What Makes Red

As I sat in the back of the police car. My smile turned to tears. The adrenaline rush I had gotten from this event had worn off. I realised how scared I was. I was scared for Olive's life, I was scared for my life, and I had no idea what was going to happen. The police officer looked nervous "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I am sure that you are the good guy here. Don't worry about it." he said, trying to comfort me. I tried to explain my crying between my sobs. "I..I..I almost lost her. Wu..what if I had got there any later, they would have taken her. I don't know what I would do. I have seen those guys before, but obviously they got away from the officer I reported them to. I..I should have taken care of them last time. Olive must be so scared right now. I was so scared...I am so scared. What will happen to me, will Olive be okay? Will we need some kind of therapy? Will Ed trust me to watch her? Oh God it is all my fault?" I sat in the back a snotty tear covered mess. The officer continued driving, but started to speak "Miss, I can see that you are umm different, but obviously you were meant to be red. Being brave doesn't mean you are fearless. It means that you do what is right, even when you are afraid. Obviously you care deeply for this little girl. I don't know who Ed is, but he should be so lucky to know a person that would defend a small child risking their own life. Nothing is your fault." His words resonated in me, though I still cried, just quieter. I haven't cried since I was eleven, it felt nice to let it all out.

We drove in silence the rest of the way. We got to the police station and I was questioned in a small room. I sat in a chair, still handcuffed, in front of a table. Two officers were sitting across from me at the table. I explained in detail my first encounter with these two men. Then how I came to see Olive in front of them. I explained who Olive was to me, and how I was able to subdue the two men. By the end of my explanation the officers looked like they were being read a story, and not just being told facts. They had me recount everything using a polygraph machine (lie detector) as well. I passed the polygraph test, but none of the officers believed me. Then the sherriff came into the room and and said four words "You gotta see this." He put a disc into a TV in the corner of the room. It was a surveillance tape from in front of the school. It had caught everything on camera. It had no audio, but showed me protecting Olive, though it was in black and white, and it showed me speaking to the men and backing up away from them, before attacking them. With this tape, the police got to see my every move as I beat up my attackers. The officers were smiling the whole time. Obviously entertained by how a teenage girl could single handedly take down two grown men within minutes. The police uncuffed me. The two original officers left the room, and I was left alone in the room with the sheriff. "Okay Miss Foster. Do you know what you did today?" He asked. I nodded. He kept talking "I don't think you do. You see those two men have been wanted for human trafficking for months. You managed to scare them off once, and put them into police custody the second time you came across them. You saved not just yourself and Miss Parker, but you saved dozens of other women and girls who have been or would've been kidnapped. With your permission, I would like to put this video and report on the 8 o'clock news." I nodded once again in surprise. "You don't talk much do you?" he said. I spoke up "I do, I talk all the time, but this is the most shocking thing that has ever happened to me. One of our officers said they were surprised I wasn't red." The officer laughed. "If anyone saw how mamed those criminals were they'd of thought you were gold." he said. "Now there is a young man, a little girl, and an older gentleman who have been waiting to see you. Why don't you go to them." I left the interrogation room, and headed towards the lobby. When I got into the lobby I saw Robert, Olive, and Ed all waiting for me. Robert looked up "Snowball!" He exclaimed then ran to pick me up. He hugged me so tightly I could hardly breath. Olive came running to me. "I picked her up and hugged her tightly. I put her down and was checking out every part of her, trying to see if she was harmed in any way. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you? Did your teacher take good care of you?" I hugged her again before she could answer. Ed walked up to me and I stood up to meet his gaze. I stuck my hand out to shake his, thinking that I would get a formal thank you. Instead he pulled me into a hug. "There are no words. Thank you so much for saving my little girl. I can never repay you for this, giving you the world wouldn't be enough." He said. I gave him an awkward hug back. "There there" I said awkwardly while patting his back. Soon Robert and Olive joined in on this hug. We all stayed quiet for a while, just enjoying each others embrace. "Why don't you two spend the night with us tonight?" said Ed. "I want to sleep with Olive." I said. Although I knew in my mind that she was now safe, I felt that she still needed my protection. "Looks like I will get the couch then." said Robert. Ed laughed "No you are a guest, I will prepare a guest room for you." Ed said. Robert looked at me with a questioning glance. "If you think a guestroom is a big deal, just wait until you see Olive's room. We headed out of the police station, and Ed drove us to his house.

