Title: Brooklyn's Beginnings
Chapter: Aunt Aletha
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language, child abuse, and some other stuff, I don't know, we'll see how it goes, but it probably won't get any higher.
Disclaimer: If you sue me you will only succeed in causing you lots of pain and high lawyer and court fees, and I can give you all that I own and you won't even make up for your loss……HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAA, I'll laugh in your greedy face!
NO ONE REVEIWED MY LAST CHAPTER!!!!!! HOW SAD!!!!!! OH WELL :)
On with the story!!!
It was three days after the closet incident that Gabriel decided he was tired of the orphanage. He found the piece of paper his brother had given him, that seemed so long ago. Now being able to read he had figured out what it said, but really didn't understand it, he figured it had to be some sort of address. During free time that day he went down to Mr. Ranskin's office. There were important looking people in there, and he knew he wasn't supposed to interrupt, but he could've cared less. He loudly opened the door and strutted straight up to Mr. Ranskin, slamming down the slip of paper.
"Gabriel" said Mr. Ranskin startled and furious, as he usually was with the child. Gabriel had steered clear of Mr. Ranskin since the 'closet incident' so his sudden presence startled Mr. Ranskin.
"Hi!" he said, "I want to go there," he pointed at the slip of paper. "Gabriel, please" He said, trying to remain in control. "Go play, I'll talk with you when I'm done with these people."
Surprisingly Gabriel just said, "Okay" and left the room, flashing innocent smiles at the rich looking couple sitting in the office.
Mr. Ranskin came rushing up to Gabriel a half-hour later. "What's this?" he asked. "I dunno Hayden told me to go there, I think I should now." Mr. Ranskin just stared at him unbelieving. He then silently went to his office to write a letter.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................
Gabriel walked into Mr. Ranskin's office, figuring he was in trouble for some deed he never knew was a crime. Why else would he have been summoned there? To his surprise Gabriel saw an older woman and a young man sitting in the high backed chairs in front of Mr. Ranskin's desk. The lady was kind and grandmotherly looking, in her early seventies, and was also obviously rich.
"Good Evening Gabriel, glad to see you could grace us with your always enjoyable presence." Greeted Mr. Ranskin, his dripping with sarcasm. "I'd like to introduce you to your Great Aunt Aletha. I wrote her a letter using the address you gave me, and she, being your rightful guardian as far as we can see, has agreed to take on custody of you."
Gabriel suddenly remembered about the address he had given Mr. Ranskin two months ago. However, he still didn't understand what Mr. Ranskin was implying. The blank confused expression he had allowed to show bluntly on his face must have informed the adults of his current emotions.
"Gabriel dear, I'm going to adopt you, you're going to come live with me." Said his 'aunt'.
"You, lady, want me?" Asked Gabriel pointing to himself, doubting the truth of her words.
In the five months he'd been at the orphanage, more people had looked at adopting him that any other boy in his age group. Gabriel seemed to have an air of mystery that attracted people to him, until they found out what a difficult, not to mention egotistical child he was.
"And why wouldn't I?" She asked.
"Ranskin says I gots a 'behaveral' problem." He said insolently, mispronouncing 'behavioral'.
"Gabriel, your five, correct?" Asked the lady, staring straight into his eyes. It was this action that let Gabriel know that he could trust her.
"Yeah, six soon" He answered.
"When's your birthday?" Asked Mr. Ranskin, never having heard of it.
"When it's really hot, sometime next month I guess. Da' always hates me extra when it's real hot. Well, did hate me, made sure ta let me know everything was my fault and beat me plenty, Hayden says it's cuz me mother died when I was born, which was when it's always real hot out." He explained, not showing any resentment or pain for his previous position in life.
The old lady showed interested concern and let out a small gasp. "Well dear, I believe that with proper upbringing, you could grow up to be a fine young man."
Gabriel gave her another confused look, and Mr. Ranskin let off a barely audible scoff. There was an awkward silence that Mr. Ranskin broke.
