help you?" I ask.
"Could we come in? We know you but you don't know us" The girl said.
"Sure" I sighed and went to go wake Johnny up to come down here. We went down and now the other 3 had got out the car and were standing on the porch with the other girl.
"Come in" I point at the sofa.
"Sorry for this inconvenience, but we had nowhere else to turn." The girl added.
"Okay then, who are you?" I questioned.
"I am Arianna, 17 years old, this is Joseph who is 14 years old, Tia who is 9 years old and Benny who is 4 years old." Arianna introduced.
"You are here because?" I asked. This was strange but I recognized the names.
"Well I was born and raised in Florence, Italy with my siblings and parents. My father American and my mother Italian. We were a happy family until my mother died when I was 14 years old. 3 years ago. Just over a year ago we welcomed a woman into our family as our stepmother called Marjorie. She seemed nice but back in January, 7 months ago, my father was murdered. 3 months ago I discovered it was her. Marjorie Houseman your mother." Arianna explained.
"My mother?! You are Robert's children aren't you?" I gulped.
"Yes"
"And why have you come to me?"
"Well I didn't know you at all but your kind of all we have. My fathers parents died in a car accident 25 years ago and my mothers parents died 6 years ago. I have no aunties or uncles. We have no other family and I didn't know what to do" Arianna said.
"You expect us to look after you?!"
"Kind of! I'm sorry I just didn't know where else to go. You don't have to look after me but just take the young ones. I can look after Joe but I won't be able to look after Tia and Benny"
"No."
"What do you mean?!"
"I will take you all on."
"What?!" Johnny exclaimed.
"It's my mothers fault they are like this so I will look after them." I say.
"We don't have enough room!" Johnny replied.
"We will move house in a few months but until now we have two spare rooms. Tia can share with Lily, Arianna will have the tiny room to herself and Joseph and Benny will share the guest room." I decided.
"Thank you!" Arianna grinned.
"Well you better go upstairs and unpack. I'll show you your rooms and Johnny will start cooking lunch won't you?" I smiled.
"Of course" Johnny went upstairs to shower and I helped the others settle in.
15th August 1965
"So I was thinking summer is almost over and I better get plans for you" I said at the dinner table.
"What do you mean?" Joseph asked.
"Well you three will be going to school. Arianna I expect you to go to college or get a job." I explained.
"I shall get a job. We need more income in this house" Arianna decided.
"Good plan." Johnny nodded.
"We'll be moving house just after my birthday" I say. Wow I'll be twenty.
"It's my birthday soon" Benny smiles.
"Oh yes we must have a birthday party! You will be 5 won't you?" I smile.
"Yes!"
I laugh having a big family was great but I still hadn't spoke to Lisa.
