Chapter 8
"Please" I asked him. He glared at me.
"I told you, no" he said defiantly. No fair. I will win!
"Coooome ooooon! Pleeeease?" drawing out the words and trying on a puppy dog face.
"NO" he said looking straight into my eyes. He was trying to prove that puppy dog face was useless to him.
"Okay" I said. Feigning defeat. He looked at me with unmasked surprise.
"Okay?" he questioned. I nodded.
"Okay, I understand" and much quieter I said "have no soul see if I care."
"What?" eyebrow raised.
"What?" in mocking innocence. His eyes narrowed. I shrugged and slowly started to walk away. I was not even five feet away from my previous position when I quickly jumped back in front of him and threw myself to my knees. I clasped my fists together.
"Please. Please. Please? Pretty please with sugar on top! I'll be your very best friend! Please!" I pleaded. I was on my knees. My knees dammit! He jumped slightly.
"Your acting like a child!" he said with exasperation. I continued on with my little display. I didn't care I really really wanted this. I stopped for a moment only to plaster a kicked puppy look on.
"Fine" he whispered. Inner gloating.
"What? Excuse me? I didn't hear that." I said. Don't push it.
"I said, Fine. The island can celebrate Christmas." he repeated. Score! I jumped up excitedly. I fist pumped.
"Yes! Knew it. Which means I need you to get me to the mainland so I can get stuff." I smiled sweetly.
"Plane leaves in 30 minutes. Miss it I'm not getting you another one. Now hurry up before I change my mind." He said. I practically squealed. I rushed forward hugged him and then ran off to get myself ready.
---
The plane ride was uneventful, well except for the fact that we hit a patch of turbulence, which was incredibly fun. I stood at the entrance to a book store that I had always passed by but never went into. Books were never really my thing. Except for this one I got years ago. I still kept it with me wherever I went. I never knew exactly where it came from. Just that it was always with me. I read it so many times that I practically knew it word for word.
A long, long time ago me and a friend of mine were trying one of our 'get-rich-quick' ideas. She had wanted to sell my book. But I couldn't. Even though we checked and it would have come in for a hefty penny. But I couldn't part with it. A first edition copy of 'Where the Red Fern Grows'. I liked to think that it was given to me by my parents before something horribly tragic happened. That it was something that held romantic meaning. It wasn't likely, but, I could dream right?
I had seen Syndrome reading every now and then. But most of those books seemed to be about mechanical stuff, or about the outlawing of the supers. The kinda stuff that would put me to sleep just by attempting to read a page. I tried to once. Got akward trying to explain why I had fallen asleep in Syndrome's 'private' office. Especially since it was Mirage who found me.
I looked through every aisle. Checking almost every title and examining things closely. And suddenly I saw it. It was perfect! Amazing. I felt like a total genius. I grabbed it and rushed to go pay. I hoped he would like it. And I now I was off to get a little something for everyone else.
---
A couple hours later I was finished. I glanced at my wrist. Again, no watch. I rolled my eyes at myself. When the hell would I learn? I glanced around the shopping mall at the food court and spied a clock. I still had some time until I had to be back at the airport. I wondered what I could go and do to waste time. Then I knew. I would go back and visit Jasper at the orphanage.
I wonder if he had gotten adopted yet. He's a little kid. Families usually always wanted the little kids. I blinked a tear back. I wouldn't think about that now. Now, I must go see how the little guy is doing. I walk outside and flagged down a taxi.
The taxi pulled up to the front of the orphanage. It hadn't changed. I could see some kids playing around in the front yard. The dust rising around whenever they ran through. The cab driver up front coughed. Getting my attention. I guess I had spaced a little. Not something I do very often so I was surprised. I gave him the money gathered my stuff together. I stood on the other side of the gate just looking at the building I had, for the most part, grown up in.
A little kid around the age of 11 ran up to me and hugged me around my middle. I dropped my bags right outside the front door and picked her up. Well tried, she wasn't as small as she used to be.
