Hello everyone! Once again two chapters for you, I hope you like them, please comment.
As always, thanks for your support and comments. Have a nice day.
Brandon waited patiently for the older sister Loud shoot her first question, he really didn't understand why he was right there, ready to be interrogated by that crazy family. If he thought it well, he could simply ignore them and go on with his life but he knew that he had to finish this once and for all, no more escape, no more hiding, it was time to give the end to this matter.
-Very well, first question; a fairly simple one to begin ¿What is your full name? We know your name is Brandon but obviously you have a Last name.
-I do have a last name… it's not precisely official but I have it.
-. . .
-. . .
-Well?
-¿Well what?
-¿Are you going to tell me your last name?
-Of course not! I wont
-Hey! I thought we had a agreement!- Said an annoying Lynn.
-I don't remembered to be agreed with anything, I clearly told you I'd answer whatever I like to answer. Deal with it.
Just before Lynn or any of her other sister would discuss with the white haired boy, Lori raised her hand to calm them down, she turned to see them and shook her head; making them understand she would handle the situation. All hesitated for a moment but after a few seconds, they nodded their head. Lori nodded back and turned back to see Brandon.
-Very well boy, I get it. Let me ask another question. ¿Have you lived your whole life in the orphanage?
-Hmmmm, no; I've been living there for five years.
-¿What? But ¿how is that possible?- Lori asked very surprised.
-Girl, I think it is more than obvious I didn't live there my first years of life.
-You know that is not what I meant to say, let me try again ¿where did you live before the orphanage? ¿Who took care of you during that time?
-Two questions at the same time, but even so, I will answer none of them.
-You're a. . .
-Ah ah ah! As I told you before, ¿Next question?
-(Sigh) Ok… ¿Why didn't we see you before here in Royal Woods?
-The Orphanage where I lived in Hatzeltuki closed and I was transferred here a few weeks ago
-I see, well ¿How did you end at our House's door?
-I have already told you, your mother was going to pay me to prune the garden for a few dollars, your mother hired me for a friend's recommendation.
Lori's eyes widened after hearing that.
-¿You work?
-Yes.
-¿What kind of Jobs you do?
-The normal Jobs a kid like me is allowed to do for the age, mowing the lawn, walking dogs, distribute flyers and many others.
-Wow. . . you are a little business kid. Interesting.
-I'm just a guy with a well-defined goal and before you ask, NO! I won't say which is my goal, that information is only between me and. . . and someone else.
Lori watched the boy carefully, after saying that, Brandon's mood dropped a little and almost seemed to be depressed, Lori decided to not push the topic, not like if Brandon would tell her anyway. Lori turned to see Lincoln, He gave her the signal to ask the questions he had for Brandon.
-I understand, here is a question from Lincoln, ¿Was it you who hit Chandler and his friends a few weeks ago?
-¿You mean the boys at the park who confused me with Lincoln? Yes, It was me, he wanted to hit me and I defended myself. I don't know what kind of dispute he had with your brother but I wasn't going to pay for it.
All the Loud gang were surprised to hear that, Lynn internally promised herself to find Chandler later and make sure he would never try to do something like that with her brother again.
-And… ¿Are you ok? ¿They didn't hurt you?
-I can't even count fight as training, they were no more than a few weak bullies pretending being strong.
-Ok, that's a relief, next question ¿Why did you hurt Lola at the Burping Burger?
All the boys Loud except Lynn and Lola saw Brandon Careful to hear what he would say about that, though Lynn was quiet, Lola was sweating a little; she was about to speak but a quick squeeze to her arm and a and a serious Look by Lynn made her stop. The Little Diva only gulped as the boy was about to crush her lie.
I thought athlete girl had already told you, ok. . . I do not expect you to believe me but I will tell you. . .
Brandon told them everything that happened that day in the restaurant, not omitting any detail, all the Loud sister and brother who did not know the facts listened carefully, though in the beginning they refused to believe him, no one could deny Lola would be perfectly capable to do what he said she did.
-And that's what happened, I just couldn't let her go without a punishment- Brandon finished.
-Heavens. . . Well, I suppose. . . Heavens! Lola! Is it true what he said?- Lori asked immediately to her little sister.
-Well. . . There are many ways to tell a story and…
-Just answer the question Lola! And if you lied to me, don't you dare to do it again!- the older sister said.
-Ok! Ok! It's the truth! But he ruined my dress!
That was no excuse to ruin his food that way!
-Now you're on his part?! Did you forget he spanked me!
-I don't approve it! But you asked for it! Even I might do it if someone does that to me too! You. . . You can't just do something like that just because you were angry! What would have happened if you crossed with a meaner person? You have to think about the consequences of your actions!- Lori said with a mix of anger and concern for her princess sister.
