Different

Chapter 3

A few weeks later Milley is fast asleep on the cot her alarm clock goes off and she hears Jenny say “Milley time to get up” like she has the last few weeks “its time to get ready for school”… “Okay I am up” Milley says as she heads into the bathroom to get ready for school she drifts off into a day dream about how tonight was going to be different. She reminded herself “Tonight I have to go back home” She thought. “It is going to be different though since my brother and sister wont be coming home”. Her siblings were going to stay with their grandmother and not be returning home. As she finished getting dressed she heard Jenny in the kitchen “Milley get a move on your going to be late”…. “OK” Milley says as she heads into the living room to grab her bag Jenny reminds her “ Don’t forget after school you are going to be going back to stay at your house” “I will gather your things today while your at school and drop them off with your mom” Jenny says. Without saying a word she nods her head and walks out the house and heads to her bus stop.

Just like she has done for the last several weeks she walks to the bus stop and once again she is the first one there. Then the bus pulls up and like clock work the kids scramble to be the first one on. Milley waits her turn to get then climbs onto the bus and takes her assigned seat. She usually takes out her journal that she keeps with all her day dreaming adventures but today is much different today is the day she is going back home. While sitting on the bus she starts to wonder off with thoughts racing through her head… “I wonder if both mom and dad will be home when I get there?” “I hope they are not mad about what happened” “I wonder if they know that Daniel and Lucy are not coming home”. As she sits there running through all her thoughts and questions the bus pulls up to the school. She gathers her things and follows the other kids off the bus and heads into the cafeteria. As she stands in line waiting to get her breakfast she knows things will be changing back to the way they use to be. As she finishes up her breakfast in silent the bell rings. Its time for her to head to her first class.

The morning drags on as she goes through each class. It feels like she is in a cloudy version of reality. As she tries to wrap her head around the changes that are coming. Just then it hits Milley she realizes that she will not be having guaranteed meals once school is out today. Specially since she will be going back home today and its the last day of school before fall break. Milley then thinks to herself “Oh no lunch is coming……since I will be going back home today right after school, lunch might just be my last meal that I can guarantee specially since fall break starts tomorrow.”

RIIIINNNNGGG “Lunch Time” Milley thinks excitedly. Milley puts her stuff in her locker and rushes to the cafeteria. There is a process that Milley goes through when it comes to food. Since growing up in her parents house it was never a guarantee that she would be fed or that there was any food in the house at all. “This could be the last meal of the day for me” Milley thought…. “so have to make it count.” As she watches the kids in front of her go through the line then over to the salad bar and load their plates with Jell-O and pudding. Milley grabs her tray and heads over to the salad bar she crams all the regular food into the biggest section of the tray and makes a giant salad with every vegetable in three of the smaller sections and in the last and smallest section she puts her favorite dessert. She puts her milk in her pocket and heads to go sit down with her friends. She then eats as fast as she can so no food goes to waste. Everyone is talking about school almost being out and what they are going to do after school. Milley is happy school is almost over for the day but she also doesn’t want to go home.