I didn't want to pick up the phone and call Jeff. I couldn't. My hands were trembling as I reached for the phone and snatched it up, and dialed Jeff's number. I prayed that he wouldn't be there, but after the 3rd ring, he answered.
"Hello?" he asked. I could hear his radio playing in the distance. A lump formed in my throat.
"Hi," I choked, coughing.
"April?"
"Yes, it's me, the bringer of . . . news," I said. It wasn't exactly bad for Jeff, it was bad for me.
"Uh oh. You got some 'splaining to do Lucy," he teased. I sighed, my voice trembling. Downstairs, I heard the door slam.
"April? Are you here?" Mother asked. I leaped up and locked my door.
"No! I'm on the moon!" I shouted back at her. I could hear her agitated grunt.
"Jeff, you won't believe me when I tell you this, but I'm not a Sanders child."
"What?" Jeff questioned.
"Told you. Daddy-Daniel, told me about it at the hospital. I had said something sarcastic to Mrs. Hastings-but hey, what else is new? And Daddy charged out of the room and started to tell me all about this. My mother was in debt, and was on the verge of poverty, and they took me off her hands. But there's another twist to the twisted story of mine," I said matter-of-factly. "I have 3 other sisters running around." I heard Jeff suck in his breath.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Yes, Jeff, I am. I was joking about it the whole time. Just wanted to see if you liked my made up story. What do you think!" I cried. He grunted.
"Enough of the sarcasm April. Be serious."
"I'm being serious!" I shouted.
"OK, relax," he said and sighed, apparently thinking.
"What are we going to do?" I moaned.
"Hush, I'm thinking," Jeff snapped. I chewed on my nails, something that I hadn't done in a long time.
"OK. Here's the plan. I'm going to ask the dean for a leave of absence, because of a family emergency. Then I'm going to come home and . . . then we'll work out something from there."
"How long is that going to take?" I asked quickly.
"I don't know April. You're going to have to give it some time."
"I don't have that much time Jeff!"
"April!" he hissed. I growled angrily.
"OK. Let me make a few phone calls, and I'll call you back," he said and hung up. I screamed at the dead phone and slammed it on the cradle angrily. I folded my hands across my chest, and heard the faint cleaning up of the glass.
"When I get my hands on that child . . ." Daddy's voice trailed off. Mother cried out.
"Daniel, stop it," she wailed. I threw open my door and marched downstairs. Daddy and Mother stared at me, stopping what they were doing. I looked at them both, then grabbed my purse and opened the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mother inquired.
"I'm going to race in Indy 500. Wish me luck," I called back to them and slammed the door. Mother burst out into tears, and Daddy went to comfort her, staring at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, then got into my car, speeding off to Katherina's house. She answered the door when I knocked.
"Hi," she greeted. Her smiled faded when she saw the cold look I had on my face. I stormed passed her, and Katty shut the door.
"OK, what's wrong?" she asked tiredly. I raised my eyebrows.
"What gives you the idea that there's something wrong?" I asked her sarcastically.
"Because you wouldn't be giving me that cold look if you were happy and ecstatic," she said and led me up to her room. She shut the door.
"Talk."
"This is actually quite interesting. I just found out that I'm not related to the Sanders." Her eyes widened.
"Wha?" she asked, shaking her head. I growled, my patience short. I sat down on her bed, and I pulled her down next to me.
"OK, it's a long story," I said. "OK. I said something stupid to Mrs. Hastings and mother had a fit and I ran out of the room and Papa told me that I'm not his and Vivian's daughter. He told me that my real mother was in debt and on the verge of poverty, and the Sanders' offered to adopt me. And guess what? I have 3 other sisters running around!" I flared angrily, leaping off the bed and pacing nervously around the room. Katty stared with her jaw down to the ground.
"I knew it!" She suddenly cried out, leaping up and seizing my shoulders. My eyebrows shot up.
"Wha?" I asked.
"Remember when we were at the beach earlier?" she spat quickly, walking around very quickly.
"Yes, Katherina, but I didn't think that you were serious. That was just a joke," I corrected her.