Lola was left without words after hearing that, she could not believe it, now not only Lori but all her sisters and brother were watching her in accusatory manner, she normally she would be enraged but all she could do at that moment was hide her face between her arms and started to cry, she'd never admit it loudly but she really was affected by those stares.
-¿Are… are you angry with me? ¿Do you hate me?" She asked without looking at them. Lori forgot for a moment her interrogation and hugged her little sister, soon everyone joined.
-No, we are not angry with you Lola, I feel a little disappointed for what you did and lied to us but we'll never hate you, we love you so much, Just promise me you won't lie to us like that again or act by impulse ¿Ok?
Lola lifted her face and with a smile, she nodded her head, her mood returned to normal, even so; that didn't stop her to stare at Brandon with some anger. He noticed that but choose to not say anything, there were more important matters to attend.
-Clap, Clap, Clap!- Brandon applauded as he looked the scene in front of him.
-Very well, this is very emotional and all but ¿Can we continue with what is going here? I have a small work in an hour and I really would like to end this quickly, next question blond girl!
-You really don't have any consideration ¿Don't you Twerp?" Lori immediately covered her mouth with her hands after saying that. Wishing didn't hear it which he obviously did.
-Hey! Watch what you say, I'm not one of your sisters or brother for you to talk to me like that, I really don't have to endure this shi… this crap, do it again and this conversation is over ¿Got it?
Lori nodded and proceeded with her questions.
-Why are you avoiding us? Why are you trying so hard not to be found by us?
-I just didn't want more problems with you and your family- Brandon responded quickly, Lori once again noticed a little nervousness in that response.
-You are lying or at least… you are not answering with full honesty.
-I don't know what you mean…
-Next question!- Lori interrupted him- ¿What do you think about looking like Lincoln?
Brandon raised an eyebrow, ¿Where this girl wanted to get? He thought, sighing; the white-haired boy replied:
-I think he is very lucky for having my face but I believe he should be more manly… or at least do more exercise, if people confused him for me, that would be bad for my image.
-Hey!- Lincoln said while Brandon smiled in satisfaction.
-Well, I think he should- Murmured Lori but talked to Brandon again –You misunderstood again but enough questions, let's be serious… Brandon! For what Lisa said to you and us… ¿You understand you might be our brother?
-I knew sooner or later you would come with such nonsense, yes! The little nerd told me about her tests and that I'm Lincoln's twin brother, no offense but you really are idiots if you believe I will buy that garbage.
-It's not garbage! Believe me that even I had my doubts at the beginning but you don't know Lisa as I do, I saw the evidence in her monitor. Not to mention your equality with him, you both have the same age, your birthdays are the same day!
-Hey! You don't know when it's my…
-October 10th! ¿Am I wrong?
Brandon became stone… That was the day Helen found her in that alley. ¿Could it be possible?...
-You have to accept it! You are our brother! And… you know it ¿Don't you?
-Yes of course! In your dreams!- Said Brandon not very confident. Lori noticed that and smiled, she had the boy where she wanted.
-Then ¿why try to escape from us that badly? ¿Why do you feel nervous with this issue? ¿You realize you're sweating a bit?
One of Brandon's yes blinked, his patience was reaching its limit, trying to stay calm, he quickly replied.
-Girl. . . ¿What exactly do you want from me?- Even if it were true what you say and I'm Lincoln's brother… ¿What you hope to gain from all this?
-To be honest I don't know. I didn't plan this carefully but ¿What did you expect? Two days ago I would have sworn for my life I only had one brother, now I just found out that actually I have two, and that just doesn't apply for me, I'm sure all my sisters and brother feel the same, this kind of news would surprise anyone! We have. . . I have another brother! The same is happening to you ¿Right? say whatever you want but it's literally impossible this situation is not affecting you! I'm sure you think about us, You thought about what Lisa told you ¿Didn't you?
-That… That's not true.
-Stop denying it! Admit it already!
-Hey! Don't push me girl!
-Just admit it Brandon, deep inside, you are starting to believe you are one of us.
At that moment, Brandon stood up, he simply could not take it anymore.
-You know what? Ok! I admit it! Since I arrived here and I heard that there was a guy like me called Lincoln, I was curious to know who he was! But then I realized what that could mean! So I decided not to look for him, to try to avoid meeting him at any cost! now. . . Big Surprise! I ended in his house, when I saw you (pointed out to Lincoln) Everything I feared became reality, I couldn't believe it but there you were, a boy identical to me, the guy who without a doubt was my relative, and therefore; It also meant I had found my family! My paren... The people who gave birth to me.
