Hello, my name is Ella Hemming. I am in eighth grade, and am small for my age. I am four feet and seven inches tall. I have red hair, that isn’t too long, but not too short. My eye color is a sky blue. I have a little brother named Danny, who is only in the third grade. He has brown curly hair, and loves sports. My dad is a pharmacist, or well he used to be before everything happened. Now he doesn’t have a job, and I never see him anymore. He hasn’t lived with us for about seven weeks now. I could tell it crushed mom, because she’s never around anymore, either. I only see her beautiful, short brown hair and green eyes when I’m either up really early, or really late. She is doing fine, she just doesn’t come around the house. I guess it’s because it reminds her too much of my father.  Luckily, her credit card is linked to all the power bills and things like that online, so everything still gets paid for. She goes out and buys groceries about every week, but then puts them away at night, when neither of us are awake. I don’t know if we did something wrong, or why she doesn’t like to see me and Danny anymore. I should really call child services, but I keep thinking that one day she’s going to come back around and want to see us again. Plus, my whole life and memories are in this house, which I don’t want to give up or leave. 

I also have a best friend (or used to anyway) named Grace Marley. She and I loved to hang out, and have sleepovers all the time, until I couldn’t anymore. We sort of started drifting apart, after my life got so messed up. We sometimes eat lunch together, and walk home together, it just doesn’t feel the same. Today, she didn’t walk home from school with me, because she wanted to walk with the boy she likes. I told her I didn’t mind, and to go have fun. The truth is my life has sort of managed to crumble to bits over the past month or so. 

My alarm clock went off at 6:00 this morning, and I got up and got dressed. I put on jeans, and a blue t-shirt with purple tennis shoes. Then I combed my hair, and put it in a braid. After I was ready, I went to my brother's room to wake him up. I looked in his room, and saw him asleep on his bed, with a book lying open in his hands. I frowned, because I was imagining how mom would talk to him. I tried to mimic her as best I could, so I spoke in a soft gentle voice saying, “Danny, it’s time to get up,” I walked up to the edge of his bed. I sat on it, then softly shook him awake.

He opened his big brown eyes, looked at me and said, “It’s already time to wake up? I swear I just went to sleep,” 

I smiled and pulled him out of bed. I picked out jeans and one of his favorite shirts, then laid them on the floor for him to wear. I pulled his bright red shoes out of his closet, and some white socks. “Here, put these on, and then brush your teeth. Grab your hair brush and walk downstairs. I’ll have your favorite cereal ready for you,” I told him. 

Danny nodded silently, then he grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom. 

As I walked down the stairs, I remembered how dad used to wake me up every morning. He’d walk into my room, humming his favorite song, and then would say, “Ella, I know the night didn’t last, but it’s time for breakfast!” Then he would grab my hands to pull me out of bed, and start twirling around the room. I smiled as I remembered his clear, clean laugh. It was as if walking down the stairs I could hear mom saying, “Morning El! How did you sleep?” I smiled wishing life was still like that. I wished that dad would walk down the stairs with Danny in his arms. I hoped that in a couple of minutes we would all gather at the table in the dining room, and eat together before we all headed off for the day. I wished with all my heart that I would walk into the kitchen smelling bacon and eggs, and would see dad’s arms around mom's waist, but it didn’t happen. Instead, I walked into a dark kitchen, with no one in it except me. I walked over to the cupboard, and pulled out two bowls and two spoons. I grabbed the milk out of the fridge, and then the cereal out of the pantry. We were running low, and our two bowls emptied the box of cereal that we had. I grabbed a piece of paper, then wrote her a note asking for more.

 I stuck the note on her desk across the room, before going back to making the cereal. My insides felt devastated, when I thought of mom and dad. Danny came into the room suddenly, and I put on a smile that clearly wasn’t real. Luckily, he bought it. You see, if I was sad around Danny ever, he’d begin to be sad. He’d curl up in a little ball, and start bawling. If he even thought something was wrong, he’d ask where mom was, and where dad was. Then the fit would start. I couldn’t stand to go in the dining room anymore, where we used to have all our meals with our parents, so we ate at the counter. After Danny and I ate, I told him goodbye. His ride showed up, and I waved as they pulled out of the driveway. I walked back to the counter to clean up breakfast, when I heard the door open. My heart jumped hoping it was mom, coming in to tell us everything would be different than it has been, and that at least we’d have her, but it wasn’t. Instead, Danny came running in, and he said, “I forgot my pencil!” I pointed to where he left it on the counter. He grabbed it, then ran back out the door. 