"Still!" She placed her hand under her chin. "I think that I'm psychic," she added. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Can I stay the night at your house tonight? I really don't feel like dealing with. . . " My voice trailed off. I didn't know what to call them anymore. They weren't strangers, but they weren't my parents. "Them."
"Sure," Katty replied eagerly, smiling. I sighed, and slung my purse over my shoulder.
"I'll be right back," I called to her, then hurried out of the house. I crawled into my car, and my phone rang.
"Jeff?" I inquired immediately, pressing the phone to my ear tightly.
"April," he sighed.
"What is it Jeff?" I asked him nervously.
"The dean is accepting my leave of absence," he announced.
"Oh thank God."
"But. . ."
"Oh no," I moaned.
"I won't be back for another 2 weeks maybe."
"2 weeks!" I nearly screamed.
"I'm so sorry April, but I don't have a choice. He wants me to get started on my work immediately. I just got here a few days ago," he reminded me. I sighed, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Okay Jeff," I replied softly, biting my lip.
"I have to go darling," he said and hung up quickly. A tear slipped down my cheek. I pulled up to my street, and I put my car into a slow halt. I decided to go through my window and get my stuff then. I didn't want to talk with them.
I crawled out of my tiny little truck, pulled up in front of the neighbors house. I started to climb up the house, using the drainpipe, and fell into my room with a loud bang. I stiffened.
"Daniel, did you hear that?" Mother shouted from downstairs. I cursed at myself. I heard footsteps on the stairs, and I scrambled as quietly as I could to get clothes together and stuff them under a bag. But . . . Daddy opened the door, and I dashed under the bed, looking at the window. It was still open, the afternoon breeze lifting the curtain. Daddy stood in the room, looking around. What would he think it was, I wondered.
"It was just nothing Vivian, just probably something fell in the closet, that's all," Daddy shouted back to her, then shut the door. I breathed quickly, then hurried out of the house, crawling back into my car. I started it quickly, and dove back over to Katherina's house. I threw my stuff down and sighed.
"I just can't believe this," I muttered, placing my hand on my forehead and letting it slide down. Katherina hugged me.
"You'll be OK," she reassured me. I sighed.
"I hope so," I whispered, then pulled away.
During the next two days, I stayed at various peoples house, spending the night and telling them my sob story. They all looked at me sadly, then told me that I was going to be OK. Finally, I had to go home. I pulled out my keys quickly, hoping that they wouldn't be home. I sighed, and threw the door open, and looked around. Mother was sitting on the couch, her hands wrung nervously. Daddy had his hand on her shoulder, looking up at me. We made eye contact, and we stared at each other for a while.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, removing his hand from Mothers shoulders.
"Why should you care? You're not my parents," I snapped, smirking.
"We are your legal guardians," he retorted, his eyes growing a shade darker.
"I was at some friends house, that's all," I said, kicking off my shoes.
"It seems that you've been spreading this . . . story around to your friends. And it's gotten back to me at the country club. Do you know how embarrassing that is?" Mother wailed.
"Shut up," me and Daddy said in unison. We looked at each other for a moment.
"From this moment on, you won't be going out until you inform us where you are going, who you are going to be with, and how long you are going to be out," Daddy
informed me. I raised my eyebrows.
"Stop trying to be my father," I snapped, and started to walk to the stairs, but Daddy grabbed my wrist, and forcefully slapped my cheek. I stared at him, my hand mechanically running along the spot where he had touched me. Mother looked up, her eyes wide.
"You go directly to you room, do you hear me?" he asked, using his military voice.
"Yes, sir," I muttered, then marched up to my room, shutting the door and hearing a picture shatter to the ground. Mother sobbed, and Daddy yelled at angrily at the door.
I flung myself onto my bed. Why was this happening to me? Why? I lifted my head from the pillow as I heard the doorbell ring.
"April! It's for you!" Mother shouted.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"It's Brandon Jackson," she announced. I sighed and rolled onto my bed.
"Fine, whatever," I muttered. Brandon stomped upstairs and opened the door.
"What do you want?" I snapped as I folded my hands across my chest.
"You know, normal people say hi," he quipped.
"Yeah, well I'm not normal," I said, and sat up.
"I heard about . . . you," he said.
"Really, I'm sure your sister had some part in that," I mumbled. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"This has nothing to do with Julia. This has to do with us. I mean . . . you," he said quickly.