Lori started at Brandon, she was starting to regret pushing him so hard. Before she could say anything, Brandon continued:
¿Why did you have to appear? ¿Why here? ¿Why now? Could it be that fate really despises me? ¿Haven't it screw with me enough? ¿Why fate did exactly what I didn't want the most?
-Hey!- Lori said- Calm Down, you don't have to get like that and ¿What is that about you didn't want the most? ¿Aren't you glad you found us? ¿Aren't you glad you found your family? ¿Finding out you are not an orphan?
Brandon couldn't help but laugh a little by that statement and sat back. He had already managed to calm down a little.
-Girl, you have watched so many soap operas ¿For what do you take me for? ¿You think I'm the stereotype of orphaned child who have desired all his life to meet his real family? ¿You think that crap happens in real life? ¿Do you think a rejected boy would want to meet the people who abandoned him?
All the brothers Loud swallowed hard, none of them had a response to that statement, there was no correct answer. Without giving them time to formulate a response, Brandon answered himself:
-The answer is No Lori, I must admit that perhaps the first two or three years of my life in the Orphanage, I used to have the regular questions any abandoned child has, ¿Where are my parents? ¿Why they don't come for me? ¿Don't they love me? ¿Why they abandoned me? And many others, it took me years to stop thinking about my parents… until I finally realized and came to accept it what I was refusing to accept for a long time…
Brandon closed his eyes for one moment, his sisters and brother waited for him to continue, the boy opened his eyes again and said:
-Brandon, you were rejected! Face it and move on!
A great sigh was heard from the Loud gang, Brandon smiled at that scene, he was glad to see they got the message.
-So I moved on, I finally saw the truth in front of me, it was not easy to accept. After all, the truth always hurts, but it allowed me to continue with my life. After all, I had a great support, yes! Fate can be a real bitch but sometimes it gives you something nice to keep going. No matter how strong one person want to show he is, sooner or later, he needs the support from other people.
Some of the little kids didn't get what Brandon said with that but Lori and the others did, it was obvious, before and after living in the Orphanage, he had someone to take care of him at that time but ¿who he or she was?
-To be very clear, I lived great part of my life wishing to never meet my family… No! the people who supposedly had to be my family, and now here we are, I find myself face to face with ten girls and a boy, my eleven siblings. . . Seriously! If I weren't seeing it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it. It's like a very cheap comedy T.V show.
Brandon decides not to keep kicking the bush anymore. It was time to say it clearly:
-Girls. . . Lincoln. . . I think that there is no way to soften this, so I'll say it loud and clear, your parents abandoned me, You know it, I know it, I don't know why nor I care, It stopped to be my problem years ago, perhaps they didn't want two boys at that moment, or there were already too many mouths to feed, I don't know, All I know is that at that time, there was no place for me or Lincoln in your family, in the end your parents decided to keep him, lucky him I guess. At least one of us was saved to have to deal with ten crazy girls, I'm glad it was me, don't get me wrong, I don't believe your parents are bad people, at least that's not the impression I got when I saw them, perhaps in different situations… things would had worked out but fate had other plans, I don't know what you think about me, maybe you feel pity. I hope not but let me say this: my life was not perfect, puff! It is far from being perfect, it was hard. . .Yes, very hard but was not bad, the streets, the solitude and the losses are cruel but you know what they say: hardships makes you tough! I have accepted my life as it is and I really hope you can respect that and stop bothering me.
Brandon stood up again and looked at his brother and sisters, it was time to put an end to this waste of time:
-¿Any other question before I go?
(Total Silence)
-Well, I hope I have clarified your doubts. I'm done with you and although I don't entirely agree, I believe an apology is necessary so we all can be at peace, I'm sorry for what I did to your sister, I promise you it won't happen again. (If she behaves, he thought)
All the Louds kept staring at Brandon
-Very well, now; go back and live your lives as the family you are, believe it or not, I wish you happiness with my heart, tell your mother and father to don't worry, I hold no grudge against them, I let go those feelings long time ago. . . But I can't say I'd like to see them any time soon, it's not like I can just ignore they rejected me, be happy and take care of each other, I'm only going to ask you to please don't look for me anymore, don't bother me anymore, is more than clear that I am not one of you, I never was and never will be, if you leave me alone, I will leave you alone. And yes! I understand that living in the same community. . .can be a little troublesome, so I made a decision, I don't like it but I think what is best for everyone to win, I will talk with the Orphanage Director and will ask her if it is possible to transfer me to another place, one very far from here, with luck it may be in another State, just give me three or four days and I promise you will not have to worry about me anymore.