After he ran out, I went to put my shoes on. I put on my shoes, and then heard the doorbell ring. I snatched up my backpack before opening the door to find my friend Grace standing there. She had a smile on her face, and was ready to head off to school. She looked stylish and popular, almost as if she didn’t need me. I smiled, because at least her and I could walk to school together like old times. “Hey, Ella can I ask you something?” 

“Of course,” I replied. “You always can,”

“Well…..” She muttered.

“What is it?” I asked. She looked sad, almost guilty. 

“So, um, Jenny asked me if I’d like to ride in her limo on the way to school tomorrow,” Then her eyes lit up as if she had a great idea. “You could come too! I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,” 

My smile faded, as I responded, “I can’t, but you go right ahead. I have to go to school early tomorrow anyway,” I lied. 

She smiled and said thanks, before running off to meet up with Jenny and her little posse. You see, Jenny really doesn’t like me very much. Whenever I try to smile at her, she just rolls her eyes at me. Jenny is one of those perfect girls, with long, blond curly hair, and blue eyes. About ten guys have a crush on her, and personally I think she’s kind of rude. Jenny doesn’t let anybody sit with her, unless they are popular and pretty too. She’s a typical mean girl.

I walked through the front door and to my class all by myself. School was normal. Spending lunch staring at Grace, hoping that she’d come over and ask if I’d sit with her. Like normal, that didn’t happen. I sat there remembering the meals dad used to cook, and mom’s smile. I miss them so much! I wanted to cry, but luckily the bell rang, so I got distracted. After school, Grace walked home with this guy again, that she walked with yesterday. So I walked by myself. I got home, and made myself a sandwich. I was feeling pretty down, when Danny walked in with a paper in his hand and a big smile on his face. I smiled as realistic as a unicorn coming out of nowhere. Then, I asked him what the paper was all about. 

“I won! I did it!” He jumped up and down, then skipped all around the living room. 

“What? What did you win?” 

“The creative classwork award!” I pondered this for a moment, before asking him what it was. 

“My school had an art competition, to see who could come up with the most creative poster, and our principal picked me! Since I won, I get to take a friend to eat at a fancy steakhouse for free!”

“That’s so amazing!” I responded. I ran over and twirled him in my arms, then gave him a big hug. 

“I can’t wait to tell Jack at school tomorrow that him and I are going to Texas Roadhouse!” 

My face dropped a little bit. I sort of imagined he was going to take me, you know, since I’ve basically been taking care of him the past little while. I decided to fake it till I made it, so I told him that’s great, as I finished off my sandwich. 

Danny sat at the table, to start on his homework. I said I was going to go up to my room to do my homework, so I ran up the stairs.

When I reached my bedroom, I shut the door behind me, and nothing could stop the flow. The water works just started pouring out my eyes. I ran to my bed, and hugged my pillow. I couldn’t believe it! After all this time I’ve put into taking care of Danny, he was going to take his friend to an award dinner. Not only that, but I was picturing how proud mom and dad would have been of Danny, and how we would have all gone to that steakhouse together. I knew that if mom were home, and were her old self, she’d know by the way I ran up the stairs how I felt. Right about now, she’d walk in, telling me it was going to be okay. Then she’d hug me, until I calmed down. Dad would have said, it’s okay honey bear, and then would have squeezed me tight and told me how much he loved me. I couldn’t stand it! I couldn’t stand that thought that I was never going to have that lovely family I had before. Not to mention Grace, who I knew after this was never going to walk with me in the morning anymore, and that her and I were strangers now. I basically didn’t have anyone to lean on, and I was standing on my own. It was like I was standing out in cold water, and there was nothing but steam, and fog for miles. There was no one else there, just me. I couldn't see anything, therefore I was lost. The tears started coming harder and harder. I cried and cried and cried. 

