Chapter 1
Oakley looked out the window as always to catch a glimpse of the rising sun. That was how she started her day everyday; and it brought a smile to her face.
"You know you're much more beautiful than the sunrise, right?"
Brody complemented her, smiling. Oakley naturally smiled back.
Brody was Oakley's only friend in the orphanage.
"Thank you; and good morning" she smiled.
"Good morning to you too" he returned the smile.
Just like Oakley, Brody was also brought into the orphanage when he was months old.
As Oakley's morning ordeal, Skye came in to rant at her. She was going to tell Oakley how her, Skye, was going to be adopted before her and how she was going to become famous and have her face on magazines while Oakley would still be stuck in the orphanage, and a whole lot of other things which don't make sense.
However, when she saw Brody also in the room, she awkwardly returned back making Brody and Oakley laugh at her actions.
Moments later, all the other orphans entered the room and not long after, Ms. Thornhill entered.
Ms. Thornhill was tall, fat, had a protruding belly and not much flesh at her backside, and huge breasts. She also had a little beard forming.
She came in to take the morning roll call.
"Skye?" She called out
"Present" Skye responded
"Shawn?"
"Here"
"October?" She called; but there was no response
"October?" She called again; but there was still no response.
Oakley was distracted by a bird pecking on the window. Brody tried to get her attention by making a sound but she didn't hear him.
"October!!!" Ms. Thornhill shouted in her face.
"P-Present ma'am" Oakley replied in a low voice.
"Moving from her, Ms. Thornhill continued
"Brody?"
"Present"
Ms Thornhill called Oakley October because she claimed that upon the arrival of Oakley, a nun of same name died ; and according to the other nuns, Ms Thornhill and her were good friends. She claimed that Oakley didn't deserve to be called that. Rather, she called Oakley by the month in which she came into the orphanage.
Throughout Oakley's years in the orphanage, she has come to accept October as her name. But ever since she and Brody found out that she is called Oakley, he now called her that. Apart from Ms Thornhill, Oakley and Brody, no one else knew.
From Ms Thornhill's actions, Oakley got the feeling that she disliked her.
"For your chores today, Skye and October you're taking the kitchen. Shawn, Brody and Brooke you're taking the bathroom. When you're all done, then you can go have your breakfast" Ms Thornhill left. So they all went to do their work.
The boys finished first. Upon reaching the canteen, Ms Thornhill prevented the girls from eating. She asked to inspect their work so the girls walked with her to the kitchen.
"October, get to work. Skye you can go" she ordered
"I want this place sparkling as my teeth". Ms Thornhill showed her teeth. It was far from white. Her teeth contained cavities and they were decaying.
Oakley got to work. She redid all the work she and Skye had done earlier. The room was now sparkly clean. She sat down on the floor feeling exhausted. She was also hungry.
After a while, she got herself up with the little strength she had, to get something to eat.
As she was leaving, the other orphans brought in the dishes.
"What's going on?" Oakley asked them
"We've brought the dishes"
"Why?" Oakley didn't understand
"The food is finished"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
Oakley was angry. She went to see Ms Thornhill.
"Ma'am, i didn't have breakfast "
"And how i that my problem?"
"You asked me to clean the kitchen again so...."Oakley explained llowering her gaze
"You're blaming me?"
"W-Well..."
"So you want me to prepare food just for you?" Ms Thornhill said, being sarcastic. She was getting irritated by the little girl infront of her.
She stuttered "Y-Yes". Thornhill brought her ear to Oakley's face" what did you say?"
"N-No?" Oakley stammered
"That's what i thought. Go find Skye and wash the dishes. Make sure to wash every stain from every utensil. Now get to work!" Thornhill shouted .
This wasn't fair. I didn't get to eat some of the food but i have to wash the dishes; and with Skye? Skye would compliment herself from start to finish. All she does is to talk, talk and talk.
Poor little Oakley cried her way to the kitchen. She then felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw it was Brody. He was smiling brightly at her but when he saw her crying, he started to cry too.
"Why are you crying?" he asked
"Why are you crying?" she asked too
"Because you're crying. I don't like it when you cry so if i see you crying, i'll cry too" he responded still crying.
They wiped away each other's tears.
"Why were you crying?" Brody asked. Oakley told him everything.
"Its aright. I saved you some bread" "Here" he handed it to her.
"Thank you very much" she said taking the bread. She started to eat immediately.
"Let's go wash the bowls together" Brody said
"Are you sure? Aren't you tired?"
Brody had already reached the kitchen.
Brody, Oakley and Skye washed the dishes together.
There at the orphanage, they ate twice daily so if not for the bread, Oakley would have to wait till evening. The orphanage was partly funded by the government but their funds weren't much because the government in the local was at the verge of collapse.
The central government too paid no attention to them, so much of everything they wear and eat were provided for by the Nuns.
Most at times, the ophans weren't satisfied with their food but they were taught to be content with what they had for they themselves knew that it was better to be there than on the streets.
For supper, they all had soup.
The orphanage was made up of seventy orphans and three Nuns including Ms Thornhill.
