Add a Little Bit of Gold

After years of hanging out with Robert; it was time for him to leave the orphanage. "Okay Violet, I am moving to the next city over. I found a job and a cheap apartment there. In three years when you are out of here come find me. Of course I will be rich and famous by then." I snickered. He continued "I will write letters to you, and you will write letters to me." I was smiling as he was rubbing the top of my head messing up my hair.

I looked up at Robert who was a good six inches taller than I was, "and you will send me make-up and books so I can get some colors." I lightly demanded. He rolled his eyes.

"Fine I guess I will have to buy things for my favorite cotton ball." Only he was allowed to make fun of my whiteness, and he would do so any chance he could. "You know snowflake, I thought you would cry when I left."

I smiled and responded, "Well crying now wouldn't help me become red though, would it? Besides it's not everyday that your big brother graduates from being an orphan." I laughed. He looked down at me and rubbed my head again messing up my hair even more. "You do know I am not actually your big brother, right? I mean you kinda are my little sister, but not for real." I rolled my eyes.

"It hasn't stopped me from telling all of the toddlers that you are my big brother." I said. He looked surprised. "Why are you telling little kids that I am your big brother?" Robert asked.

I replied quite simply "Well for some reason the freaky white chick doesn't seem as scary if she has a cool giant golden brother."

He smiled back rubbing his fingers on his chin, pretending to think. "Well I suppose being my sister would make you seem cooler." he said mockingly. I punched his arm and we both laughed.

A cab could be seen driving up the street. It slowly stopped in front of Robert. He got in and waved yelling out the window as he was driving away, "Bye milky see you in three years!"

"See ya later Bub!" I yelled back.

Just like that, my big brother and best friend was gone. I was once again friendless. At least by this point anybody who had been at the orphanage for any amount of time knew not to tease me. I was still avoided though. I lacked companionship again. I returned to the orphanage doors and a horde of toddlers came and grabbed at my shirt and clung to my waist. most of them were crying.

"I thought my Viyet was leaving foever!" a little girl sobbed. A little boy who had obviously been crying said "No you dumb dumb, she just got rid of that stupid golden boy." I looked down at him with a stern look.

"Now is that any way to talk about big brother or to Rachel? How would you like it if someone called you a dumb dumb or stupid?" I lectured.

He had a guilty look on his face as he stared at the floor, he replied "I wouldn't like that."

I began again, "Okay then. Now you need to apologize to Rachel." Still looking at the ground he mumbled "Sorry Rachel." I looked at them both.

"That's better now Rachel what do you say?"

Rachel sniffled and wiped the last of the tears from her eyes "Nofin! He said your big brover was stupid. I love Bobert!" I sighed, wondering why I am the only one who takes care of these kids. Kids are great but I am sick of caring for them. I continued to talk

"Would Robert like it if you stayed mad at Thomas?" I asked the girl. She looked down at her shoes just as Thomas had done "No, he wouldn't." She looked up at Thomas "It is okay, I fogive you." She finally said. I waited with them until one of the lazy caretakers came to watch the kids.

I walked away and went into my closet of a bedroom, and there with the door closed I cried. No one can see me cry in here. I am still brave as long as no one can see me right, I can still be red? I thought to myself. I never asked for much, I do everything and then some, and I haven't gained even a hue of a color.

I have to take care of kids, and once they are big enough they are scared of me anyways. No one will talk to me. Now my only support has gone and left me here. I was alone. I waited until I was done crying and my eyes were no longer swollen to leave my room. I hadn't taken but two steps before I was stopped, a caretaker said I had a phone call. I was shocked.

No one ever calls for any of the orphans, this was unheard of. I rushed to the phone. The voice I heard from the other end was no other than Robert.

"Marshmallow!" I was surprised at not only that I was using the phone and Robert was calling, but the fact that it had only been three hours since he had left. I replied

"Wow you miss me already, this has to be a record." He responded from the other end

"Yeah yeah haha very funny" he said quickly "What if I told you that you could be out of that orphanage tomorrow?"

My eyes widened as I replied "I wouldn't believe it was possible. I'm not old enough to leave."

He quickly responded, "Yes, but you can be adopted."

I sighed and rubbed my brow "Don't get me excited like that for no reason. No one wants to adopt a colorless teenager."

"Well that maybe true." I heard Robert say.

"Great confidence boost there brother." I said.

