Short Stories

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"Ok, you, you and you, over here, the rest of you stand over there". Out of nowhere she came, pointing her finger in the area that she wanted us to stand. She had her other hand on her hip as if she were getting ready to draw a six-shooter in a shoot out, she stood 10 feet tall, so it seemed. Her arms were as big as mighty oaks that had withstood the sands of time, with a thunderous voice that would have put the thunder gods to shame, she bellowed out orders.
"You have all been placed in the custody of the Milford Orphanage, you will do as I say, you will not cry, you will not scream for your mom-mee or dad-dee, cause guess what, you no longer have one, they are either dead or they didn't want you, that's why you are here!" It was obvious that this Tree Woman enjoyed the minute moments of scaring children when she could, tossing her head to and fro in a wild frenzy, she continued. " I am not your Auntie, I am not your babysitter, I am not your Guardian Angel, I am the one who will tell you what to do and how to do it, and by golly you will do it or else." her nostrils flared as she bent down to stare at us, the venomous sap dripping off her teeth.

The day was a rather odd one, although the sun was shining and it's warmth cascaded allover our bodies, there was still a certain thickness in the air,
an all to certain unidentifiable one. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, however I could feel the chill that it created. It made the hair stand on the back of my neck. Maybe it was the cool air blowing on the sweat that dripped off my head, maybe.....
School had just about run it's course, being the middle of May, there was one week left. We were so glad to be finally free of homework, teachers, bullies, and school lunches, although at times it was the only meal we may have gotten; none the less, we were glad to be rid of it all.

"Last one to the house is a rotten egg". shouted Victor. He was the oldest of six. Victor was named so appropiately as he was always the winner in whatever game we played. He was as skinny as he was tall but boy was my brother handsome. He was always up to a challenge just to prove that he could win at anything. I loved it when he won, I loved more than anything to see his face light up and to hear him laugh.
It was alot better than hearing him cry himself to sleep after one of "dads" visits. Oh how I loved my brother.

There is no greater sound in the middle of summer than that of children running freely with euphoric enthusiasm.
The sunlight playing tag with them as they chase each other to the tune of "your it".
We were in our own heaven..

Rounding the corner to our house, we came to a skid, our shoes practically leaving tread marks on the sidewalk.
Our laughs became quieted muffled cries within ourselves. There parked in the driveway in all it's great splendor and beauty, was the one and only "batmobile". Our father's car. It was a 1957 chevy with wings. It was all black with chrome wheels and shiny chrome bumpers front and back. Although it was almost 7 years old, it still had that "new car" smell. The interior was red with a shiny red chrome chain for a steering wheel. It was his pride and joy. The "batmobile" was loved more than we were. It came second to nothing or anyone, that included us.

"What should we do?" my brother asked. "I don't know". I wanted to cry, yet I was to scared to. Now I understood the reason for the thickness in the air and the cold chills. Danger was in the air. "Let's just stay outside and not go in" I finally remarked. "No, the others are inside." Victor always thought of everyone else before himself. He was so brave. "I don't want to go in, please." I begged "We have to" Victor answered back


"All of you follow me and no lagging" The Tree Woman barked out her order. We could do nothing but follow.
We were marched into a room that looked something similiar to a Dr's office.
Why were we here, what had we done, where were our parents, the questions came flooding to my mind, however I couldn't get them out of my mouth.
"I want to know where we are and why" my brother, my hero, questioned the Tree Woman. "I told you where you were," She answered dryly.
"But why, the last we knew we were going to see our mom in the hospital" pausing to clear his throat, Victor continued "Dad..humm.. said mom was here" his voice was barely audible by this time.

TO BE CONTINUED..........

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