CHAPTER 7: Hey little brother!
A week had passed and Valorie had become impatient, her father had notified that there were many complications to take when setting for an adoptions, and she just couldn’t handle it anymore, ever since she was told she might have a brother she’s been timid of the expectations of her possible brother
Pumped up with anxious energy, drawing and painting till she had completely got tired of it, lying on the ground facing up at the ceiling, gazing up with a dull gaze, small frown «I’m so bored.»
Pulling herself up she wondered what to do from here, as she slapped the palm of her hands on the floor, making popped noises with her mouth, she proceeds to then roll to her left before rolling to her right, before she rolled back to her original spot
Continuing the pattern, it became more tedious and she became even more disinterested of her surroundings, finally with one final groan she said aloud “Ugh I can’t take it anymore!”
Rushing to gain her ground, immediately rushing to her room, as she grasps a few items, that were a small essential presently, she gathers a few items in her small satchel, with listed items of: Pencils, crayons, and a few snacks that she could grasp
Once satisfied when everything was acquired, she then grasps her sketchbook, with everything on her checklist in hand she then made way to the door, grabbing her sandal shoes in the cubby placing them softly on the ground, she hurriedly put them on
After checking her attire was in check, she peeks out the door, checking from left to right, making sure the coast was clear, since Abigail went to the market, with everything in check she steps outside onto the front step and closes the door behind her
With everything in check Valorie grasps the strap of her satchel, and with a wide grin she rushes in areas to remain hidden and unseen by any of the neighbours, moving swiftly from pot to pot, pole to pole, behind, beside an even under anything to hide
She had managed to escape everyone’s visual, well all but one, one whom remained hidden from the neighbourhood as well
However to what reason was unknown, but this anonymous figure remained near, watching young Valorie’s every move, to ensure that she didn’t cause a ruckus or any sort of mischief
But as the wind pushed against their back, their cape had flowed within the wind, it had caught the attention of the town’s drunk, an elderly who spent his life to the fullest searching for mythological things, as he felt a change in the wind
He glances up and spots that figure on the roof, as he blinks he finds no one there, rubbing his eyes again to ensure he wasn’t hallucinating, in realisation that he had made it up he commented in a whisper as a mental note “I really need to lay off the booze.”
Before disappearing to his own matters, continuing with his daily needs
While with Valorie, who was skipping happily, she thought to herself, «Hmm should I buy something for him?» She pondered, as she was passing a small bakery, and what caught her attention was the boxes filled with Alfajores, her favourite dessert that were basically cookie sandwiches filled with creamy caramel confection
She remembered the first time she tried one, as soon as the flavour hit her tongue she was in love, and constantly asked her father to buy them for dessert, however her father bargained they would buy it once a week, since he was concern of her health, especially for children her age, as they always desire a LOT of sugar
As she checks the price for a box which was 9 pesos, Valorie then reaches into her satchel where she always kept her wallet since she had a habit of leaving it somewhere random, letting be for someone else to claim, though she never had much to save
As she beamed with delight when she found it
She slowly pulls out a kitty themed kid clasp purse, the main colour was an evergreen colour with white cats embroidered onto the wallet, opening up the clasps she begins to count the coins in her mind «Two . . . four . . . six . . . eight . . . nine!»
Holding the last peso from her wallet in delight, thankful to have the right amount, young Blackwood walks up to the counter, as the receptionist senses her presence, they turn their head to the little girl and softly asks “Hey Val! What can I do for you!”
With a bright twinkle in her eyes, the burst of energy radiating off of her, she asks enthusiastically with a wide grin “Can I please buy a box of alfajores?” At her expression the receptionist and anyone nearby began to beam or fawn over little Valorie
Comments in mind such as
«So adorable!» The receptionist fawned over
«Aww! What a sweetheart.» A late 30’s woman cooed
«Damn I might die of cuteness!» One of the customers began to tear up while clutching their hand over their chest
But knowing she had to make haste, the receptionist states “Well that will be nine pesos.”
With a determine looked, Valorie holds up her clasp wallet and empties the coins on the counter, shaking the small pouch to ensure it was empty, after the final pesos fell, the receptionist counts the coins, swiping what was counted to her left, after reaching the grand total, she smiles softly before she respectfully said
“Wait a moment please.” As she places the coins in the cashier, she then makes way to the counter where a few boxes of biscuits were, however instead of only grabbing one, she grabbed two and placed them in a small plastic bag
After it was wrapped she returned to the counter, and handed the treats, leaning to reach the other side while passing them to the small customer
Valorie blinks in curiosity to why there was more than one box, seeing that they were very small, glancing up into the receptionist who gave a simple smile and answered the questioning gaze, that most certainly reminded one of a small puppy “It’s on the house, besides your the only one who regularly buys them anyway.”
She reassured, of course Valorie felt hesitant, and of course softly asked “A-are you sure?”
Her answer was a big smile, and two thumbs up “Of course!”
Hesitantly but appreciatively Valorie replies “Gracias Lizzy.”