"Us?"
"If I would have known, I wouldn't have been. . . "
"Been what?" I asked impatiently.
"Such a bastard," he blurted. I smirked.
"Just what I want to hear," I muttered.
"Can't you be serious?" he snapped.
"When have you known me as serious?" I asked. He stood up.
"Well, then I guess it was a hopeless cause to come here and tell you something important," he sang, going for the door.
"You mean there's more?" I asked, standing up.
"Yeah, but since you can be serious, I can't tell you. It's a very serious matter," he said, grabbing the door handle. I leaped over to him.
"I can be serious! I can!" I cried, making a serious face. He rolled his eyes.
"I can help you find your real parents and sisters," he said. My eyebrows shot up.
"Really, and how can you do this?" I asked, folding my hands across my chest.
"My father has connections like that. Why don't you ask your parents for your birth certificate?" he asked. I laughed.
"Oh yeah, that would go real well," I muttered. "Hey, Mother, Daddy, can I have my birth certificate? Who knows that they even have it?" I asked. He gave me a cold look.
"Fine, I'll get it from them," I mumbled.
"I have to go now. Call me when you get it," he said, then walked out of the door. I sighed. I didn't want to talk to them about this. I didn't want to talk to them again. I waited for Brandon to leave before I headed downstairs. Mother was making dinner, and
Daddy was reading the paper. They looked up.
"Why was Brandon here? Were you two. . . " Daddy inquired. I grunted.
"Oh yeah, couldn't you hear us upstairs?" I asked. Daddy stood and started to walk over to me, but Mother held up her hand.
"Daniel, stop, she apparently has something to say," Mother announced, looking at me. Daddy sucked in his breath, and sat down. Mother wiped her hands on her apron, then walked into the living room.
"What is it darling?" Mother asked. I gave her a cold glance, and looked at the both of them.
"I want my birth certificate," I blurted. Mother turnen pale and Daddy stared.
"Why?" he demanded.
"Don't I have that right?" I cried. Daddy looked at Mother.
"You're Mother has it. Go get it Vivian," he snapped, and Mother scurried upstairs to get it. Daddy looked around nervously as Mother came back with a folder. She handed it to me, her hands shaking. I snatched it from her hands.
"That's all of the documents that you should need," Mother said dryly. I slowly opened the folder. Inside, my birth certificate was on top of adoption documents.I picked it up. It had everything that I needed. My last name was faded, and so were my parents's names.
"Great," I mumbled. I shut the folder.
"Thanks," I said softly, and looked through the family phone/address book to look for Brandon's number. I memorized it quickly, then went upstairs to call him. Julia answered the phone.
"Why are you calling? Are you going to sell me girl scout cookies?" she sneered.
"Just put Brandon on the phone," I snapped. She sighed and Brandon came on.
"Hello?" He asked.
"I got them," I said, opening the folder.
"Good. Can you come over today?"
"No, I'm apparently grounded, but I'll try and get out somehow," I muttered.
"OK, well, when you can, call me," he said and hung up. I shut the phone down, and looked through the documents. I studied the papers closely, thinking of the moment when my parents, and my real parents were signing these. At the bottom of the stack, there was an unopened enevelope addressed to me in fancy cursive. I looked at it oddly, and tore it open. It was pages long.
April,
As you read this letter, you will know the truth about you parents. The people that you live with, Vivian and Daniel Sanders, are not your parents. This has probably come to a shock to you, but unfortunately, this is true.
It's a long story to tell, but I must tell it to you in this letter. You must be informed properly, the whole story told right.
You were born on April 17th, 1986. The second born child out of four. July, June, and May. July is the oldest, followed by June, yourself, and May.
First off to tell you, when you were born, you were not born into a world of money, happiness, and love. You were born into a world of abuse, poverty, and hatred. You see, you father, my boyfriend at the time, had a very hot temper. When he found out I was pregnant with July and June (they are twins), he slapped me. He didn't want them. He didn't want any children. I wanted him to wear a contraceptive, but he said that he never got around to buying them.
After all of you were born, we were not living in the best of times. We all lived in a two bedroom apartment, in the ghetto of the neighborhood. Your father drank, and hit me many times. I almost had a miscarriage when I was pregnant with May.
