Chapter 5 – SPOV

The next morning, the whole place was up at six to prepare for the day ahead. It was our open day, so people could see what it was like here; and also see if they wanted to adopt any of us. There were always the lucky few that went. The cute babies and toddlers were always the favourites as they wouldn't really remember this life.

I could have been adopted, but apparently I was too troublesome. I never wanted a nap and I had terrible baby reflux. Then Bella came along and the two of us were inseparable. But this tradition was programmed into our brains so we were left on our own, knowing there was little hope of us getting adopted now.

Everyone was sent into the showers one at a time, then everyone got into their best clothes so we all looked like trussed up chickens. We were then occupied by consoling the younger children who were terrified. Jack for one was sat sobbing at the table, opposite another girl, Lola, who rarely spoke but was now shaking uncontrollably as she cried openly.

"Savannah, Bella, can you see to these two please," Miss Macey the head of the orphanage said as she ran around with more banners than you would have thought possible.

Bella rolled her eyes at me as we walked towards the two of them. I picked Jack up and put him on my lap. He snuggled into my chest whilst Bella picked Lola up also. The shock that someone had come over to her stopped her crying and she looked up at Bella with big blue eyes.

"You two have nothing to be scared about," I told the two of them.

"Yeah, Sana and I have been doing this since we were babies and you just have to smile nicely at people while doing some drawing or playing with toys. Well actually anything that doesn't involve you getting dirty," Bella said, extending on my answer.

"But what happens if no-one wants me?" Jack said looking petrified.

"Don't worry. No-one has wanted Bella and I for the last fourteen years, but it just goes back to normal. It's not really the end of the world if you don't go. You get to stay here with us!" I said trying to reassure them.

"But what if they do want us?" Lola asked quietly.

Bella looked at me confused, before answering:

"Well, if they do then we have the choice to go or not, but we have to go along with the trial fortnight before we can actually have any say in the decision. But you can always come back here if it is too bad."

"The only person I want is my Mummy," she replied as a fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks.

We had overheard a conversation between Miss Macey and one of the other staff when Lola had first arrived, and it seemed that her mother was an alcoholic who neglected her daughter and ran away with a lot of men: leaving her daughter at home alone.

"Your Mummy will come and get you when she's ready," Bella said shooting anxious glances in my direction.

At that point Miss Macey rushed into the room with another member of staff.

"Right, Lola and Jack if you'll go with Karen and she will get you sorted and show you what to do. Bella, Savannah I know you know what to do, but I just wanted to tell you that you will be in the blue room with Harry until lunch when we want you out in the garden with the little children where you can show your interaction with them and how we're all one big happy family," she said in a rush before dashing off to somewhere else.

I rolled my eyes at Bella. Miss Macey was always like this on open day. She wanted to show people we really were a big happy family which was true with a few exceptions. But, not wanting to get the impatient sigh from her as she rushed back past we both hurried off to the blue room.

All the rooms in the house had a different colour, as this made it easier to know where you were going. Well it did until we had a colour blind boy join us. However, he did keep us entertained. The blue room was where we three oldest children did our homework in peace, and there were also computers for us to use as well as a television with games controllers. We never really went in it much, except to do homework as we all preferred to be with everyone in the house in the green room.

When we got there we found Harry looking in disgust at the piece of paper giving us our directions. He looked up when we entered.

"Sana, Bella, you'll never guess what they want us to do this year," he said disgustedly.

"What?" Bella asked taking a seat opposite him.

"They want us to 'draw a flower of our choice from the images'. How stupid is that?" he said mimicking Miss Macey's voice.

"Actually it sounds quite fun," Bella said blushing.

"Yes, but Bells you are an amazing artist whereas Harry and I lack those particular skills entirely," I told her.

Harry nodded in agreement.

"Well they can't tell us off if we don't do it," she said thoughtfully.

"They won't during, but later we'll get into trouble," Harry reminded her.

"Tell you what," I said, "Why don't we all just read and then that's educational, and if they ask we can say we lost the paper."

"Or we could say Harry ate it," Bella said smiling at Harry.

"Hey, that's not fair. Why do I get in trouble? But really Sana, that's a good idea," he said kicking Bella lightly under the table.

"Ow stop it!" she said kicking him back.

"Guys, it's nearly ten o'clock and I can hear Miss Macey coming," I told them as they began a game of footsie.

Harry leapt up and grabbed three books off the shelf, handing them out quickly to all of us. He had 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe', Bella had 'Jane Eyre' and I had 'Pride and Prejudice'. This was going to be entertaining...

"Right are you all ready?" Miss Macey said coming to the door.

"Yes," we replied at once.

"Good, but why are you reading?" she asked and we looked at each other but she carried on, "Oh never mind, I'll deal with it later I have to sort out the kitchen now!"

We laughed as she ran off. She'd have forgotten by the time she reached the kitchen that we were ever doing the wrong thing.

Then the doorbell rang, and we assumed the positions we would be in until break.

Voices drifted past the room, some coming inside the room where we all smiled nicely and answered questions about ourselves and our lives here. In fact it was easier not to think and just answer the standard answer which was true because everyone here got along and it was the best place to live if your parents didn't want you.

At 11:30 we had a break, and all the visitors went into the yellow room for tea and coffee. But as we all put our books down and started talking about the people who had come past we hear voices, but most prominent was that of Miss Macey. We looked at each other confused as to why these people were getting a special tour, unless they were inspectors.

"...And here," we could hear Miss Macey saying, "Is where our older children do their homework undisturbed by the little ones."

I turned around to see who they were, and found myself looking into the face of the woman from my dream.

I hope you enjoyed that, and I think it's the longest chapter yet! I'm on holiday next week, so I will try and get the next chapter up when I get back; or see if we can get internet there. Thank-you for reading and please review. XxX