(Lonely Orphan)
*December 24th, 1941*
*1:55 pm*
*Harrison Orphanage*
Two hours after crying in Central Park, Mary returned to her orphanage, and she lay in her bed while hearing the sounds of the other orphans horsing around.
"Wow, I cried so much that I couldn't even cry anymore. Talk about a sad Christmas and birthday." Mary spoke to herself before chuckling at herself before getting up from her bed to head downstairs.
Mary proceeded to open the door as she made her way downstairs to the kitchen area, all while walking through her fellow orphans playing around.
"Maybe I should eat lunch or something that will cheer me up, I hope.." Mary thought to herself while looking through the fridge for a few seconds before taking out materials to make a sandwich.
"I bet Charlotte and the others are working on ways to cheer me up. I just know it, I mean, Charlotte is always helping people. It kinda gets annoying since I think she's pitying me for my orphan status.." Mary thought to herself once more with an irritated smirk on her face as she continued to make her lunch.
During the process of making her lunch, Mary continued to think about the current events that were happening to her which caused her to frown.
"Gosh, I'm so selfish, but I just don't want people to pity me or anything, is that too much to ask for?" Mary spoke to herself in a disappointed voice while finishing prepping her sandwich as she walked to the table so she could eat.
As Mary began eating her lunch, she continued to think more about herself including her parents.
"Why, why did my parents have to die?! It's not fair, and despite me not remembering them much, I still miss them…" Mary thought to herself with sadness while she continued to eat her lunch in silence and sadness.
*Charlotte's Room*
Meanwhile at Charlotte's home, both Charlotte and Nancy finished shopping and they were wrapping presents for Mary and their friends, and they discussed what to do next in regards to Mary's birthday.
"That wraps up the gift wrapping! I can't wait for everyone to open their gifts tomorrow including Mary." Charlotte spoke joyfully while lying across her bed with a smile on her face as Nancy began to speak.
"Same here, and when should we deliver Mary's presents? I realized we should take them over to the orphanage so we don't have to worry about it in the morning." Nancy advised her friend while Charlotte nodded in agreement.
"You're right, and we should see if my mother could take us to the orphanage to deliver the presents, but I don't mind walking there since it's only a ten-minute walk." Charlotte responded while Nancy nodded understandably.
"Either way is good for me, so let's get going before it gets too late," Nancy responded with a smile while Charlotte smiled back.
This prompted Charlotte to get up from her bed so she could carry the presents for Mary.
"Wonderful, and I'm glad that Anya and the others went to Judith's because this makes things easier since I don't want to worry my mother with all those presents," Charlotte responded with a chuckle while Nancy chuckled back.
During this, both girls would pick up Mary's presents, and proceed to make their way downstairs where Mrs Smith was currently sitting.
"Charlotte dear, you and Nancy are headed to the orphanage, right? Want me to take you guys there? I feel like the snow could cause issues if you two were to walk." Mrs. Smith offered the two girls this made the pair smile as they gratefully accepted the offer.
"That would be wonderful, and thank you so much, Mother." Charlotte responded with a smile while she and Nancy walked toward the door while they waited for Mrs Smith.
"Of course, and anything for my daughter and her friends." Mrs Smith responded kindly while grabbing her sweater from the hanger before making her way toward the door.
After this, Charlotte, her mother, and Nancy exited the home and made their way to the car where they would enter so they could head to the orphanage.
"Where's your girlfriend and the others at, did they go home, Charlotte?" Mrs Smith asked her daughter in a curious voice as she began to drive to their destination.
The car began to drive as everyone was now headed to the Harrison Orphanage to deliver the presents to Mary.
"Anya is spending time with Judith, Cynthia is taking care of a few things, and Emma went back home to her family, but we do plan on visiting Mary tomorrow for her birthday." Charlotte responded while her mother smiled at what she heard.
"I see, and I hope Mary is doing okay, I know the cancellation of her party must be painful, that poor young girl.." Mrs Smith responded with concern in her voice while Charlotte nodded in agreement.
"I hope so as well. It sucks that the party got canceled due to funding. I wish I could do more, but I know I'm already doing enough, and that's what matters most." Charlotte responded once more with a smile while her mother smiled back.