I sat up in my bed, for I had fallen asleep. I looked at the clock, which said it was 5:30. I was supposed to have me and Danny up and ready to go to his soccer game at 5:40! I combed through my hair, grabbed Danny’s bag of soccer stuff, and then busted down the stairs. When I arrived in the living room, I saw Danny asleep on the couch, with the TV on. I grabbed the remote and turned it off. “Danny, wake up!” I shouted. “We have to leave in five minutes.” He sat up and rubbed his eyes. I threw his jersey, shorts, socks, shin-guards, and cleats all in a bag at him. He caught the bag, then hustled to the bathroom. I ran into the kitchen, and filled his blue water bottle with ice and water. When he finally came out of the bathroom, we headed out into the garage. I pulled our bikes out of the garage, right before I closed the door. He hopped on his bike and started pedaling as fast as he could. I grabbed mine, and started pedaling to the field just a couple blocks down from our street, right alongside Danny. Last night I had told mom Danny had a soccer game this afternoon, but I knew that she wouldn’t be there. 

When we pulled up to the field, they were just about to start. Danny parked his bike, then ran onto the field. I went over to the sideline, and pulled out my phone. Normally Grace would be here sitting with me, watching her brother. Instead, she was over on the playground with Jenny, swinging and laughing. I decided to walk over there, and talk to them. I cheered for my brother for a minute, and then walked over. The swings were facing the other direction, so they didn’t see me coming. As I got closer, I could hear some words of their conversation, and laughter. When I got close enough, I realized they were talking about someone. Until I got closer I couldn’t tell who. My mind thought it was like a cute boy, or celebrity, but as soon as I got close enough, I could figure out who it was. “Yeah, she’s a freak,” said Jenny.

“I know, I was just hanging out with her because her dad was my volleyball coach. Now that he’s not, I’m glad I don’t hang out with that weirdo anymore,” Grace said.

“Her red hair, and small stature is so ugly. It’s like she has no sense of fashion, and she can’t seem to do anything anymore,” Jenny replied mockingly. 

“She is always sitting alone, and looks so sad because no one likes her,” Said Grace before she laughed. 

“Geez, I wonder why,” said Jenny. She and Grace laughed, and kept swinging. 

My nose started to tingle, and my throat began to ache. Then, I could feel tears trying to burst through my eyes like a prisoner that was locked up. I tried to turn and run away, but my feet didn’t agree. Instead, I fell face first right onto the wood chips. Of course that made Jenny and Grace turn around. I picked myself up, and stared at Grace. Her face was pale, it looked as if she had seen a ghost. Jenny twirled her hair, and acted all friendly. When I saw her do that, something inside me popped. I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t act like I was fine when I wasn’t. 

“E-E-Ella. I didn’t k-know you were here.” Grace said with a fake cheesy smile on her face. “Jenny and I were just talking about the cute bo-”

“Boy in science class? Did he have red hair, and an ugly small stature?” I interrupted. 

Jenny twirled her hair and said, “Half time! I better go congratulate my brother!” Then she ran out of the playground and back to the field. Even though I knew that half time was like 20 minutes ago. 

My head turned to Grace, and I couldn’t stop. “How could you? You think you know everything about my life? You think that I have five minutes to get myself ready because I want to? Well you’re wrong Grace, you are wrong. You don’t hang out or care about me whatsoever anymore, so why should you know? Okay, let me tell you why I haven’t been able to hang out lately, let me tell you why my hair looks like garbage, along with my outfits. My dad left us, Grace. He got fired, and something went down.” Tears began to crawl up my eyeballs, and before I knew it, they were streaking down my cheeks. “My mom doesn’t ever come around anymore. I haven’t seen her in over three weeks! And yes, since her nor dad are ever home, I have to take care of Danny. You don’t care anymore about me, obviously. So I don’t have anyone to talk to about this. Nobody! Not to mention Danny. If I said anything like this to him, his poor little heart and spirit would be crushed. I tried to hold on, I tried to keep it all in, but you sure didn’t make my burden any easier to bear. After weeks and weeks of this, I couldn’t do it anymore Grace. I couldn’t. So there, now you know why I’ve been such a wreck,” I then turned and ran. I ran all the way back to the field. When I got there, the game was over. I grabbed Danny by the wrist and pulled him to his bike. He could see the tears in my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He asked me. His little face looked scared.