"Hey sweetie. That school must be doing really good for you if you could tell it was me after all this time." I looked into her clouded eyes. Blind. Her parents hadn't wanted her after when they found out she was 'damaged'. She didn't know it. She was dropped off here when she was too young to remember. Her name was Rosemary.
"How yah been?" I asked her. She giggled the way only a young kid could.
"I'm good Lily. The dragon's been nice lately. Oh! And I even have a family that comes to visit me. Wanna meet 'em?" she asked.
"Sure, sweetheart" I placed her on the ground. She took my hand and escorted me to a family that were lounging in the 'show room' looking over some papers. I saw a mom, a dad, and even and older brother. All situated facing the Grey Dragon. Looks like they were adopting her. Lucky little kid. Rosemary walked over to the lady. She placed a hand on her knee.
"Ms. Callaghan? This is my friend Lily. She was an orphan just like me. Until a not very nice lady took her away. I haven't seen her in forever!" she told the lady. The lady smiled a sweet smile. She stood and held her hand out. I shook it.
"Well hell Lily. It's very nice to meet you. Little Rosie here had told us a lot about you. It appears you two were very close. And I want you to know, that if you every want some place to stay, or just come by to visit we would be happy to take you in." she said. She's so sweet. I was tempted to take her up on her offer right then and there. But I remembered the reason that I was on the mainland in the first place.
"Why thank you very much, but I can't right now. But if I could get your number I'll be sure to come and visit Rosemary next time I'm in town. And mailing address, so we can keep in touch. This little kid's like a sister to me." I said while gesturing towards Rosemary. She giggled. The mother scribbled something down on a piece of paper and handed it to me. I placed it in my pocket and smiled.
"Now I'll leave you all to finish what you were doing. ? I hope you won't if I do a little visiting before I go, do you?" I asked. She shook her head.
"Of course not Dah-ling take your time" she said, using that sickly sweet sounding voice that had scared me so much doing childhood.
"Oh and before I go, after you're finished here of course could I talk to you for a minute. It won't take long." I said. She nodded.
"Of course dear. Now run along." She said.
"Now Rosie, be good okay? And I'll make sure to come visit you next time I can. And we'll keep in touch, okay? Do good in school and remember what I always told you." She nodded.
"Mh-hmm, never go to bed mad, stay up and fight." She said. Placing her hands on her hips.
"That's right." I said. I ruffled up her hair a little bit and gave her a quick hug before exiting the room. Once in the hallway I took the family way to the younger kids room. Lets see, Jasper was about two months old when I left, I've been gone about a year or so. So he should be with the one year olds. I made my way there and spotted him as soon as I set foot in the door. I picked him up.
"Hey little guy. Still here I see" he blinked. Then smiled and laughed. He remembered me!
"I love you little guy. And I swear. As soon as I can I will adopt you. I mean if you already aren't with a happy family and all." I smiled. And held him close. I don't know what it was about this kid. But he drove me crazy. I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. I turned swiftly only to see it was in all her short and gray haired glory.
"You really like this one don't you." She said. Making it a statement rather than a question. I nodded. I did. I really did.
"Now I know you're not here just to make a social call, is there anything I can help you with?" she always knew me so well. And she had her sweet side. I guess it had decided to make an appearance now.
"Yes, actually I was wondering. You know since I'm legal and everything…" I paused trying to find the right words. I set Jasper back down. "… if you could tell me where or who my parents are." the words rushing out. I gave a sigh. I had always wanted to know, but whenever I asked had told me that my parents had signed a waver saying that I wasn't allowed to look for them. I thought maybe something had changed. Maybe she could tell me now.
"Dearie, you know I can't" she said. I visibly deflated. I could tell she wanted to. But I guess it's the law or something.
"But" she started. My eyes brightened. A new hope sparked. "I have this little piece of paper in my pocket that has been weighing me down all day. So you be good and throw it away for me?" she held out the paper she was talking about. My face screwed up. I just looked down in confusion at her outstretched hand. Why the hell-? Oh wait. Then it dawned on me. I mentally slapped myself. Dumbass. I quickly shot my hand out to get the paper. As if before my very eyes it could disappear. I stared down at the paper in my hands. I let the name soak in. Doyle Fortunson. The paper said.
