Splinters: Part One

Part One | 3

We were driving home when Melissa asked me if I'd like to decorate my room.

"Decorate how?" I asked.

"You know, put up some posters or something."

I kept my eyes out the window. "Posters of what?"

She shrugged. "Anything you'd like."

I didn't reply straight away. I was just barely getting used to the idea of my own room. I enjoyed the navy blue walls and the clean spotless plain look of the room. I liked it the way it was.

"I don't think so," I finally said.

"I'll let you think about it."

That was her way of saying 'I'll ask another time'. Melissa was beginning to understand my personality and I was beginning to understand hers. The countless visits I had made after the first meeting were with supervisors and CPS agents. They had searched through every file of the Pierson family and came up with nothing out of the ordinary. In the end, I was told that they were a perfect family for me and that I was perfect for them.

Whenever they said that, though, I felt as if the CPS agents were saying something more when they used the word 'perfect.' But in the end, it did kind of feel perfect. I loved the idea of having five sisters and two parents. Even though it felt like I was getting all the attention, sometimes it felt like I was just another kid in the family and I loved it. Sometimes I'd wonder what it was like before I had them in my life. 

We arrived back at the house. I was beginning to learn the address and was having less of a difficult time navigating through Rhode Island. Even though New York was different, Rhode Island was beginning to feel familiar. 

Melissa and I both exited the car, but she entered the house first to go let out Potey. I felt bad. I needed to get over the idea of every dog biting me, but it was still hard to forget...

"Brayden, are you hungry?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

I really was, but I didn't want to say yes for some reason.

"Well I am. Does macaroni and cheese sound good?"

I nodded. "Can I go watch TV?"

"Of course!"

Awkwardly, I left her in the kitchen and went to the living room. I lifted the remote and looked for Criminal Minds but was left disappointed when I couldn't figure out how to use her type of television program. This definitely wasn't the same TV program St. Anne's used.

Giving up, I decided on a TV show about sharks. Not long after, Melissa had called me in to eat. We both took seats at the island.

"So, Brayden," she started.

I waited.

"Since you and Ursanne will most likely be taking the bus from home, I'd like you to have a cell-phone."

I blinked, looking over at Melissa. "A cell-phone?"

She nodded. "Have you ever had one?"

She knew the answer, but I think she wanted to ask the question anyway. I think she wanted me to think that she 'thought' that I had a normal life at the orphanage. I shook my head.

"Well, when your fa-, Greg gets here, we were thinking we'd take you to the Apple Company. We'll see what you can get."

I tried to act like I didn't notice her almost calling Greg my father. I wasn't sure if I should call Greg my father and Melissa my mother. They weren't my parents in the slightest bit, but what else would they be? Maybe I'd ask Ursanne or Odera what I should do.