Meanwhile, in a little orphanage on the outskirts of Cleveland, a teenage girl was being led out by a crabby old lady.
"I got you a job at the seafood market," the old lady said, dragging the girl by her scarf. Okay, so maybe 'led out' wasn't the right term.
"Go straight down this path 'til you hit the fork in the road," she continued. "Go left-"
"Bye," the girl interrupted. "Bye everybody!"
"Are you listening?" the lady asked irritated.
The girl sighed. "I'm listening Comrade Phlegmenkoff."
"Oh Kuki dear, you've been a thorn in my side since you were brought here," Phlegmenkoff growled, pulling her harder. "Acting all high and mighty instead of like the nameless no-account you are"
"Bye everybody, I'll miss you," Kuki continued to call out to the little kids waving goodbye to her.
"For the last seven years I fed you, I clothed you, I-,"
"Kept a roof over my head," Kuki finished.
"Ugh," Phlegmenkoff said, frustrated. "How is it you don't have a clue of who you were before you came to us, but you can remember all that?"
"But I do have a clue."
"Bah, I know. 'Sector V, together forever'," she said mockingly. "And 'made in Paris' huh? So, you want to go to France to find this Sector V thing, do you?"
Kuki nodded and smiled. Phlegmenkoff just laughed.
"Little Miss Kuki, it's time you take your place in life. In life and in line. And be grateful too!"
Then she shoved Kuki out and locked the gate.
"Together forever," she mocked, and then walked back inside.
Kuki walked all the way down the snow covered path until sure enough, she found the fork in the road
To the left was a small town with the seafood market. To the right was Cleveland.
Kuki was more than happy to leave that stupid orphanage. Besides the frustration of having no idea who she was or where she came from, Kuki also had to put with the other kids there. Sure, she loved all the littler kids. But the older kids her age gave her a lot of trouble, like picking on her and calling her a no name loser. Not to mention all the beatings she received from Phlegmenkoff.
"Hmph, I am grateful. Grateful to get to get away." she cried out.
"Go left, she says. Oh I know what's to the left. I'll be Kuki the orphan forever. But if I go right, maybe I can find..."
She sighed and twirled her necklace on her finger.
"What is a Sector V?" she thought out loud.
Maybe it was a group. Why else would it say 'together forever'?
"Whoever gave me this necklace must've loved me. Or at least cared about me. Oh, this is crazy. Me? Go to Paris? How do I even know they're in Paris? Just because this necklace was made there doesn't mean.."
But Kuki knew it was the only lead she had.
She called out to the sky. "Send me a sign. A hint. Anything."
Kuki sat down on a snow bank. And just as she sat down, a little skunk popped out from behind and yanked Kuki's scarf from her.
"Hey. Hey give that back" she giggled.
"Come on skunky I don't have time to play. I'm waiting for a sign."
The skunk started to run around Kuki, wrapping the scarf around her ankles.
"Would you stop that! Hey, whoa!"
Kuki fell forward. The skunk ran to the right and turned to Kuki, her scarf still in his mouth.
"Oh great, a skunk wants me to go to Cleveland." she said.
Then it hit her.
"Okay, I can take a hint."
She got up and followed the skunk. But how was she going to be able to start this journey?
Heart, don't fail me now.
Courage, don't desert me.
Don't turn back now that we're here.
People always say
Life is full of choices.
No one ever mentions fear.
Or how the world can seem so vast
On journey
To the past.
Kuki walked toward the skunk. The road was pretty long. But she knew this journey would be longer. It would all be worth it though, if she found her family.
Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting.
Years of dreams just can't be wrong.
Arms will open wide.
I'll be safe and wanted.
Finally home where I belong.
Well starting now I'm learning fast
On this journey
To the past.
Kuki picked up the skunk and walked past a playground, where she saw two parents gently pushing their baby on the swings. They seemed so happy and loving.
Home, love, family.
There was once a time I must've had them, too.
Home, love, family,
I will never be complete until I find you.
Kuki smiled and began to skip. She had never felt so determined before.
One step at a time.
One hope then another.
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was.
On to find my future.
Things my heart still needs to know.
Yes! Let this be a sign.
Let this road be mine.
Let it lead me to my past.
And bring me home.
Kuki stared down at the bustling city of Cleveland and grinned.
At last!
Walking down sidewalk, Kuki began to feel nervous again.
"How the heck am I supposed to get to Paris? I don't have any money. How am I going to get a ticket?" she wondered out loud.
Then from inside the alley, Kuki heard someone 'psst' her. An old lady dressed in rags, not that different then Kuki's own rags, came out.
"You want to get to Paris?" she asked.
"Umm," Kuki knew the main rule for stranger danger: just walk away. But right now, she was desperate. "Yes I would."
"Then see Wallabee Beetles. He can help you," the old lady said.
Kuki was almost sure she never heard that name before.
"Where can I find him?" she asked.
"In some old treehouse in those woods over there," she pointed. Kuki turned her head to see. It was a pretty long walk. "But you didn't hear it from me," the old lady said.
"Oh, um okay," Kuki said.
The old lady disappeared then, leaving Kuki alone.
"Hmm, Wallabee Beetles," she said.
Well that didn't take as long as I thought. I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out.
Please review!