“Don’t worry,” I said trying to smile. “I’ll tell you when we get home.”

We biked back to our house in silence. 

When we got in the front door, I said, “Sit down here, Danny. There’s something you should know,” I said. I knew he wasn’t going to like it, but I couldn’t keep it in from him anymore. “Listen, you know how mom hasn’t been around much anymore, and how dad’s part of the closet and drawers are empty?” I tried to keep my tears away but it failed. 

“Yes,” He replied looking as if he was about to cry.

“Well, it’s because…..”

“Because what?”

I decided right then and there to tell him. “Dad left. He isn’t going to live with us anymore, and we probably won’t see him,” I watched tears streak down his face.

“That’s the reason mom isn't around anymore. That is why I have been taking care of you for like the past month. I’m sorry Danny, I’m really sorry.”

I broke down, and so did he. He ran into my arms, so I hugged him tightly. A while later, when neither of us could cry anymore, I spoke. 

“You may not have mom and dad anymore, but I’m here. I’ll always be here, whenever you need me.” 

That made him start to cry some more, and he laid his head on my chest. 

“Ella?” he said looking up at me. 

“Yes?” I replied.

“I will always be here for you too,”

Then him and I cried and hugged for about another ten minutes. Those were very powerful words, especially coming from my little brother.

He spoke to me again saying, “You don’t have to try and pretend for me anymore. I could tell you were sad, but I never asked.”

I told him that was great, and I wouldn’t try to do that. “You can tell me anything,” I told Danny. He and I hugged some more, and my shoulders felt lighter when I stood. I was relieved that I didn’t have to pretend anymore. Instead of remembering all the memories I had with mom and dad then keeping them to myself, I could just tell Danny. We could laugh and share the memory together. We had so many good times we could laugh about. I also felt better, because I had said what I needed to Grace. Now, I wasn’t lying to her, and she knows what struggles I’m going through. I know Danny and I will have hard days, but we’ll be okay, as long as we have each other. 

The next couple of days, were better than before. One day at school, a big fight went down in the cafeteria. I wasn’t included, but Grace sure was. Apparently, Grace had caught Jenny making fun of her, too. Jenny had started telling a boy that Grace liked, lies about her. Anyway, Grace told Jenny off right in front of everyone in the cafeteria. She talked about how her and Jenny had made fun of me, and that she felt it wasn’t right. She said that Jenny was a big bully. There may or may not have been spaghetti dumped on her head. The best part though, was what happened after Jenny stomped off to the bathroom to clean herself off. She walked up to my table, with the rest of her lunch. “Ella?” she said sitting down next to me. 

I messed around with my food and answered, “What do you want? To make fun of me some more?” 

“I deserve that,” she replied. “But, no. I want to apologize. I’m so sorry for what I said about you on those swings. I really don’t think those mean things about you. I guess I was just trying to become friends with the popular kids, and they thought saying those things were cool. I just wanted to let you know that I was wrong. You are an amazing strong lady, and I don’t care about the popular kids anymore. They had no right to say those things, especially because of what you have had to go through over the past couple months. Can we still be friends?” 

I looked up and her and smiled before saying, “I would love that!”

Then the bell rang. We walked to class side by side, while laughing and joking. I missed this. Life will probably never be the same, but at least I know I have someone to trust, and don't have to keep it to myself anymore.

When Grace's mom found out me and Danny's situation, she took action immediately. I begged and begged her not to, but she wouldn't have it. She called child services. Danny and I broke down in tears that day when we were pulled out of school to find that she had. Apparently, they had gotten in contact with my mother. My mom had said that she didn't have time to tend for us anymore, but that she still loved us. Child services told her that wasn't going to cut it, and we were going to be placed in foster care. They told her she could visit us though. Mrs. Marley wouldn't have that either, and insisted that me and Danny go to live with her family. 

A year later, we were all in the car about in tears on the way home from court. The Marley's had officially adopted me and Danny. We were a part of a loving family, who took care of us.