Sometimes We Wonder (discontinued)

Part One: Chapter One

A year after his separation from Alastair and his home, young Alexander had come to terms with his predicament.  Arthur Hunt had settled him into a newly erected orphanage in the realm of Kora, where the entire realm was suspended on an expanse of cloud high above the earthly realm of Kona.  Hunt had helped him with gathering his belongings, and had told him that his father had been taken away.  He failed to mention where.

The man had spent two days dedicating his time to helping Alex adjust to his new home, and after that, had said his goodbyes and departed.  Alex hadn't seen him since.

Some days, Alex could spend hours thinking about escaping.  He could picture himself leaving the orphanage, a prison that he could never call home, and running back to Mara, and to Alastair.  He could picture the ring that Alastair had left for him, the ring that would take him to see his friend.

Other days, he yearned to see his spirit animal, Willy.  The orphanage separated young wizards from their animals, and their wands.  They said, "It's to keep the children under control."  What it did was make the children sad.  Spirit animals, to the young orphan wizards, were often the only family that they had.  Wands, to the lucky majority born with magic, were a way to brighten moods.

He never once thought about the incident of Christmas.  The memory was repressed, somewhere so deep in his mind that only another could dig it out.

"Alex.  Hey,  Alex."

It was Damien Krane; a boy only a year younger than Alex, who had spent five years growing up in West Jade Orphanage.  Damien had been the first person to be friendly to Alex in the home.  It hadn't been long before they had become friends.  After the first three months, Alex had opened up to Damien about how he planned to escape.  Damien began to help Alex with his plans, proving to be a loyal pal.  By six months, they were at the very top of the naughty list after their plans had failed time after time.

They spent more time in 'The Box of Shame' than they did outside it.  The orphanage had even erected a second Box of Shame, specifically to try and separate them.  They never cooperated.  Alex managed to get them both free from the boxes no matter how often the locks had been changed, using techniques that he had learned from Alastair.  Alastair had told him, "It's a fine skill for if your wand is taken from you, Alexander.  I find that if wands or items of sorcery are taken for any reason, there are generally locks involved."

One year later, Alex and Damien sat in their separated boxes, isolated from all the other children and the glum activity of the orphanage.  Alex had been stripped of all the little miscellaneous items that usually filled his pockets, including the lint.  He sighed and repetitively thumped the back of his head against the wooden box's wall in thought.

"Damien," he called out.  He had memorized the location of Damien's box.  He knew how loud he had to shout to be heard.  If he shouted louder, the orphanage staff outside the room had the chance of hearing.  "Damien, I'm a little bit stuck this time.  Any ideas?"

"You're the idea guy, Alex!" Damien called back.  The boy was fairly scrawny, but his voice was loud and clear.  He had one of the biggest mouths at the orphanage, and that 'talent' was mainly used for jokes and distractions.  "Anything I can do, you can do better!"

"Come on, dimbo.  Help me out, here."

"I say if we wait for someone to adopt us, we'll be out of these boxes in no time!"  Damien snickered.  He knew very well that he and Alex had very little chance of adoption with their records of behavior.  He was never serious when he spoke of adoption.

"Funny." Alex muttered.  "Damien, really!  We were so close this time!  If we get out of these dumb boxes, I'm sure we can get out of the orphanage with one last try.  Old Oxford can't hold us back forever."