Alone In the World

Chapter 12: Missing Mom and Dad

The airplane stopped rumbling and skyrocketed across the air. The passengers who were clinging onto the seats let out sighs of relief then rested in their chairs.

My lip was starting to bleed from biting too hard. Quietly, I took the newspaper from Ms. Caroline, who was texting on her phone, and read the inked words.

Aaron Justine, age fourty-three died after leaving an abandoned alley eleven thirty. I read, choking back tears. I crumbled the paper then shoved it down Ms. Caroline's bag. Eleven thirty was the time where Aaron bailed me out of jail so I could see Seth.

This is going to hurt Seth. I thought, wiping away my tears. Even though I was such as stupid person, Aaron was the only person who looked after me and Seth when we were struggling the most.

Wiping away my tears I plopped my seat against my back then shut my eyes. I slowly put my hands in my pocket until I felt something small and smooth. Curious, I pulled out the object and stared at it. Aaron's IPod? I thought. It had a red cover and silver buttons attached with a stringy earbuds.

Turning it on, there was a entire list of old songs that he likes to listen to when he was a kid. From Billy Joel to Phil Collins, this man loved the seventies and the eighties like every other senior citizen does.

I scrolled down until I saw my favorite song Hurt from Johnny Cash. Smiling, I put my ear buds on and tapped the Play button. The song reluctantly poured out of the speakers as I stared hard at the clouds.

As the clouds drifted, I saw myself and Seth standing in front of our parents' graves, wallowing in sadness. "What are we going to do, Ben?" Seth sniffed, wiping away his snot with his black coat sleeve. I only stared at the patch of soil, covering the bodies of my parents.

"We don't have Mom and Dad," he continued. "We're just...orphans." I cringed at that word as I clutched his hand. "We have to keep moving forward, Seth." I explained. "That's what we need to do."

Seth sighed then rested his head on my leg. After a long silence, I spoke up: "Seth, listen to me. We are going to foster care, where people are nice and kind to us." "Like Ms. Caroline?" Seth guessed hopefully. "Don't get your hopes up," I snarled. "That witch can't be trusted."

My anger then wore away as my hand tightened onto Seth's. After the ceremony, Ms. Caroline introduced herself to us and showed two seemingly innocent old couple to us, who both promised to take good care of us until we came out of age.

Even though Seth was happy, I was a weary about them. I didn't trust the couple, I didn't trust the fact that we were orphans, and most importantly, I didn't trust the social worker. Because of her, she was the real reason why a nice couple turned into snakes when they accused me of stealing from them.

It was another reason why I ran away and try to find a city bus to take us, but the cops caught me and took me back to the house. Even though I was caught, I thought about my brother.

Keeping my brother safe is all I could think about ever since he was born. "Would you like to hold him?" Mom asked, holding baby Seth in her arms. Dad and I were sitting next to Mom's hospital side, swooning over the baby.

I remembered her white, dull room smelled like Chlorox disinfectant spray. "Yes please," a two year old me whispered. Smiling, my tired Mom lifted Seth up and gently lowered him in my arms. Small red hair appeared on top of his head.

Tiny brown freckles dotted across from his face. I watched as he woke up from his small nap and blinked his brown eyes at me. His face almost reminded me of Mom's. At first, I was nervous. I never held a baby in my entire life. "He's looking at me," I said. "What should I do?"

"Make him laugh," Dad suggested. I tried opening my eyes wide and sticking out his tongue, but Seth kept staring at me. Sighing, I copied Mom's movements and rocked him back and forth.

Seth blinked his eyes at me then at my finger. Slowly, Seth reached his tiny hand around my finger and clutched it. "What should I do?" I asked anxiously to my parents.

Dad hopped over to my side and told me to calm down. "Look at Seth, son." he insisted. "Not at me or your mom." I did what I was told. "Don't look so stressed out, Ben." Mom chuckled. "After all, you will be taking care of him when we are old and gone."

"Okay," I nodded. Dad leaned over and whispered something in my ear. "Do the thing that I did when I first met your mother." I smiled eagerly then looked down at Seth.

"Wow," I began, peering at Seth. "What's behind your ear?" Seth gave me a curious stare. I reached over to Seth's ear and picked up a shiny quarter. As soon as he looked at the coin, he giggled like crazy. "There you go," Dad laughed. My mom clapped her hands in delight.

"Hey, Seth." I laughed. "You want me to show it again?" I remember spending hours and hours doing the trick. It made Seth laugh until tears came out of his eyes. I kissed him gently on the forehead and stroked his head.

"Luke," Ms. Caroline said sternly, tapping on my shoulder. "Luke." I interrupted my train of thought then looked at her. "Yes?" I asked, using my British accent. "Are you ready for California?" she asked in a cheery voice.

I nodded quickly. "I have just texted your new foster parents and told them about you." she explained. "They are thrilled to have you." I gave her a smile, but deep down I wanted to strangle her.

"Who are they?" I asked. She gave me a you'll see look then went back on her phone.

Liam Neeson as Aaron Justine

Seventeen-year old Ben as Robbie Kay

Younger Cole Porter as Riele Downs

Kate Hudson as Cole's Mother

Younger Ben as Valin Shinyei