I had to get out of my relationship. But how could I take 4 children with me? I got into Jake's tiny little car, loaded you in, and drove off quickly into the night.
We lived in a shelter home for a while, depending on the Salvation Army alot. I thought I wouldn't see Jake again. But soon, I figured out that he had followed me, and was in town, looking for me. I quickly, but frantically, found a way to get my children out of this.
The Sanders's donated many things to the S. A. They visited often when they donated things. They liked you the most. Finally, I brought it up in a conversation. They were overwhelmed with the idea, then thougth about it. Daniel wasn't as willing as Vivian was, but in the end, they caved in when they saw how precious you were, and what a desperate situation I was in.
They signed the papers that day. This is the day I'm writing this letter. I'm writing this letter to all of my children, to inform them about their history. I'm sitting here at the adoption agency, waiting for the papers to be filed. You're sitting in my lap, your golden hair brushed back. Tears are wetting the pages as I write this. I don't want to give you up, but I have no choice but to do this. You will be safe with the Sanders. I trust them.
I love you very much, and hopefully, we will meet again.
Love
Mother.
I looked up and saw my own tears wetting the pages. It was the first time I had truly cried about this subject.
"Why did she sign it mother?" I wailed. "Did she not want me to find her?" I added. I sat the letter down and read it over and over again, practically memorizing it page by page. I bit my lip. She didn't want me, she was lying the whole time. I stuffed the letter back into the envelope and tossed the folder on the florr, some of the pages sticking out. I hugged myself.
I needed Jeff here. There was nobody I could confide in. Katherina can't take anything seriously. Brandon wouldn't care. Jeff was gone, and I couldn't come to my parents. If I had to, I would be at the point of a mental breakdown.
I didn't call Brandon back. I didn't feel like going out that night. After reading the letter, the shock and reality had slapped me in the face. I changed into my pajamas, and crawled into bed, ignoring Mother's screams for me to come downstairs for dinner. She came into check on me, making sure that I was still here. I pretended to be asleep, and she shut the door quietly. I threw the covers over my head and curled up into a ball. That night, I cried myself to sleep, for the first time ever in my life.
"Hello?" he asked. I could hear his radio playing in the distance. A lump formed in my throat.
"Hi," I choked, coughing.
"April?"
"Yes, it's me, the bringer of . . . news," I said. It wasn't exactly bad for Jeff, it was bad for me.
"Uh oh. You got some 'splaining to do Lucy," he teased. I sighed, my voice trembling. Downstairs, I heard the door slam.
"April? Are you here?" Mother asked. I leaped up and locked my door.
"No! I'm on the moon!" I shouted back at her. I could hear her agitated grunt.
"Jeff, you won't believe me when I tell you this, but I'm not a Sanders child."
"What?" Jeff questioned.
"Told you. Daddy-Daniel, told me about it at the hospital. I had said something sarcastic to Mrs. Hastings-but hey, what else is new? And Daddy charged out of the room and started to tell me all about this. My mother was in debt, and was on the verge of poverty, and they took me off her hands. But there's another twist to the twisted story of mine," I said matter-of-factly. "I have 3 other sisters running around." I heard Jeff suck in his breath.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Yes, Jeff, I am. I was joking about it the whole time. Just wanted to see if you liked my made up story. What do you think!" I cried. He grunted.
"Enough of the sarcasm April. Be serious."
"I'm being serious!" I shouted.
"OK, relax," he said and sighed, apparently thinking.
"What are we going to do?" I moaned.
"Hush, I'm thinking," Jeff snapped. I chewed on my nails, something that I hadn't done in a long time.
"OK. Here's the plan. I'm going to ask the dean for a leave of absence, because of a family emergency. Then I'm going to come home and . . . then we'll work out something from there."
"How long is that going to take?" I asked quickly.
"I don't know April. You're going to have to give it some time."
"I don't have that much time Jeff!"
"April!" he hissed. I growled angrily.
"OK. Let me make a few phone calls, and I'll call you back," he said and hung up. I screamed at the dead phone and slammed it on the cradle angrily. I folded my hands across my chest, and heard the faint cleaning up of the glass.
