Chapter Ten
870 Words
Every night by 7:45pm, after the dinner has been served, you will find Chloe waiting at the telephone stand for a particular call that rings at precisely 8pm.
Every night Chloe talked to Kaden in his foster home. They talked about random things; sometimes, they just stayed in silence.
"Isn't it sad?" Chloe asked randomly. Like any other night, she sat down with the telephone in her ears with Kaden on the other side of the line.
"What is?" he spoke softly.
"The stars"
"Huh" He was puzzled by what Chloe was saying.
"The stars are like us."
"Why is that sad?" Kaden asked.
"Because they live under the same sky but never met each other"
"I don't think we are like the stars; the stars didn't meet your ocean blue eyes, the stars didn't know how troublesome you are, the stars might never meet, but we will see again."
It was an unspoken promise. They both knew it.
And the month after that discussion, Chloe had found a family, Mr. and Mrs. Richmond.
At first glance, Chloe hated her foster family. Fredrick Richmond, who was purely American, spoke like an Englishman, and his wife Linda Richmond always sniffed something into her nose when she thought no one was watching. After three meetings with the Richmond, she prayed the Director had noticed the odd behavior of the Richmond, but Chloe had drawn the short straw.
Even when Chloe's bags were packed and the Richmond was waiting for her in their car, Chloe held on to the Director's hand with pleading eyes.
"Don't worry, Chloe, they will take care of you," the Director reassured her, slowly removing Chloe's hands.
Even the soothing words could not keep the irk in Chloe's heart.
She entered the car of the Richmonds with tears falling down her eyes. This place was the only emotional attachment she had with Kaden. The woods, the kitchen, her room, a place that made her heart ache as she left.
The first few months were quiet. Chloe always came down to dinner when asked, went to school early, tidied the house, and every night, she still made her calls with Kaden as long as she was done with her assignment.
"Hi!!!" Kaden was in a happy mood today.
"How was your day?" Chloe asked.
"Mrs. Jones told me they were having a baby; I am going to have a baby sister!!"
Chloe didn't want to spoil Kaden's happy moment, but she wanted to tell him that he was just a temporary family, just like this place was for her.
The family they once had was all gone, but she said nothing and instead congratulated him.
She stayed an hour talking to him, and when she was done, she saw Mrs. Richmond waiting for her by the door. It was creepy.
Her hands were crossed, and Chloe would have noticed the redness of her eyes if not for the darkness. The only light in the house came from the kitchen.
"The government does not pay us enough for you to waste our telephone bills."
"I am sorry, ma."
Mrs. Richmond said nothing and went back inside.
It was then the little incidences started. First, a slap on the head for breaking the dishes that Mrs. Richmond should have kept well because a ten-year-old child won't be able to reach the cabinet.
Or the cigarette burns on Chloe's back for coming late even after Mrs. Richmond had sent her to buy groceries. A punishment for arriving late, and Mr. Richmond turned a blind eye to his wife's evil deeds.
Anything to please her.
And when Chloe tried to protest it, they always threatened to end her late-night calls with Kaden. Those were the nights that helped her through the pain.
"The Jones wants to adopt me," Kaden had told her on a random night.
Mrs. Richmond was happy, and no mistakes were made today. It was a peaceful day.
"Really" Chloe sounded less cheerful than she actually was, but Kaden had not noticed.
"They want to get permission from my mother in the hospital, at least before my baby sister comes out."
"How do you know it, a girl? It could be a boy."
Kaden giggled.
"I am confident it is a girl."
"It could be a boy."
"Let's make a bet," he suggested.
"If it is a girl, you must give me a chocolate, and if it is__."
"You will get me out of here," Chloe interrupted him.
"Are they treating you well there?" Kaden asked with concern.
At that moment, Mrs. Richmond appeared, and Chloe shook her head.
"Yes" No. Chloe's heart pleaded for him to recognize her cry.
"Ok, Mom is calling me. I love you to the moon and beyond," a phrase they always say before ending their call.
"I love you to the moon__."
The call ended before she finished talking. The sound of the phone beeping and Chloe cried hard that night for her being selfish and jealous that Kaden was happy with his new family. Heartbroken and scared that soon he would forget her while she clung to him like he was her only hope.
This was too much for a ten year-old to feel.
- Writer
