1 Chapter 1: Mr.Ball

In a room, laying in the middle of a dark wooden floor was Melody and a white ball named Mr.Ball. The floors in the room looked like they hadn't been swept in a month and dingy white walls that had black soot all over them. The room had one small floor lamp and a window that had paint chipping off of it. In the corner of the room was a sleeping bag and next to it laid a Bible. Tears filled the girl's eye as she grabbed Mr.Ball and held it tight. She cried "I'm sorry Mr.Ball, I know you hate seeing me cry but I... I hate it here." She stood up and walked over to the window looking outside seeing a city full of cars and tall buildings. Melody wore an oversized brown shirt that looked like it hadn't been washed, and ripped jeans. Her hair was matted and she looked as if she hadn't bathed in days. She sniffled as she said "I just wish I could go outside... I wish I could go anywhere in the world like I did before with Mama and Papa. Mama said I have to be grateful for what I have, she said that life is a gift and I should always cherish it..." tears rushed down the girl's cheeks and she said "I'm trying to be happy, I really am but.... its so hard not having Mama and Papa. Its so hard living here."

BOOM, BOOM, THUD. There was a loud pounding at her door. Creek, thud, a woman swung the door open. The woman looked to be in her mid 40's, had long orange hair and brown eyes. She wore a white button up blouse and black dress pants. In her hands she held a white sweatshirt that had a panda with a pink flower behind its ear on it and pink pants. Melody turned around quickly to face the woman and the woman said "come here girl we have to get you cleaned up right away, its a special day today." The woman left going to the bathroom and Melody dried her eyes and said "did you see that Mr.Ball? Maybe they remember today's my birthday! She got me new clothes and everything. Maybe things will change. You stay right here Mr.Ball, I have to get ready." She placed Mr.Ball on the floor and went to the bathroom to get cleaned up and changed. The woman gave Melody a bath and untangled her hair. She put Melody's hair into pigtails tying pink ribbons around the rubber bands that held them together. The woman and Melody went into the living room and they sat on the couch. The woman looked at Melody, scoffed, and a boy aged 12 years old and his father aged 46 entered the room. Both the boy and his father had brown hair and gray eyes. The boy wore a green shirt and jeans while his father wore a white button up and tan slacks. The man looked at Melody and said "well Janice at least she looks better than before." Janice said "I tried my best." The boy said "I think she still looks horrible mom. Just a repulsive sight to look at." Janice said "I feel the same way Cody but this is the best I could do and hopefully the social worker wont notice so we can get our check." Tears filled Melody's eyes as she whispered "social worker but I... I...." Janice looked over at her and said "stop all that disgusting crying. You better not say anything. You know what happen last time." The man chuckled and said "who would believe her anyways?" Cody smiled and said "her face makes me want to vomit." Tears dripped down Melody's chin and Janice said "dry those eyes now and don't want me say it again." Melody dried her eye as she looked down at the ground. Ding, dong, the doorbell rang. The man went to the front door, let the social worker in, and led her back to the living room. The social worker sat on the loveseat holding a clip board in hand. She said "hello Mr, and Mrs Opens." Janice and the man said "hello." The social worker said "well this is my final welfare check and I can already see that the house is very well kept, very clean. Oh and Melody you have a beautiful outfit on, it looks new." Melody kept silent, looking down at the floor and Janice said "yes... I just got it for her today. I'm sorry she's so quite, she's still getting use to outside people. What with all the trauma she's been through with her family she's still coping around outside people." The social worker said "yes I know. I'm glad she was able to get a new outfit on her birthday at least. You people are so caring. I can see she has a perfect home here." The man said "thank you for the kind words." The social worker stood up and said "your welcome, well my job is done here, I think this will be a fine home for Melody." The social worker left the house while the man closed the door behind her and came back into the living room. Janice grabbed Melody's face and said "you did good today keeping your mouth shut, so good I think I'll let you play outside today... We have to celebrate today is the final welfare check, which means no more social workers but a big check for us. " She let go of Melody's face, Melody stood up, and went to her room closing her door behind her. She grabbed Mr.Ball and cried "I'm sorry... I'm sorry for crying its just, they forgot my birthday and the social worker isn't coming back... we're stuck here forever Mr.Ball... Its just you and me." Tears rolled down her face and dripped on to Mr.Ball. She said "we have only each other now Mr.Ball, its just you and me right now..." Melody's room door flew open and Cody entered. He mocked her saying "`Mr.Ball its just you and me.´ You sound so stupid talking to yourself." He snatched Mr.Ball from her and held it high above her head so she couldn't reach. She tried grabbing Mr.Ball back as she cried "please give him back, he's my friend." Cody laughed and said "he's not real but you know what..." Cody walked over to the window, opened it, and said "Mom said you could go outside as your reward." She cried "please Cody don't do it." Cody said "lets see if he's really your friend." Cody threw Mr.Ball out the window, slammed the window shut, said "go get him since you can be outside," and left the room as she dropped to her knees. She gripped the floor and thought "Mr.Ball has always helped me in my times of trouble, I have to save him. He needs me and I have to be there for him no matter what, no matter how scary the city looks." She stood to her feet, dried her eyes, left her room, walked to the front door, and left the home going into the city in hopes to find her ball.