It was seven o'clock before we got home. Everyone was exhausted and ready to sleep. "Wait everyone!" I said "Before we sleep, the sheriff said I would be on the eight o'clock news." "Really, you didn't say this the whole way home." said Robert "He didn't even know that we would actually get to see you kicking some bad guy ass!" said Robert excitedly. "Language." Ed scolded. "Sorry sir." apologised Robert. "Olive," I said, "Why don't you go upstairs and put some pajamas on, and I will make snacks for everyone." Olive replied with an okay, and ran up the stairs. Ed raised his hands to a stop motion towards me. "No you don't." he said, "You have been through too much today, I will make the snacks. You and your brother go to the livingroom and turn on the news. Robert and I got comfortable on the couch and tried to figure out how to use the TV. "We never got one of these in the orphanage." Robert whispered. I replied "Yeah we didn't have any manuals on how to work a TV at the orphanage either. Look how many buttons are on the remote." I whispered back. Olive came into the livingroom with a one piece pajama set, and her hair undone. She curled up next to me on the couch. "Hey Squirt us two grown ups know a lot of things, but how to work a TV isn't something we know. Can you help us?" I asked Olive. She smiled and nodded. I could tell that she was happy just being able to help me a little. She turned on the TV, and clicked through the channels until we got to the news. Ed came in with hot coco and warm cookies for everyone. Shortly before my segment started.

"Thanks Bob. Today a fifteen year old colorless female named Violet Foster, became a hero." A picture of me appeared at the top corner of the TV. "When she saw five year old Olive Parker, being approached by two strange men outside XX elementary school. She immediately took action. Despite the size, number, and age difference, she got between the two men and the child. She sent the small child away to adults inside the school, to call the authorities. While she took matters into her own hands by beating and subduing the two criminals." The picture of me and the anchor woman disappeared, and the surveillance video of me and the kidnappers showed. The anchor women's voice started "As you can see this girl maybe small in size, but she is obviously stronger and more skilled than most goldens. She very quickly incapacitated one man and fought with the other. Even when she was held down, she managed to use that to her advantage." The surveillance video ended when the police arrived. The anchor woman appeared on the screen and continued. "Authorities say that these two men were known human traffickers, who had evaded arrest several times. Thanks to this brave young woman, countless women and children have been saved. Everyone is surprised that this young woman isn't red or gold. We thank you Violet Foster. This is Carol Steven's signing off."

Both Ed and Robert looked at me with complete awe in there eyes. "Remind me to stay on your good side." said Robert. "You are astounding." said Ed "There is no one I would trust more to leave Olive with than you." Ed added. I looked down at Olive, who had fallen asleep at some point. She was breathing deeply and clutching onto my shirt in her sleep. "Hey, I have more good news for today. It's definitely not as cool as this though. I got a job today, I am now a mail carrier. It pays well, and I have Sundays off." I gave him a hug. "I knew you could do it." I said. I was ready to carry Olive to bed when Ed stopped us. "Ahem, after today, I realized that despite the fact that you are children; you are amazing people. You, Robert, decided it was better if you worked to the bone so you could raise your sister, rather than leave her behind. You even found a loophole using me, despite the fact I am a horrible landlord." Both Ed and Robert smiled at that. "and you Miss Foster, I can't even list how many times you have earned my approval. I would like you both to live here with Olive and I." We were shocked. Robert and I looked at eachother, and did a double take looking at Ed. Both of us simultaneously stuck out our hands and said "Deal". Just like that our lives got so much better. "You two can live on the third floor" As you know Olive takes up the second floor, but with four furnished bedrooms and two bathrooms. I am sure you will have plenty of room. Tonight you can sleep where we decided earlier." instructed Ed. As Ed began to turn around I said one more thing. "I would like to continue being Olive's nanny. It will be rather odd with me living here, but just consider me a live in nanny, though technically she is my sister." Ed turned "I never said you could stop." I gave a nervous gulp. "but I am glad that you like your job. Goodnight children. Robert follow me I will show you to the guest room where you will stay tonight." The two men walked away, and I carried Olive to bed where we snuggled down for the night to sleep. If this is what it took to be red, I am not sure I want that color. Sticking up for children against bullies is a lot less scary than today. I didn't think I would ever sleep again after today, but I quickly fell into a deep slumber where I dreamt a wonderful dream of being blue, gold, and red. Things were looking bright. so much had happened, and I felt happier each day. What could possibly ruin my happiness now?