He continued "Let me finish...but, my crappy landlord wants a cleaning lady for the whole complex. Now a certain big brother of an underage Q-tip may have said as long as he adopts you he will have a free cleaning lady, and I will care for her." I was once again shocked.

I was grasping for words "N..n..no way. There... there is no way. Is that even legal? Even if it's not I can deal, I am all for child labor sign me up." I could hear him laughing at the other end of the phone.

"The guy should be at the orphanage today to fill out some paperwork. Since I gave the compelling argument of the sooner the better, then you can come live with me tomorrow. So pack everything you have because that dingy place is no longer your home. Also you are allowed to work at fifteen years old, so it isn't child labor." I began to think this was too good to be true, then I realized it was.

"Robert I am not a puppy. He will have to do more than sign his name on some papers to adopt me. There are background checks, home checks, financial reports, pre-adoption visits, and it also costs money to adopt. It is a big process. So I really wouldn't be a free cleaning lady." I glumly explained.

"Listen snowflake I love you, you know that, but the only reason you aren't in a box on the sidewalk that says "Free to Good Home" is because you essentially work there for free. I am positive that some papers will be all it takes to get you out of there." Robert explained, trying not to sound offensive.

He was right. Even if someone was willing to go through the adoption process for me; all I would have to do was talk about my treatment over the years, and I would be removed from there. So if someone wanted to take me, I would be easily given up. I had never been happier to be hated and feared.

The rest of the day was a blur I remember very clearly every word that Robert had said on the phone, but not a second of the rest of my last day at the orphanage. The next afternoon I was collected by a middle aged man. He was an average height with a receiding green hairline. His skin was blue, but he had green eyes to match what was left of his hair.

I sat in the backseat and buckled as the man began to start the car. The man spoke in a gruff voice, "Did your...uh brother tell you the situation?"

I perked up "Yes, Robert told me you are my guardian only in name, and I will be working for you as compensation for adopting me." I confirmed my knowledge.

The man began driving "Yeah that is about it. You can call me Ed. Now you better take good care of my baby."

I was so thankful to this man named Ed, I didn't speak another word if not neccessary. I didn't want him to change his mind about me. I need to make myself look responsible, after all he loves this complex enough to call it his baby. He must have worked very hard to be successful enough to own an apartment complex. He has no orange after all. An hour later we arrived at a shabby grey apartment building.

"I wouldn't call this my baby if I was him." I whispered to myself. Then I saw Robert

"So White I missed you!" He ran to me and picked me up. "Little sister have you been eating right you haven't grown at all since I last saw you." I smiled big and hugged him.

"Hardy har har. Yes these last twenty-four hours have been grueling, but I managed to survive." I joked back.

He grabbed my wrist and pulling me into the building spouting out a bunch of random things about how great his new apartment is. He looked like an excited kid trying to show mom his sandcastle. I walked in the one bedroom apartment expecting something worth being excited over...but that is not what I found. The beige walls had cracks coming up and down them, and the ceiling was yellowed with age. there were no light fixtures, simply lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling. There was no furniture to be seen. There was a mattress on the floor in the livingroom and in the bedroom was another mattress. That was it both mattresses had one pillow and one blanket In the small kitchen was a large box of cheap ramen and a container of water bottles. I stood in a disappointed daze as I saw what was my new home.

"So Q-tip, how do you like your new digs? Pretty nice right?" Robert said with pride. I stood silently for a second, then looked up to Robert.

"Is it too late to go back to the orphanage?" I teased.

"Oh come on it's not that bad...is it?" He half stated half asked.

I put my hands on my hips and puffed out my chest. "Never fear super home renovator is here!" I exclaimed. Robert just looked down at me.

"Seriously do you know anything about interior design?" He asked.

I continued my super hero pose exclaiming "Haha never fear civilian, I know slightly more than you do on the subject."

Robert put his hand to his forehead. "Oh sister, you have enough confidence for both of us." he said. I looked back at him.

"Well we need to go shopping when we have the money. I am so glad I don't have to babysit little kids anymore..."

Robert started to speak up, "About that..." I stopped listening. I began towards the door talking. "WelI I am going to go tell Ed that I am ready to wo..." I started to open the door.

"Wait wait wait!" Robert yelled quickly as I began to open the door. I opened the door wide to see a small golden girl with orange hair and eyes. The child looked like she could be no more than five years old and was dressed beautifully.

She looked me up and down "hmm" she said, "You must be my new nanny." My eyes opened wide as I yelled in confusion "What... Nanny?!"