"When I get my hands on that child . . ." Daddy's voice trailed off. Mother cried out.
"Daniel, stop it," she wailed. I threw open my door and marched downstairs. Daddy and Mother stared at me, stopping what they were doing. I looked at them both, then grabbed my purse and opened the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mother inquired.
"I'm going to race in Indy 500. Wish me luck," I called back to them and slammed the door. Mother burst out into tears, and Daddy went to comfort her, staring at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, then got into my car, speeding off to Katherina's house. She answered the door when I knocked.
"Hi," she greeted. Her smiled faded when she saw the cold look I had on my face. I stormed passed her, and Katty shut the door.
"OK, what's wrong?" she asked tiredly. I raised my eyebrows.
"What gives you the idea that there's something wrong?" I asked her sarcastically.
"Because you wouldn't be giving me that cold look if you were happy and ecstatic," she said and led me up to her room. She shut the door.
"Talk."
"This is actually quite interesting. I just found out that I'm not related to the Sanders." Her eyes widened.
"Wha?" she asked, shaking her head. I growled, my patience short. I sat down on her bed, and I pulled her down next to me.
"OK, it's a long story," I said. "OK. I said something stupid to Mrs. Hastings and mother had a fit and I ran out of the room and Papa told me that I'm not his and Vivian's daughter. He told me that my real mother was in debt and on the verge of poverty, and the Sanders' offered to adopt me. And guess what? I have 3 other sisters running around!" I flared angrily, leaping off the bed and pacing nervously around the room. Katty stared with her jaw down to the ground.
"I knew it!" She suddenly cried out, leaping up and seizing my shoulders. My eyebrows shot up.
"Wha?" I asked.
"Remember when we were at the beach earlier?" she spat quickly, walking around very quickly.
"Yes, Katherina, but I didn't think that you were serious. That was just a joke," I corrected her.
"Still!" She placed her hand under her chin. "I think that I'm psychic," she added. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Can I stay the night at your house tonight? I really don't feel like dealing with. . . " My voice trailed off. I didn't know what to call them anymore. They weren't strangers, but they weren't my parents. "Them."
"Sure," Katty replied eagerly, smiling. I sighed, and slung my purse over my shoulder.
"I'll be right back," I called to her, then hurried out of the house. I crawled into my car, and my phone rang.
"Jeff?" I inquired immediately, pressing the phone to my ear tightly.
"April," he sighed.
"What is it Jeff?" I asked him nervously.
"The dean is accepting my leave of absence," he announced.
"Oh thank God."
"But. . ."
"Oh no," I moaned.
"I won't be back for another 2 weeks maybe."
"2 weeks!" I nearly screamed.
"I'm so sorry April, but I don't have a choice. He wants me to get started on my work immediately. I just got here a few days ago," he reminded me. I sighed, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Okay Jeff," I replied softly, biting my lip.
"I have to go darling," he said and hung up quickly. A tear slipped down my cheek. I pulled up to my street, and I put my car into a slow halt. I decided to go through my window and get my stuff then. I didn't want to talk with them.
I crawled out of my tiny little truck, pulled up in front of the neighbors house. I started to climb up the house, using the drainpipe, and fell into my room with a loud bang. I stiffened.
"Daniel, did you hear that?" Mother shouted from downstairs. I cursed at myself. I heard footsteps on the stairs, and I scrambled as quietly as I could to get clothes together and stuff them under a bag. But . . . Daddy opened the door, and I dashed under the bed, looking at the window. It was still open, the afternoon breeze lifting the curtain. Daddy stood in the room, looking around. What would he think it was, I wondered.
"It was just nothing Vivian, just probably something fell in the closet, that's all," Daddy shouted back to her, then shut the door. I breathed quickly, then hurried out of the house, crawling back into my car. I started it quickly, and dove back over to Katherina's house. I threw my stuff down and sighed.
"I just can't believe this," I muttered, placing my hand on my forehead and letting it slide down. Katherina hugged me.
"You'll be OK," she reassured me. I sighed.
"I hope so," I whispered, then pulled away.
