Disclaimer: Don't own TMNT.
Michelangelo
I'm not sure how, but I managed to calm my cries into nothing but sniffles. Raphie had his arms crossed looking out the window with a mean scowl on his face. I didn't dare talk to him so I was left to face my fears on my own. If Leo and Donnie were taken away from us, would I get taken away from Raph next?
"Here we are boys," the lady said pulling up to a small house near Market Street. It was a semi-nice all brown house three levels up with a long staircase leading up to a brown door. The entire block was fenced off with the same type of metal used for the stair railing, and there was a small gate to the right of the house that led to a little garden. The social worker got out and opened Raph's side which was closer to the sidewalk. Raph just sat there still with crossed arms and that 'mean mug.'
"Come on Raphael. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. You should count yourself lucky that you even have a foster home to go to with one of your brothers," she said.
"You know what would be even better? Having a foster home with all my brothers," Raph snapped causing me to flinch a little.
"At least you have Michelangelo with you," she said and motioned us out. Raph got out and I followed out never taking my eyes off of the brown house. Our social worker closed the door and then walked over to the back of the car and opened the trunk. There, she pulled out our suitcases that Ms. Adams had helped me pack, and Raph's which she completely packed herself. Then she started to make her way up the stairs to the door surrounded by a cool-looking pillar. Meanwhile, I put my suitcase on the ground and opened it. There, I grabbed my bear and was about to close it back up when Raph came over.
"Put your dumb bear away," he said.
"But-"
"Do you want these people to think something's wrong with you?! Your twelve years old and you still carry around a stuffed toy. Should I get your blankie out for you and make you a warm bottle of milk?" he asked.
"No, but you can still get me a warm glass of milk with cookies. Oo! And an extra-large pizza with extra cheese, and pepperoni and…ow!" I said and Raph hit my shoulder super hard. Not really, but it sure felt like it.
"Raphael!" the social worker called waiting at the door. I looked back at Raph who glared at me, and I slowly put my bear back in my suitcase. Just then, the door was opened by a tall lady with long blonde hair wearing a three-quartered sleeved pink shirt and jeans.
"Hello!" the woman said in a cheery voice with a big smile. "You must be Raphael and Michelangelo! Welcome to your new home."
"Boys, this is Mrs. Mary Young; your new foster mother," Lorraine said.
"Just call me Mary. It's a pleasure to meet you both," she said holding out her hand just as we got up there. I immediately took it and she shook it gently while putting her other hand over mine. Then she reached for Raph who didn't make a move still with that glare.
"Excuse him. He hasn't had the best of mornings," the social worker said.
"It's quite alright. Would you like to come in?" she said standing to the side and we followed our social worker in. When you first walk in, it's nothing but a narrow hallway, but take a few steps forward, it opens out into a small living room. There's an L shaped couch facing a mounted T.V and electric fireplace. There was also a coffee table and an end table with a few big chairs on the side. The walls were decorated with pictures of a Mary with a man and some knick-knacks and paintings as well.
"That little area over there leads to the kitchen," Mary explained motioning another little hallway on the other end of the living room. "…and if you follow me, I can show you to your new room," Mary said. We walked up the steps immediately in front of us and made it to the second floor. The second floor consisted of a long hallway with doors and more photos. "Over here is my room, and that one is where the bathroom is. Unfortunately, we all have to share one bathroom, but I'm sure we can make it work. And this room over here is your room," she continued and led us through one of the doors. It was a medium-sized room with two plain-looking twin-sized beds, a single dresser, and a closet.
"Yes, I know it looks very plain in here, but I wanted to wait for you to arrive so we can add more color and items to match your personalities. You boys can leave your stuff here for now," she continued. Then she took us out of the room and headed back towards the stairs.
"Hey, Ms. Mary, what's in that room?" I asked. There was one door all the way at the end of the hall that was closed.
"Oh, that's my art studio. My late husband and I were avid painters if you couldn't already tell. I'd prefer if you don't go in there unless I'm in there and you knock. There are paint cans and canvases everywhere and I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself or knock over anything. Come along and I can show you the little exercise area my husband built," she said and I looked at Raph who finally came out of being Mr. Grumpy pants when she said 'exercise area'.
Break*Break*Break
After Ms. Mary showed us around and signed off on a few papers, Raph and I were back up in our new room unpacking; well, I was unpacking. Raph was just lying in bed with his hands behind his head.
"I kinda like it here, but I still wish Leo and Donnie were here too," I said but Raph didn't say anything. "But we still have a chance though right? You said a foster home's not forever. So if Mr. Saki comes back and wants to adopt all of us, then we can be with Leo again. I just hope no one adopts Donnie while we're gone. I miss him," I continued and opened up to the first page of my sketchbook. I had glued a picture of all four of us smiling during a walk to Central Park with Ms. Adams right behind the cover page. I felt my eyes start to fill up with tears and I closed my eyes letting them out while hugging my book. "You were right Raphie. We should have just worried about staying together," I mumbled.
"Alright, enough with all this, I'm starving," Raph said.
"Oo! I wanna eat too!" I said setting my book down and followed Raph out of our room to the kitchen where Mary was.
"Oh, hello boys," she said.