Doyle Fortunson. Is he…could he be? My father. After all these years. Doyle Fortunson.
I looked up to see smiling sweetly.
"Now, run along. I have a feeling someone back home is missing you." She said. Home? Oh yeah, the island. But wait, missing me?
"Go" reminded me. Of course. I looked over at the clock above the door. Crap. I'm so gunna be late!
"Thank you. Really, really. Thank you!" I said as I ran out the door through the house and picked my bags up outside the door and ran to catch a taxi.
---
It was Christmas afternoon. I felt a little giddy. Lizabeth, some guards, and I had already exchanged our gifts earlier. And now I was off to give mine to the boss man. I grabbed a sweater and pulled it on. Grabbed the crudely wrapped present and stepped outside. Outside on the ground was a small wrapped box. I looked down at it curiously. Odd. Only one person I know communicates with me by leaving things outside my door.
I looked around and saw that the hallway was empty. I plopped myself down on the ground, sitting criss-cross-applesauce. Just like how I learned in kindergarten. I picked up the present and examined it closely. I opened it carefully. Making sure that the paper didn't tear. Was it was unwrapped I was shocked at what I saw. It appeared to be small piece of technology. I had seen kids at school with things similar. The called them I-pods, or Zunes. I always secretly wanted one, but apparently orphans never really get nice things like that.
There was a note. So cleaning won't always be so quite. Already full of music. –S. It said. I remembered how once I brought up how boring it can be cleaning up after people all the time. I guess he it took it to heart. I placed an ear phone that I had just found into my ear and pressed the little sideways triangle button. My ear was almost instantaneously with the sound of drums, guitars, and a voice speaking of the ups and downs of life. I smiled. Wow. Jerks can really do some nice things.
I got up from my seat on the floor grabbed what I had gotten for the Ginger. He bought me something incredibly expensive and all I got him was some book. I rolled my eyes. And I walked on. I found him sitting in his 'private' office. Private in quotes because it wasn't really private since I hung out there all the time. He was sitting in his chair reading something. Ha, he so does read!
"Ahem" I coughed, alerting him to my presence. I stood up straight and tall. Even though I was barely as tall as Ginger while he was sitting. Stupid tall basterd.
"I wanna say thanks, you know for the present. And that, you didn't have to get me something so expensive, let alone anything at all" I said. He just glanced at me from behind his papers.
"Well, I expect that since you are an orphan you have never had a good Christmas, you deserve at least one good thing in your life." He said. My eye twitched at the insult. But I decided to let it slide since it was Christmas.
"Well, thank you then. And, Uh Merry Christmas, I guess." I said. I practically threw the package at him and rushed off. Jesus, freaking jerk.
---
Once Lily had practically ran away from the Office the man, now known as The Ginger, looked down at the wrapped present with distaste. He had never really liked Christmas. Well why should I? Christmas is yet just another thing from childhood that was ruined. Christmas was just another think the adults had celebrated to give themselves that warm and fuzzy feeling about being 'good' for one day a year. What was the point?
He put the papers down and decided to just get it over with. He opened the present carelessly. Balling up the paper and throwing it over his shoulder. He saw it was a book. Splashed across the cover was yellow and blue with words declaring that this book was 'How to take over the world : for Dummies, a complete guide of world domination for idiots! He laughed out loud and cracked open the book. Who knows I might even learn something. Maybe Christmas isn't so horrible. Yeah. And maybe I will one day decide to give up evil and decide to start a family, with a wife, a house, and those 2.5 kids.
He leaned back in his chair and took a sip of some strong flavored alcoholic drink. Yeah. And then maybe I'll grow wings!
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Well finals are over this is my little gift to you readers. Might I add this readers that don't review. *cough**cough*. Aaaanyway. Now Lily has found out the name of her father. But will he be all that she hoped? Find out next time on(dun-dun-duh!) the Janitor!...well not really next time but you'll find out eventually!