Mako sighed and took Bolin's hand. They walked up to the brick building and brought inside. It was loud, very loud. Children where running around in all directions. Some of them where sliding down the railings, other more shy kids where seeking refuge from the sound in a corner. One younger kid had apparently just been hurt and was being aided by a teenage girl. Mako just stood there, speechless and overwhelmed by all the activity. Bolin was scared and hid behind Mako.
Policeman-"What are you doing? Move it!"
The Policeman pushed Mako from behind and then directed him toward the office. An older woman sat behind a large wooden desk. She had her grey hair pulled back into a tight bun. Golden-rimmed glasses framed her grey eyes, making them look worse than they really where. She stared the two boys down. Then, without saying anything, she stood up and examined them from head to toe. She ran her fingers through their hair, searching for lice, opened their eyes and mouths, checked their limbs and movements, measured their height, and checked their teeth. She returned to her desk and started writing into a notebook. Mako looked around the dark room. All the walls in this place where painted with grey, peeling paint. The windows where cracked and the books on the shelf where covered in a thick layer of dust. The woman had an engraved nametag sitting on her desk that read "Miss. Tafu, Owner." When she was done writing, she slammed the notebook shut.
Miss. Tafu-"Sit."
Mako and Bolin sat in the wooden chairs behind them. Miss. Tafu stared at them. Mako felt like her grey eyes stared through his soul, it gave him the goose bumps. The Policeman walked over to the woman.
Policeman-"So, can you take them?"
Miss. Tafu-"They seem alright. Strong, good for working, quiet, I like that. No lice, no sickness, no bumps or bruises. Good teeth, clear eyes. The tall one is a little skinny though. I suppose that you two are benders?"
Mako-"Yes. I am a firebender and my brother is an earthbender."
Miss. Tafu-"Hmmm. A firebender. That might be an issue. We usually don't want them around here too long and that could be a problem with adoption. Hotheads, all of them. And, what are your names?"
Mako-"Well…I-"
Miss. Tafu-"Hush. I want to hear the little one speak."
Bolin-"I'm Bolin, Mako is my brother."
Miss. Tafu-"Well, Bolin. You are young, so you might not be here long. Mako, well, I can't say the same for you. No one wants an older kid, especially a firebender."
Mako didn't know hoe to handle this. The woman had just basically said that they where going to be adopted. He didn't want to be adopted, by anyone. He had a mother and a father and nothing could change that. Not only would he possible be adopted, but the woman would separate them! Bolin was little and cute and an eathbender. Everyone wants a kid like him. No one wants an 8 year-old firebender. Troublemaker, that's what everyone thought he was the second they found out that he was a firebender. He was sick of it. His hands grew hot and he burned the handles off the chair. The woman saw this and stood up, alarmed.
Miss. Tafu- "He's burning the chair! Officer, do something!"
The Policeman ran over and grabbed Mako off of the chair. Mako kicked and yelled as the woman took Bolin away from the room.
Mako-"YOU CAN'T TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY BROTHER! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME, TO HIM! HE'S ONLY 6! HE NEEDS ME!"
Tears streamed down his face as he tried to do anything in his power to free himself. Bolin was out of the room, nowhere to be found. The Policeman had handcuffed him, so he could no longer firebend. He kicked and yelled some more.
Policeman-"Alright! That's it! I didn't want to have to do this kid."
The man pulled out a handheld device with wires on both sides of it. He flipped a switch that brought the device to life. An electric current ran through it as it hummed. Mako stopped, frozen. His eyes widened as he realized that they man was going to taze him.
Mako-"No, NO! I'll stop, I'll stop! Please, don't!"
Author's note: So this hurricane came along, and I was happy about it because it meant that I now have time to write, haha. I will try to update more often. I have a ton of ideas that must come out of my brain! I hope you all stay safe in this weather and don't forget to REVIEW!