I couldn't tell who else was screaming with me, but I know it was a boy's voice.
"What is everyone screaming for?" a stuffed up nose voice asked.
Then the lights flickered back on. A boy was standing just outside of the door. His hair was spiky and dark brown, his chocolate brown eyes stood out as he looked upon all of us. You could tell just by looking at him, he was an athlete.
"Garrett! Thank goodness you got home alright," Elizabeth said, almost crying of joy. She hugged Garrett which, embarrassed, tried to pull away from her, "Mom, I'm fine. Coach told me that Dad asked him to tell me that he wanted me to pick up some paperwork at the ER."
"ER!"
"Relax, paperwork. I wasn't in the ER, but I was," he made a confused face.
Elizabeth turned to Dan.
"Why did you have Garrett get some paperwork, at the ER?"
"I got a call from my nurse who got a call from one of the nurses in the ER, that a man named Charlie Pickens, got in an accident. He needs a donor for fingers in less than a week, so I asked Garrett's coach if he could ask him to pick up the paperwork for me."
"Yeah, Mom, I didn't do anything wrong . . . yet."
Elizabeth folded her arms, "Why didn't you get the paperwork yourself, Dan?"
He shrugged, "Lazy."
Elizabeth muttered something that I couldn't make out. Then, Garrett looked over Elizabeth's shoulder looking at me. "Hi Sadie, like it here?"
"How did you know my name?"
"I have a good memory."
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I wanted to say something about the "finger donor". Charlie was sure after me, maybe looking for me now. But he put me in the orphanage to get rid of me. I pushed the though out of my brain and started to pay attention to Bridgett.
"Your house really had those freaky beggarly dudes?" asked Bridgett, sitting on my bed.
It's amazing what a family of fifteen kids and three adults can do in one night. The boys painted my room with blue walls, and green and orange polka dots, while all of us girls shopped for clothes, furniture, pillows and sheets. It felt weird carelessly picking stuff out. Elizabeth didn't worry about the price at all, unlike when Mom and I went shopping. We always shopped for bargains, looking at clearance racks, sales and coupons.
The total price for everything was $350.
"Wow, two-hundred dollars less then last time," Elizabeth said cheerfully as she slid her credit card.
And me, I was speechless.
"Yes they we there."
"So I'd you have to go in the witness program thing-y and is Sadie Grace your real name?"
I sighed, "No and yes, Sadie Grace is my real name."
Jane peeked her head through the door, "Bridgett, it's time for Sadie to go to bed and don't wake Jaycie up, this is the first time in weeks that she actually fell asleep before ten."
Bridgett got up and left the room, I also got up to turn off the lights. I as I crawled into bed I couldn't help thinking that something really bad is going to happen soon.
______________________________________________________________________________________
"Happy Thirteenth Birthday Sadie!" my family and friends cheered as I blew out thirteen candles. I'd been in this home and family for five months and I felt like I'd been born into this family.
I felt like I'd lived in this town all my life. Junior High was really going well. I had three best friends, Summer, Carrie, and Natasha.
But still, the whole time everyone was handing me presents and congratulating me, I couldn't stop thinking that something bad was going to happen, either today, October 16th, or soon.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Sadie, happy birthday to you!" I blew out fourteen candles while Bridgett, Garrett, Michelle, Chelsea, Travis, Josh, Taylor, Jaycie, Bailee, Caleb, Logan, Harmony, Matthew, Eliza-mom, Dad, Summer, Carrie and Natasha cheered and handed me presents. Jane started to cut the cake after I blew out the candles and handing everyone a piece, except Justin and his (surprisingly) girlfriend who were on a webcam from Stamford (Yes, Justin got into Stamford I personally think that Dan I mean, Dad paid Stamford money to let Justin in) Bridgett, who is also in college, was the only one who could come. She is getting a Bachelor of Science in Education / Elementary Education at the University of Phoenix . (Who knew?)
And again, I couldn't stop thinking that something very bad was still going to happen.
____________________________________________________________________________________
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Michelle, Chelsea, Travis, Josh, Taylor, Jaycie, Bailee, Caleb, Logan, Harmony, Matthew, Summer, Carrie, Natasha, Mom and Dad yelled. Jane handed me the blue tide-dyed cake with fifteen yellow candles with small flames. I toke a deep breathe and blew the flames.
And still, I had the feeling that something extremely bad was going to happen soon.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"Sad who do you like?" asked Summer. Her long, curly, light brown hair started to drift towards her face as she talked she looked at me with her brown eyes craving for an answer.
"Um . . . Well . . ."
I was sitting on the floor of the living room in front of the big screen TV. Carrie sitting behind me braiding my now long hair, Summer and Natasha were asking all of us questions on the coach, and Jasmine was reading a magazine.
Jasmine was Justin and Cammie's daughter. Justin and Cammie got married last year exactly a month after my fifteenth birthday. And they later adopted Jasmine, a sixteen year-old African American.
The rest of my family along with Cammie, are at a hotel, leaving me, Summer, Jasmine, Natasha, and Carrie with Jane. Jane was only there for "parental supervision" to make Mom and Dad feel better, but she fell asleep shortly after everyone left.
"Sad likes Carl," Carrie blurted. Her short spiky blonde started to poke my face as she leaned forward resting her chin on my shoulder.
"Do not!" I said defending myself.
"Whatever Sad," Natasha said. "Carrie and I have seen you look at him in Chemistry Lab."
"I have to look at him because he's my lab partner."
I love my friends to death, but Natasha and Carrie can be a little clueless at times.
"I'm serious." I then added, "Jas, do I like Carl?"
"Am I suppose agree with you, or Carrie and Natasha?"
"Me."
"Okay, then no you don't."
I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, Sad your braids are done it's my turn," Carrie said pulling my braids to get my attention.
I got up and sat behind her, "French?"
She nodded.
"Sad, it's the night of your Sweet Sixteen, let's go out and walk to Papa Johns and order a pizza to celebrate," suggested Summer.
"I don't know Sum . . . Jane's asleep and we should be here."
"C'mon we went on my, Carrie's, and Natasha's. Sorry, Jas, we didn't know you then."
"I'm fine with that," said Jasmine. "But it does sound like a good idea."
"Don't you hear yourselves!?! It's dark, and think of all the weird, drunk guys!"
"Jas could kick them all with her karate skills, and we can scream high, and loud enough to cause severe hearing lost."
"So?"
"So, what's the problem?" asked Natasha.
"Sad, we'll bring our cells if it makes you fell better," said Carrie.
I grinded my teeth, "Fine," I sneered.
Summer led us out of the house on out on our toes, so we wouldn't make noise. And we made our way to Papa John's. And that's when I saw . . .
Him.
Author's Note: I'm sorry it's so short this week. I had a major writer's block. (Yes, my excuse ;) )