During the next two days, I stayed at various peoples house, spending the night and telling them my sob story. They all looked at me sadly, then told me that I was going to be OK. Finally, I had to go home. I pulled out my keys quickly, hoping that they wouldn't be home. I sighed, and threw the door open, and looked around. Mother was sitting on the couch, her hands wrung nervously. Daddy had his hand on her shoulder, looking up at me. We made eye contact, and we stared at each other for a while.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, removing his hand from Mothers shoulders.
"Why should you care? You're not my parents," I snapped, smirking.
"We are your legal guardians," he retorted, his eyes growing a shade darker.
"I was at some friends house, that's all," I said, kicking off my shoes.
"It seems that you've been spreading this . . . story around to your friends. And it's gotten back to me at the country club. Do you know how embarrassing that is?" Mother wailed.
"Shut up," me and Daddy said in unison. We looked at each other for a moment.
"From this moment on, you won't be going out until you inform us where you are going, who you are going to be with, and how long you are going to be out," Daddy
informed me. I raised my eyebrows.
"Stop trying to be my father," I snapped, and started to walk to the stairs, but Daddy grabbed my wrist, and forcefully slapped my cheek. I stared at him, my hand mechanically running along the spot where he had touched me. Mother looked up, her eyes wide.
"You go directly to you room, do you hear me?" he asked, using his military voice.
"Yes, sir," I muttered, then marched up to my room, shutting the door and hearing a picture shatter to the ground. Mother sobbed, and Daddy yelled at angrily at the door.
I flung myself onto my bed. Why was this happening to me? Why? I lifted my head from the pillow as I heard the doorbell ring.
"April! It's for you!" Mother shouted.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"It's Brandon Jackson," she announced. I sighed and rolled onto my bed.
"Fine, whatever," I muttered. Brandon stomped upstairs and opened the door.
"What do you want?" I snapped as I folded my hands across my chest.
"You know, normal people say hi," he quipped.
"Yeah, well I'm not normal," I said, and sat up.
"I heard about . . . you," he said.
"Really, I'm sure your sister had some part in that," I mumbled. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"This has nothing to do with Julia. This has to do with us. I mean . . . you," he said quickly.
"Us?"
"If I would have known, I wouldn't have been. . . "
"Been what?" I asked impatiently.
"Such a bastard," he blurted. I smirked.
"Just what I want to hear," I muttered.
"Can't you be serious?" he snapped.
"When have you known me as serious?" I asked. He stood up.
"Well, then I guess it was a hopeless cause to come here and tell you something important," he sang, going for the door.
"You mean there's more?" I asked, standing up.
"Yeah, but since you can be serious, I can't tell you. It's a very serious matter," he said, grabbing the door handle. I leaped over to him.
"I can be serious! I can!" I cried, making a serious face. He rolled his eyes.
"I can help you find your real parents and sisters," he said. My eyebrows shot up.
"Really, and how can you do this?" I asked, folding my hands across my chest.
"My father has connections like that. Why don't you ask your parents for your birth certificate?" he asked. I laughed.
"Oh yeah, that would go real well," I muttered. "Hey, Mother, Daddy, can I have my birth certificate? Who knows that they even have it?" I asked. He gave me a cold look.
"Fine, I'll get it from them," I mumbled.
"I have to go now. Call me when you get it," he said, then walked out of the door. I sighed. I didn't want to talk to them about this. I didn't want to talk to them again. I waited for Brandon to leave before I headed downstairs. Mother was making dinner, and
Daddy was reading the paper. They looked up.
"Why was Brandon here? Were you two. . . " Daddy inquired. I grunted.
"Oh yeah, couldn't you hear us upstairs?" I asked. Daddy stood and started to walk over to me, but Mother held up her hand.
"Daniel, stop, she apparently has something to say," Mother announced, looking at me. Daddy sucked in his breath, and sat down. Mother wiped her hands on her apron, then walked into the living room.
"What is it darling?" Mother asked. I gave her a cold glance, and looked at the both of them.
"I want my birth certificate," I blurted. Mother turnen pale and Daddy stared.
"Why?" he demanded.
"Don't I have that right?" I cried. Daddy looked at Mother.
"You're Mother has it. Go get it Vivian," he snapped, and Mother scurried upstairs to get it. Daddy looked around nervously as Mother came back with a folder. She handed it to me, her hands shaking. I snatched it from her hands.