Lori clenched her knuckles at hearing her brother saying goodbye forever. Believing he had said enough, Brandon turned around and started his way to the Orphanage, somehow he felt very good with himself, as if he had removed a great weight above him, or have just closed a chapter of a book he never wanted to read in the first place, but on the other hand, there was a small hint of pain he was feeling for talking to them like that ¿Was he sad he was getting away fro them? No! It had to be something else, it didn't matter in the end, he just had to talk with the Director to be transferred and the problem was solved.
The Loud girls and boy continued watching him walking away. Perhaps forever, they remained silent as statues, Lori wanted to stop him, she really wanted to say something but no words came out, she realized there was nothing she could say to counter what Brandon told her… but still, she didn't know what really happened, she wished more than her parents were there at that moment, with the correct answers for Brandon, ¿How Brandon ended away from them? She already had a theory but it was not proven, much to her grief, the word "Abandoned" crossed her mind, maybe Brandon was right, she shook those thoughts out of her head as fast as she could, she knew her dear mother and father would never do that, much less to another son! Being the oldest daughter, she knew how over the years, her parents literally cried with each other for a male son, before having Lincoln of course. She also remembered how she and her sisters wanted a little brother and when she finally was six years old, he came to the house and all the family promised to take care of him. She felt horrible for thinking wrong about her parents, with a new conviction, she spoke to the boy:
-You're wrong Brandon!- Lori said, the boy stopped immediately and turned to see his sister.
-¿What did you say?
-You're wrong Brandon! very wrong! I know what you mean, I know you have every reason to believe in what you said… but you said it yourself! My… Our parents are not bad people! They definitely didn't abandon you.
-(Chuckle) I have 11 years of evidence to counter your statement girl.
-Just because you lived away from us doesn't prove they abandoned you! You just believe that as a fact yourself, ¿Did you know that when I told her about who you are, she was as surprised as us?
Brandon raised an eyebrow –Oh Please! ¿You expect me to believe your mother magically forgot she had twins?
-I don't know what happened, I would love to know but right now, I don't have those answers; not yet, the only thing I know, is that my parents literally didn't know about your existence! I saw them in their eyes! Even now, as we speak, they are going to meet the only person who could make sense of what is happening.
All the other brothers sighed in surprise, Lori turned to them and spoke:
-I'm sorry… We didn't want to worry you, at least not until we have confirmed answers.
Even a little annoyed, they understood the reasons for their parents and sister to do what they did, Lori turned to continue talking with her little lost brother:
-My point is, You have no right to assume the worst when you have no proofs, I have faith that my parents soon will come back with the answers we need and that happens, you will know they didn't abandoned you. Trust me… I understand if you don't want to have anything to do with us, your anger is fully justified but I don't think it's fair to think the worst of our parents just because it is the easiest thing to do.
Behind Lori, All His brothers nodded in agreement with her. Brandon hated not being able to say anything to her, deep inside… he knew she had a point. Lori continued:
-¿You ask us to leave you alone? That won't happen! When our parents come back and finally explain to us what happened, we will return and you will hear what they have to say They are your parents too! Whether you like it or not, you should listen to them! ¿Do you understand that boy?
Brandon felt the anger growing inside of him, he had to keep it under control, as his master had taught him, he knew the consequences of acting on impulse, He didn't want to give Lori the satisfaction of seeing him in despair, he pointed the girl and said:
-I will say this only once! We have nothing else to talk about! I'm not interested in the slightest what your parents have to say! I'm not going to let you ruin everything I worked so hard until now! I am asking very little, just forget about me and live your own lives.
With that said, Brandon turned and continued his way back to the orphanage.
-Hey! You are not escaping…- Lynn tried to stop him but was interrupted by Lori's hand on her shoulder.
-Let him go Lynn.
-But. . .
-Don't forget that spite everything, he is still an eleven years old kid like Lincoln, there is so much he can take. For now it is best to go home and wait for mom and dad, they will return tomorrow evening. I hope with good news.
No one dared to talk back to Lori, deep down, they felt useless to not have said anything but at the same time, they thanked her older sister to take care of the situation, she by her part, could not help but feel a little sorry for that boy. Even though he tried so hard to hide it, his pain was evident and all of them noticed it, unaware for her, Leni internally struggled during the entire conversation, Debating whether or not if she should disobey her sister, more than once, she wanted to stand up and give her little brother a hug. Perhaps she wasn't smart, perhaps she was very slow to understand many things. But she was very good at something, and that was to notice when someone was in pain. As she watched Brandon going away; she no longer saw a bad boy who had insulted her clothes, at that moment, she was watching a boy in real need of help and love.
The journey back in Vanzilla was short but it seemed like an eternity, they entered the house and tried to do their daily routine without success. . . the wait for their parents was going to be a long and despair one.