"Hi there Ms. Mary. Raph and I are kinda hungry," I told her.
"Alright then. Let me see what I have," she said and went over to the fridge and opened it. It was completely bare with only some waters. "Whoops, guess I'm all out of milk, butter, and cheese. There really isn't much in the cupboard either as I wanted to wait till you arrived to get food, but the good news is that we live right by Market Street." She then went over to her purse and pulled out some money. "How about you boys head down there and pick up some of your favorite foods to eat. But make sure you get the milk, bread, eggs, cheese, dish detergent, cereal…"
"So basically everything," Raph said rolling his eyes.
"Well, you both are going to the store anyway. Oh and I'm running low on paintbrushes if one of you could snag them for me as well," she said.
"You're not coming with us?" I asked.
"No dear; for I'm on a creative spark and I must continue my latest masterpiece before I lose my spark. My paintings are our only source of income for the moment. If I can't paint and sell my work, then we surely won't have enough money for food and other necessities; especially since I now have to provide for two more teenage mouths," Mary said.
"And what's that suppose to mean huh?" Raph snapped with his hands transforming into fists shooting daggers at Mary. Quickly I ran to stand in his way in front of Ms. Mary.
"Raph wait," I said holding up my hands not wanting him to lose his temper. Then she might send us away again or throw us out! Would Mr. Saki still want us if he found out that Raph and I were kicked out of a previous home? Then we would never be together again or we might never have a real home!
"Control your anger, Raphael. Now if you boys want to eat soon, I suggest you be on your way," Mary said and walked out of the kitchen without another word.
"I'll show you how to control my anger," Raph said and I ran over to hug him.
"Don't get mad Raph. Please don't get mad. I bet you're just really hungry. I know I'm really hungry. Let's go get some food to eat. You can pick out anything you want to eat for lunch and I'll eat it with you. I'll even eat Green beans if you want. Well…maybe not those, but I'll eat anything else you like. Pizza, baloney and cheese, a supreme pizza with extra pepperoni…." I continued and I could feel Raph's face start to cool down.
"Fine," he said and pushed me off of him. He then took the money and I skipped off towards the front door.
Break*Break*Break
Donatello
I had been sitting on the window sill for hours now. Not even my boredom made me come out to grab the science book I was reading just down the hall in my and Raph's room….well mine and the new seven-year-old girl's room now. I felt so numb almost like I was in some kind of dream; a dream that would turn out to be one of my worst nightmares. The conversation that Raph and I had a few nights ago replayed in my head once more. Well, you got your wish Donatello, but is it what you really wanted? Was this punishment for siding with Leo over Raph? Or was it because I was starting to doubt my answer after we came back from the pool last night? I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear someone walk up behind me.
"Donatello? Are you alright?" asked the one person that I thought I could trust besides my brothers. I didn't answer her question.
"I hope you know how truly sorry I am and that I really did try to stop this," she said.
"Then you didn't try hard enough," I let slip out of my mouth. I was going to apologize, but I just couldn't say it without having it sound forced; so we were both left in complete silence save for a few of the other laughing children. I watched from the reflection as Ms. Adams sigh and continue to stare at me with regret. Suddenly, I felt some energy fill up in me and I used it to stand back up.
"I'm going for a walk," I said without giving her a glance. I slowly walked down the little stairs and started to head towards the front door.
"Don, wait," Ms. Adams called and ran ahead of me to her office. Moments later, she came back out and put something in my palm, but I didn't see what it was; but I could still feel the small object.
"What's my rule?" she asked.
"Only use it in when you absolutely have to," I repeated back. Ms. Adams nodded and moved her body parallel to the side of the hallway so that I could pass.
"Please be careful. I want you back here by no later than five sharp," she said. I nodded my head and left the apartment complex placing Raph's pocket knife in my own pocket. I walked down the streets of New York not paying mind to the people and tourists who took never-ending pictures. I just kept walking and bumping into people who were waiting for the crosswalk light to appear. To be honest, I wasn't sure what exactly I was thinking about, whether it was about Leo or the others, the argument, or going over math equations. The busy and noisy streets of the city were blocked out as I just continued to walk with my hands in my pockets. Then, I stopped and decided to look at exactly where I was; which just happened to be one of New York's most famous attraction; Central Park.
All the sounds of distant car horns and people talking came back to me including a soft whimper that I just made out. I looked around and saw a Japanese man sitting on one of the benches looking down at the ground. He had black hair, wore a white shirt and khakis and a black belt. Then as if sensing my presence, he opened his eyes and raised his head to look up at me. He had bags under his eyes and red shot eyes like he wasn't sleeping well, but he seemed just like a regular guy. We just looked at each other both with identical, hurt expressions. Then the man's expression changed to curiosity; probably why I was disturbing him when it looked like he wanted to be alone. With that, I continued walking blanking out the noise again as I walked through the park leaving the Japanese man behind.
Gee. I wonder who this mysterious Japanese man is. Oh well, it can't be important right? I mean thousands of Japanese live in the U.S. including the one who just took Leo that everyone isn't really trusting according to the reviews. What's so special about this one? Anyways, there's a lot more to come and I hope you all enjoyed.
Until Next Time,
LaurenHardy13