"So if you're ready Gabriel, you can leave with your aunt tomorrow."
"You mean, I can leave here?" Asked the little boy, gesturing to his surroundings.
"Yes Gabriel." Said his Aunt; "You're going to come live with us in New Jersey."
"New Jehsy, what's that?" He questioned.
"That's where we live." Sighed the young man, who had been neglected through the whole meeting. He was extremely debonair, with a nose that had the permanent upward tilt of all wealthy socialists. He had a tall stature, dark concealing eyes and hair that was cropped fashionably against his head. His age resided somewhere in the early twenties.
"Who are you?" Gabriel asked with an air of disgust, knowing immediately that he would forever hate this man.
"Oh dear I'm sorry, "Answered Aunt Aletha "This is my nephew, Jonathan Hammel, whom I adopted at the age of ten. I believe you two are distant cousins by marriage; however, you'll now be brothers! Won't it be exciting to have a big brother Gabriel, I'm sure you two will get along famously." Answered the old lady naively.
"I already got a big brother." Answered Gabriel, his voice flat.
"Yes, we've all heard about your infamous brother Gabriel, you can tell the Madam the story later." Answered Mr. Ranskin, who had never believed the stories of Gabriel's brother, who seemed to have risen to a godlike status in the child's head.
"Well now," Stated Aunt Aletha, sensing the tension in the air. "If we could just have Gabriel's measurements so that we can find him some suitable clothes for our journey, we'll be on our way, and back to pick up Gabriel at nine tomorrow morning." She stated matter-of-factly.
After they had left, Mr.. Ranskin instructed Gabriel to be seated in one of the adult sized chairs. He gave him a lecture on how fortunate he was to be moved up to this higher social standing. Gabriel was told that an insolent child would not be accepted or tolerated in the realms of the rich, and that he had to learn to control himself, pay attention to his surrounding, and remember that he is just a worthless child in a world controlled by adults.
Finally, Mr. Ranskin stopped pacing, leaned over his desk and forced himself, for the first time to look straight in to the endless blue orbs that reflected so much power in the dirty, hard young face. Where before he had only seen defiance, Mr. Ranskin now saw fear, pain, and innocence.
"Gabriel" He said, "You're a smart, strong boy. You're proud and arrogant, yes, but you know what you want and you become determined top find a way to get it. If you remember not to let your pride get ahead of your intuitive of and you common sense, you could achieve great things. If you've learned nothing else from your time here, remember this. Great things can be achieved by those with the power to look beyond their dreams."
The pair states at each other for at least five minutes, their gaze breaking contact only to blink. For once, Gabriel had absorbed Mr. Ranskin's works, and his eyes showed that he had filed the information into the vast depths of his developing mind. Mr. Ranskin taught Gabriel something else that day, though he didn't know it. He taught Gabriel the art of patience, a skill that would become extremely useful in the years to come. Instead of squirming uncomfortably like most five year olds, he waited for the adult's next words, his face already beginning to master the art of showing no emotion.
"You are dismissed." Mr. Ranskin said quietly.
Gabriel slid out of the chair, gave Mr. Ranskin a slight nod, and said strongly, "Good Night Sir." Before exiting the office.
Author's Ramblings:
SORRY ITS SO SHORT!
SOOOOOO, I must admit I am an extremely bad updater, I'm sorry, if anybody is still READING this story, I hope your still interested, and I would love some feedback.
My New Year's Resolution is to update more and start sticking to stories that I start, I have about 3 notebooks full of about 10 different stories that I've abandoned, I seem to have an extremely short attention span.
But I now have more time on my hands, since the competing season of gymnastics is over and I don't have three hours of practice everyday.
Hopefully the next update will be before my next trip to Girdwood, which is on Saturday……so probably a couple reviews will help to push me along! Heehee
So I hope you all had a grand holiday and will continue to read this story.
TOODLES!