Chapter Two- Separated
1500 Words
Ms. Joy: Last time I heard we had no clue where their dad was, and now their mom is out of prison. Their aunt Angela has changed her number, and has not contacted us in 2 years. 4 years these kids have been in this facility…. 4 years.
Mr. Conner: Well, their aunt sent me a letter a few weeks ago. She informed me about her sister getting out today. I asked their aunt if she would be willing to take custody of the kids, but her response was no. She said she loves them too much to take custody because her sister told her if she did she would kill her! So, I was left with no other choice, but to contact the other facilities, and see if any of them could take them all together. But none of the other facilities have enough beds for all of them. So, I made the hard decision to separate them. I know it is the first time I have ever thought of something like this. But it is for the safety of the children.
Ms. Joy looked at Mr. Connor, with a confused look and says….
Ms. Joy: Wait a minute here! Andy, William, and Rosabell are all going to different facilities. So, which facility is Bella going to?
Mr. Connor takes a long deep breath as he responds….
Mr. Conner: I have made the hard decision to have Bella remain here at our facility. The other three will all go to different ones.
Mr. Bone taps his pencil on the table as he looks at Mr. Conner angrily.
Mr. Bones: Don’t get me wrong. I am happy that Bella is staying here. But that's not fair to her siblings?
Ms. Joy throws a mean look at Bones angrily…
Ms. Joy: Are you serious? It seems like you're not happy about it.
Mr. Bones: should I be happy about the fact that their separating Bella from her siblings is a good idea….excuse me if I don’t agree with you.
Mr. Conner breaks up the tension as he stands up and says with authority…
Mr. Conner: Bellarose is staying here, because the other two facilities are both full. They take her age group, but don't have any beds that are empty as of right now.
Mr. Mitchell sits up straight in his chair as he decides to jump into the conversation.
Mr. Mitchell: So, when are we transferring the children?
Letting out a heavy sigh, Mr. Conner sadly says….
Mr. Conner: Right now! I have already radioed security to round up the children. Bellarose should already be in bed. So, I expect you all to help round up the other Smurphy children without Bella knowing.
Meanwhile…..
Outside the staff room, Andy heard the whole conversation. He sits against the wall trying to hold back his frustration as he looks down the hall to Bellarose room. Then he looks in the other direction where his other two siblings are waiting for him. He decides to turn around, and head back in the direction where his two siblings are. He reaches the end of the hall and enters the room. In a concerned tone, Andy hears his sister's voice as he closes the door.
Rosabell: Where is Bella? You were supposed to go get her and bring her back here.
Andy looks at his siblings as he tries to catch his breath and says…
Andy: We have bigger problems right now. I have 5 minutes to explain, before security comes!
After he catches his breath, he explains to his siblings what he overheard outside the staff room. He finishes telling them what he overheard, then looks over and notices his little brother crying! Rosabell holds William in her arms as she looks at Andy with a worried look, while tears fill her eyes.
Rosabell: Now what are we going to do? They can’t just split us up like that. This is a sibling facility.
Andy: Listen, everything is going to be alright. I have a plan, but it is extremely dangerous! I am going to have to go alone and you two will go to the other facility. I promise we will all be together again soon.
He grabs one of his sister's bags and packs some snacks and water.
Rosabell: NO, you cannot travel alone! I don’t care what you say, I am coming with you. We are doing this together.
William wipes his tears away as he looks at them with a smile and says….
William: me to. Please don’t leave me. I don't want to go to the other facility. I want to come too.
Andy: We do not have much time; security should be coming any minute! Now listen to me Will, it is too dangerous. You are staying here! Do you understand me?
Andy puts his backpack on his back as he walks towards the door.
William: I said I am coming with you. He stands next to Andy as his Rosabell says....
Rosabell: SHUT UP!! We have to go now! We are already out of time.
She grabs William’s hand, moving close to Andy as she waits for him to give further instructions.
Andy slowly opens the door, trying not to make a sound. He looked down one hallway and then another hallway. He notices that both hallways are clear and then proceeds quickly down the hall with his siblings right behind him.
Suddenly, he hears multiple walkie-talkies heading in the same direction as them. He realizes that the only direction he can go is in the same direction that security is coming from. He gestured to his siblings to go back to the room. They quickly head back to Rosabell’s room as they open the door and proceed quickly inside, coming to a stop as they notice Bellarose sitting on Rosabell’s bed playing with her Lego Doll.
Bellarose is so deep in thought with her favorite Lego dolly, a quirky creation with mismatched pieces. She doesn't notice her sister Rosebell with her arms folded, staring at her.
Lego Doll (in a robotic voice): “Your siblings seem to be hiding something.”
Bellarose: “Yeah, it seems like they are. They’ve been acting strange lately.”
Lego Doll: “I can get the information easily from them if you allow me.”
Bellarose: “No! Remember the last time I left it up to you, it didn’t end well.”
Lego Doll: “Ok, Bell. If you need me, just call me.”
The Lego doll’s eyes flicker, and it slowly fades into the back of Bellarose’s mind. She takes a deep breath and looks up at her siblings.
Bellarose's Thoughts: “Time to find out what they’re up to.”
Bellarose: You know it is not good to be out of our rooms after hours.
Rosabell: Bella, what are you doing here?
Andy interrupts before Bella can respond as he takes her hand gently and walks towards the door.
Andy: Listen Bella, you need to go back to your room.
She responds sadly, looking up at her brother as tears form in her eyes.
Bellarose: I don't think that it is best for me to go back to my room. She won't like that.
Rosabell: What the heck are you talking about Bellarose?
Rosabell looked at her sister with a confused look on her face. Before anyone can respond there is a loud knock on the door.
William: No!
William screams in a whisper hiding behind his sister Rosabell!
William: There here, what are we going to do?
Rosabell angrily says....
Rosabell: We can fight them!
Andy looks at all his siblings with love and sadness in his eyes as he says….
Andy: Listen, everyone calm down. I am still going to do the plan.
Bellarose looks at all of them confused and unsure of what is going on.
Before she can say anything, the door flies wide open and in walk four big security guards! Mr. Connor and Mr. Mitchell, together both say with confused and angry expressions….
“What the bloody heck are you all doing in the same room?”
In a stern, serious tone, while looking at the four big, huge security guards, Mr. Conner says….
Mr. Conner: We do not have time for questions and answers. Gather the children now.
Each one of the security guards starts to grab a child. One guard tries to reach for Rosabell, but she dodges him and hits him hard in the side of the head with a right cross!
She screams out at him….
Rosabell: do not touch me you filthy pig!
The guard recovers and holds her tightly!
Andy notices that William is fighting one of the guards, punching and kicking him. Mr. Connor motions for the other guard to help his partner handle William. Then Andy turns and notices that Bella is crying uncontrollably as she starts hitting and kicking one of the security guards that is holding onto William.
- Writer
