Chapter 3

If you are just joining in on my story now then I highly recommend reading the Prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

Chapter 3:

Sure enough, just as Dani had said, Kaleigh was ready to leave the next morning. It was nine o’clock and Kaleigh was wide awake and feeling a bit anxious. Dani assured her that everything would be all right as they made their way to a taxi that had come to take Kaleigh to her new home. Kaleigh was silent on the ride to the orphanage. Silence was uncharacteristic of Kaleigh before her father had left the family, but after he left she seemed to find less things to say, and now that her mother was gone as well she talked as little as necessary to voice her opinion, and even then only if she was asked for her opinion to be voiced.
The taxi pulled up to the front of the orphanage, Kaleigh looked out of the taxi’s window, the orphanage looked bleak and dreary, certainly not a place where she could find any happy memories. Dani hurried Kaleigh out of the taxi it was a quarter past twelve, which was lunchtime at the orphanage. Lunch was served cafeteria style all the orphans got in a long line, as the line moved forward they would take a tray, a carton of milk or juice, and a serving of whatever the entrée for that meal was, and then the child would take a seat at one of the many tables placed helter-skelter around the room. This was the second room that Kaleigh saw when she arrived at the orphanage; the first room was the entry hall. The entry hall had a wooden floor, a coat closet, lanterns along the walls, several doors, a staircase to the second floor and a high ceiling. At the top of the stairs one could lean over a banister and look down over the entry hall. After getting her first look around this room she was escorted swiftly by Dani to the lunchroom where she received her lunch, and was introduced to the two girls whom she would be sharing a room with.
Her roommate’s names were Emily and Amber. They were identical twins and obviously the best of friends. Neither of them had known their parents and were seemingly unbothered by that. They spent all the time possible twittering away to each other about anything and everything. After being introduced to Kaleigh and saying the usual hello, and nice to meet you; they went back to conversing amongst themselves and ignoring Kaleigh. Kaleigh didn’t mind this at first; she was more concerned with the unknown of the orphanage to notice anyone behaving in an unsociable manner towards her.
Kaleigh spent lunch toying around with her food, pushing it from one side of the plate to the other, staring at the table without really seeing it. After about half an hour the lunch room started to quiet as the girls got up in groups of twos and threes to head off to …well to wherever it was the went next. Kaleigh looked around her panicked. She hadn’t been told where to go after lunch! She scanned the room and luckily she saw Dani talking to one of the cooks. Shyly Kaleigh walked over and tapped Dani on the arm, Dani looked down a bit surprised. “Hello Kaleigh, what’s up?” (Dani’s usual greeting when anyone came up to her.)
“Umm,” she started off uncertain, “where am I supposed to go after lunch?”
Dani looked at her apologetically, “Kaleigh I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I forgot that I hadn’t explained your schedule.” She turned and started to walk out of the cafeteria, she beckoned Kaleigh to follow. Dani lead Kaleigh into an office.
The office was small, but it was cozy. There was a cushiony carpet on the floor, a desk with lots of colorful folders on it. A filing cabinet was in the corner. Behind the desk was a black armchair where Dani sat. In front of the desk were three dark blue chairs Kaleigh sat in the one in the middle; she sat with her shoulders turned in as if trying to make herself smaller, timidly glancing up watching Dani flip through folders. After pulling out several papers Dani turned to Kaleigh and setting the first paper in front of her started to explain. “Alright Kaleigh, This,” she said as she pointed to the first sheet, “is an explanation of what rooms are on every floor of the Orphanage. There are 13 floors altogether.


13- Library
12- English
11- Math
10- History
09- Science
08- Music
07- Art
06- Bed Rooms
05- Bed Rooms
04- Bed Rooms
03- Game Room
02- Visiting Rooms
01- Cafeteria, Gymnasium, Administration

“There are two staircases leading to every floor, one in one corner of the floor and another in the corner diagonal the first. You are allowed to be on every floor, none of them are forbidden. There are however a few rooms with ‘Do Not Enter’ signs these should obviously be avoided.” Next Dani pointed to a similar paper. “This is your schedule, it will change occasionally and then you will be given another schedule but until further notice this is your schedule.”

07:00 am - Wake up 647
08:00 am - Breakfast Cafeteria
08:40 am - Math 1128
09:30 am - History 1006
10:20 am - Music 812
11:10 am - Art 722
12:15 pm - Lunch Cafeteria
12:50 pm - Free Time
01:30 pm - Science 910
02:20 pm - English 1208
03:10 pm - Free Time
06:00 pm - Dinner Cafeteria
07:00 pm - Free Time
10:00 pm - In bed lights out 647

After giving Kaleigh a few moments to examine her schedule Dani handed her the folder from which she had pulled the first two papers, “There are a few more papers but you can look over them yourself in your room. Do you have any questions?”
Kaleigh looked down at the folder and thought, there were a lot of things she could ask, but not right now, now there was already so much information overtaking her that any more would be suffocatingly overwhelming. So she forced a smile and told Dani that she didn’t have any questions.
“Why don’t you head on up to your room, your stuff is all up there already, after you finish unpacking you can take a look around, you don’t have to go to any of your classes since today is your first day here, classes will start tomorrow.”
Kaleigh smiled, this time it wasn’t forced, not having classes took off so much pressure that had been building up. After thanking Dani she left the office and stood a moment in the center of the entrance hall taking it all in. This was her home.

Luv ya all!