Splinters: Part One

Part One | 15

"What about you, Brayden?"

I looked up, clearly about to take a bite. Everyone's eyes were on me. "What?"

"Tell us about yourself? We don't know anything about you, yet."

Greg turned towards his mother and shook his head. "Oh, Mom, that's not-"

"It's okay." I said.

Everyone stared at me again. I shifted in my chair, trying to feel a little less uncomfortable than I already am.

"I like Constance PCA. Um, there's this reading class. I really like it," I nodded, trying my best to not avoid eye contact for at least a second. "I just finished this book, uh, To Kill a Mockingbird? Yeah, um, I really, really liked it. I like to read."

"Oh," Daryl nodded, clasping her hands together. "What else do you like to read? What's your favourite book?"

I shook my head. "That one's probably my favourite."

"Why?" Robin asked, seeming genuinely curious.

I inhaled, but didn't answer right away. It was quiet for what seemed like forever. "Well, it's the only book I've read so I don't exactly have that many options."

"To Kill a Mockingbird's the only book you've read?" Robin repeated questionably.

I nodded slowly. "There weren't many books at St. Anne's that were really in good condition. They were all pretty broken and torn up."

"What's St. Anne's?" Daryl asked.

Melissa went to stop her question, but I answered her before she was able to.

"My orphanage."

I sounded angry and if I'm being honest, I kind of was. Why? I have absolute no idea. Maybe it was the fact that the house reminded me of St. Anne's or maybe it was because of everyone being so happy and so many memories came back. Not memories about them, but memories about being sent there. I guess it was like the first time I went to St. Anne's because I looked at all the surroundings and they were new, now that feeling's back. It's not particularly a good feeling.

And as all that happened, it was dead silent. Everyone stared at me as if I were lying, but we all knew that wasn't the case. Daryl awkwardly looked towards my parents.

Greg cleared his throat and said, "So, Mom, Dad, how about a boat ride before everybody else gets here?"

...

"I don't know if I can do this, Ursa."

"You'll be fine," she said, tightening the straps to my life-jacket. "You'll float in the water with this. I promise."

My eyes widened. "Will I go in the water?"

She stood up and began fastening her own straps. "Not if you don't want to. Me and the girls jump in when we get far enough."

"Can you touch the ground? Aren't there fish in there? Is that safe?"

Ursanne smiled and looked up at me. She pulled her hair back into a pony tail and let her arms fall to her side after she was finished and then frowned.

"Have you ever been in water like this, Bray?"

I shook my head.

"A pool?" she tried once more.

I shook my head again.

"Brayden? Do you even know how to swim?"

I stared at my sister and then slowly bowed my head. I was embarrassed to say the least. I'm fifteen and can't even swim. It's not like I was ever given the opportunity to be taught, but still. I should know, shouldn't I?