"Exactly, my Charlotte. Just continuing to show her kindness is the way to go, especially during hard times like this." Mrs Smith responded while Charlotte nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, mother. Your words mean a lot." Charlotte responded to her mother's words as she continued to think about them for the rest of the car ride.
*Harrison Orphanage*
*2:10 pm*
Charlotte, her mother, and Nancy arrived at the orphanage and gathered the presents so they could drop them off.
"Alright, Mrs. Harrison should be home from work by now since she had an early shift today." Charlotte spoke to her mother and friend while walking toward the door and ringing it to alert Mrs. Harrison.
The doorbell emitted a buzzing sound and there was silence for a few moments before it was interrupted by the door opening to reveal Mrs. Harrison.
"Oh, Charlotte, how have things been for you? It's great seeing you again, and I see you've brought your friend and mother over as well, please come in.." Mrs. Harrison greeted Charlotte with a smile while motioning her hand for the trio to come in.
"Hello, Mrs. Harrison. I've been doing good, and It's good to see you as well. We've come to deliver Mary's presents for her birthday tomorrow." Charlotte greeted back while entering the orphanage along with Mrs. Smith and Nancy.
The trio would settle the presents at a safe area at the entrance of the home before making their way toward the living room area to sit down, and during this, Mary watched from the stairs.
"C-Charlotte's here?! I knew she would come, and I thought she would just call it quits or whatever.." Mary thought to herself before quickly walking back to her room and shutting the door so she could be alone.
"But, It's nice seeing my friend doing whatever she can to make me happy.." Mary spoke to herself with a small smile as she continued to remain in her room in peace; however, this was interrupted by a knock on her door.
"C-Come in.." Mary responded while seeing the door open to reveal Charlotte which surprised her.
"C-Charlotte, I-It's great to see you, I saw you, Nancy and your mother coming in with some gifts." Mary greeted her friend with a small smile while Charlotte began to speak back.
"Hello, Mary. It's great seeing you as well, and those gifts are for you. I'm sorry about the party, I know it sucks; however, I hope you are doing okay, and that you are having a wonderful day." Charlotte responded to her friend in a kind voice while Mary formed a small smile before looking to her side.
"I-It's nothing. Bad things happen, and life goes on. Nothing you can do here, but thanks. Thank you for not giving up on me.." Mary responded while she felt herself slowly beginning to cry; however, she quickly brushed it off.
"S-So, how's Anya holding up since Calvin left? I hope she's okay." Mary asked her friend, hoping to change the subject while Charlotte began to respond.
"Anytime, and Anya's been doing good. She's still sad about it, but she's been holding up. I just hope Calvin is safe." Charlotte responded with a worried voice while Mary nodded.
"I'm glad that Anya is doing good, and I hope so as well, but you always seem to help those in need, I appreciate that about you. Just never feel bad for helping others, even if the other person feels like a burden, okay?" Mary advised her friend while Charlotte nodded and took the advice to heart.
"Of course, and It's what I do, I know you were saddened by the party being canceled but just remember that you're going to have a wonderful birthday and Christmas, okay?" Charlotte responded before hugging her friend warmly which was returned by Mary, who hugged her back.
Mary felt emotional after hearing those words, and despite her having a bad day, she knew she could count on Charlotte to make her feel better.
"Thank you, thank you for coming into my life…" Mary softly responded before softly crying on her friend's shoulder which prompted Charlotte to hug her tighter.
This caused Mary to finally rant about what she felt about today.
"It's just my parents. I miss them. I don't remember them but I just miss them so much, and It sucks that people give me pity for being an orphan, It sucks!" I'm tired of people helping me and treating me differently just because I'm an orphan or that they feel sorry for me.." Mary vented to her friend as she continued to sob on the shoulder of her friend.
"It just feels like I have no family, and I know I have you, the others, Mrs. Harrison, and the orphans, but it feels like I'm alone. I can't explain it, but It sucks! It truly SUCKS!" Mary continued to vent to her friend while feeling the warmth of her friend's hug.
Charlotte remained silent as she continued to listen to her friend vent her feelings while continuing to hug her as the bond between both girls grew stronger on Christmas Eve.