Orphaned
674 Words
Lola's attorney, Mrs. Jemma's presence always had me shivering. She's someone who will always bring forth bad news. I knew that her visit wouldn't be as good as the crème pudding I had this morning. I was sitting by the fireplace when Tita Elise ordered me to play video games with Gavin upstairs. Hesitation and curiosity always got me and this time I just couldn't ignore the fact that the talk would be about me. I only went half way up the stairs and leaned in enough to hear the conversation while not being seen.
"Good Morning Mrs. Eliot. I truly appreciate your warmest welcome despite the short notice." Mrs. Jemma remarked. I could hear their faint discussions and I knew having heard all of this conversation was never a good idea.
"Oh no, I don't mind at all, especially when it concerns the child."
"Yeah, speaking of dear Levi, I am afraid to inform you at this instant that, according to Mrs. Hemming's will, the child should be put into the care of a foster house." The attorney's words not only made Tita Elise gasp but it also sent shivers through my spine as I thought of losing another family. For days, I thought she would legally adopt a child like me, but it was always hard to do so, especially for a barely striving family.
"Foster House?" Tita Elise repeated the words as if it was something she had never heard before.
"Yes, a foster home for Levi. You see, it's Mrs. Hemming's will and it should be done."
I could never fathom the information I had just heard. First, Lola died and none of my immediate family came to visit her and bid their final farewells. Then, now? This news shattered me all at once. A foster home? Why? I was already moving on here, happy here. Why do I have to lose that subtle joy and to move to somewhere I don't even want to be in?
"Oh dear. Can't he stay here with us?"
"Fortunately, you could adopt him. All you have to do is to..."
I didn't know what happened or what was discussed later in that conversation because I immediately hurried towards Gavin's room. One glance from Gavin and I was already a crybaby. I didn't even notice the tears on my cheeks until he pointed them out. None of his snide remarks bothered me. I knew for a fact that the Eliot family could not afford a computer set up, how much more adopting a sudden orphan like me with all the legal precedents they needed to go through. It was hard to accept that for years from then on I'd be alone in this world.
The next morning after that day, I heard Tita Elise on the phone telling whoever was on the other side of the line that they would cancel the offer and next thing I knew, there was a knock on Eliot's residence's door. It was Mrs. Jemma asked me to visit our bungalow.
"Who are we?" were the first words I uttered that day when the attorney asked for me to pack because we're leaving. She laughed, said nothing and shrugged. I wanted to throw a tantrum. To shout and refuse to leave the Eliots, but there was nothing I could do to bring everything back. As soon as I got everything I needed, Mrs. Jemma asked for a little time to talk.
"You know what Levi, ijo, your grandmother never left you alone in this world. She wanted you to remember and so she gave this to you as a token of her love. She will always be near your heart. Mrs. Jemma took out a chain and she placed it on my open palms. It was the Fleur-de-lis necklace my grandmother had always worn. I remember once that day when she was gone. The necklace glimmered as the moon shone on it.
All I could do was to treasure it. It was the last of her in this world.
- Writer