"That's all of the documents that you should need," Mother said dryly. I slowly opened the folder. Inside, my birth certificate was on top of adoption documents.I picked it up. It had everything that I needed. My last name was faded, and so were my parents's names.
"Great," I mumbled. I shut the folder.
"Thanks," I said softly, and looked through the family phone/address book to look for Brandon's number. I memorized it quickly, then went upstairs to call him. Julia answered the phone.
"Why are you calling? Are you going to sell me girl scout cookies?" she sneered.
"Just put Brandon on the phone," I snapped. She sighed and Brandon came on.
"Hello?" He asked.
"I got them," I said, opening the folder.
"Good. Can you come over today?"
"No, I'm apparently grounded, but I'll try and get out somehow," I muttered.
"OK, well, when you can, call me," he said and hung up. I shut the phone down, and looked through the documents. I studied the papers closely, thinking of the moment when my parents, and my real parents were signing these. At the bottom of the stack, there was an unopened enevelope addressed to me in fancy cursive. I looked at it oddly, and tore it open. It was pages long.
April,
As you read this letter, you will know the truth about you parents. The people that you live with, Vivian and Daniel Sanders, are not your parents. This has probably come to a shock to you, but unfortunately, this is true.
It's a long story to tell, but I must tell it to you in this letter. You must be informed properly, the whole story told right.
You were born on April 17th, 1986. The second born child out of four. July, June, and May. July is the oldest, followed by June, yourself, and May.
First off to tell you, when you were born, you were not born into a world of money, happiness, and love. You were born into a world of abuse, poverty, and hatred. You see, you father, my boyfriend at the time, had a very hot temper. When he found out I was pregnant with July and June (they are twins), he slapped me. He didn't want them. He didn't want any children. I wanted him to wear a contraceptive, but he said that he never got around to buying them.
After all of you were born, we were not living in the best of times. We all lived in a two bedroom apartment, in the ghetto of the neighborhood. Your father drank, and hit me many times. I almost had a miscarriage when I was pregnant with May.
I had to get out of my relationship. But how could I take 4 children with me? I got into Jake's tiny little car, loaded you in, and drove off quickly into the night.
We lived in a shelter home for a while, depending on the Salvation Army alot. I thought I wouldn't see Jake again. But soon, I figured out that he had followed me, and was in town, looking for me. I quickly, but frantically, found a way to get my children out of this.
The Sanders's donated many things to the S. A. They visited often when they donated things. They liked you the most. Finally, I brought it up in a conversation. They were overwhelmed with the idea, then thougth about it. Daniel wasn't as willing as Vivian was, but in the end, they caved in when they saw how precious you were, and what a desperate situation I was in.
They signed the papers that day. This is the day I'm writing this letter. I'm writing this letter to all of my children, to inform them about their history. I'm sitting here at the adoption agency, waiting for the papers to be filed. You're sitting in my lap, your golden hair brushed back. Tears are wetting the pages as I write this. I don't want to give you up, but I have no choice but to do this. You will be safe with the Sanders. I trust them.
I love you very much, and hopefully, we will meet again.
Love
Mother.
I looked up and saw my own tears wetting the pages. It was the first time I had truly cried about this subject.
"Why did she sign it mother?" I wailed. "Did she not want me to find her?" I added. I sat the letter down and read it over and over again, practically memorizing it page by page. I bit my lip. She didn't want me, she was lying the whole time. I stuffed the letter back into the envelope and tossed the folder on the florr, some of the pages sticking out. I hugged myself.
I needed Jeff here. There was nobody I could confide in. Katherina can't take anything seriously. Brandon wouldn't care. Jeff was gone, and I couldn't come to my parents. If I had to, I would be at the point of a mental breakdown.
I didn't call Brandon back. I didn't feel like going out that night. After reading the letter, the shock and reality had slapped me in the face. I changed into my pajamas, and crawled into bed, ignoring Mother's screams for me to come downstairs for dinner. She came into check on me, making sure that I was still here. I pretended to be asleep, and she shut the door quietly. I threw the covers over my head and curled up into a ball. That night, I cried myself to sleep, for the first time ever in my life.