“No problemo Val, now enjoy.” With that Valorie nods once before making off to her destination, after giving a quick ‘Goodbye’ and leaving towards the only orphanage nearby, and would make sure to make it there without delay
Meanwhile with Carlos who sat at the window nook on the second floor, watching the other orphans play, or passersby minding their own business, he only sighed thinking to himself «Can this day be any more boring.»
This was the common train of thought he had, when Mr. Blackwood didn’t come to visit, in trying to ease his worries of adopting him, and in learning that he had a daughter, whom he is yet to meet, as Mr. Blackwood was waiting at a later date
Staring idly while releasing a heavy sigh, it was then as he turned to the direction where Mr. Blackwood would head home, he spotted a girl who looked to be a few years older than him, keeping an eye on her he spots a familiar bag with a flower brand on it
In his mind he thought «That’s the ___ bakery logo? Must be a food delivery service.» He concluded before he makes way to the bookshelf, searching for a good book to read, or at least one that he hadn’t read yet
Valorie glances up at the sign, securing the bag in her arms
However downstairs Caretaker Agustina Sanchez who was organising arrangements around the orphanage as usual, but it wasn’t until a child’s voice called out to her “Um . . . excuse me Miss?”
As she turns the upper half of her body towards the source, glancing down she spots a young girl whom she didn’t recognise, to register who she was she politely asks “Yes? What can I do for you dear? And might I ask who you are?”
She queried, and of course Valorie answered sweetly “I’m Valorie! And I’m here to visit someone.”
Caretaker Sanchez raised a brow “Really? Might I ask who you’re looking for?”
A wide smile appears on her face, shutting her eyes for a mere moment she answers “My potential-baby-brother!” She eagerly said
Of course Caretaker Sanchez was taken back by the proclamation, and questioned “U-um sweety, you do know that it’s up to your parents to adopt someone, right?” Trying to approach the situation delicately, to prevent upsetting the little girl, with a worried look almost surfacing she remained calm
Blinking a few times, Valorie simply replies “I know--besides my papa has been visiting lately.”
This left Miss Sanchez speechless, and contemplated to whom the girl was related to, since they had a few who would visit every now and then, so she inquired with a curious tone “May I ask who your ‘Papa’ is?”
With no hesitation Valorie answered truthfully “My papa is Aaron Blackwood.”
And with realisation this was the daughter of Mr. Blackwood, who planned on adopting one of the most antisocial children, her eyes bawled wide open, and the only words that could come out was complete gibberish, it was a wonder to how she hadn’t fainted yet
So to get her to speak full sentences, Valorie queried “Do you know where he is now?”
Brought out of her ramblings, she coughed a bit, regaining her composure “Ahem uh yes, he would be on the second floor in the children’s room.” She stated before requesting “Allow me to lead you there Miss Blackwood.”
At the formality, which was discomforting, Valorie of course requested “Please call me Val or simply Valorie, it sounds weird when people call me by my last name or hono-honeri- what’s the word?''. She questioned to herself but of course Caretaker Sanchez understood what she was trying to pronounce the formal use of terms
“I believe you mean Honorifics. And understood Valorie”
A small smile was all she needed to receive from the girl, and without a second thought asked “Now please follow me, I think Carlos would like to also meet his possible sister.” Escorting her to the children’s room, Carlos was about to get the surprise of his life
Speaking of Carlos, after finding a decent book based on flowers, since education was vague in the orphanage, he taken to recognise specific plants, his favourite flower by far was White Heathers, despite it being apart of the family of ericoidosaeae the colour and what this particular heather symbolised is what caught his attention
White heathers symbolised protection, good luck or wishes coming true, aspects that he desired
As he desired companionship, family, to be protected, but knew he wouldn’t receive the same bond within foster homes like his past home, whenever he thought of home, he thought of his mother’s cooking and his father singing to him when he had trouble sleeping, he basked himself in their love that it had become foreign and lonely without them
He loathed the loneliness, but feared rejection, despite Mr. Blackwood’s promises he feared he wouldn’t get along with his daughter who was a few years older than him
There were many cons from his perspective, he literally knew nothing of her, other than that she was an only child, she liked drawing, and that was basically it, since most of their conversation was about hobbies, or their day, until then meeting her would be of a later date
Releasing a heavy sigh after reading yet another page, it was then a knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts, turning to the source, he finds a Caretaker standing there
“Caretaker Sanchez?” Closing his book he stands up before he politely asks “Can I help you?”
Since whenever anyone interrupted him, was because they needed him to help with a chore around the orphanage
“Yes, you see we have a guest here looking for you.” She stated which caused him to raise a brow at this, internally he thought to himself «A guest? Is that it?»
With his expression she could automatically tell he wasn’t interested, however she carefully revealed with her words “This isn’t an ordinary guest. They requested to meet with you.”
Raising a brow, the caretaker then steps aside allowing full view of the guest, who was to his surprise the girl he spotted, one whom he thought was a delivery girl, sitting up correcting his posture, he softly closes his book before putting it aside
Curiouser and curiouser to who she was, before he could say a word the caretaker did the introduction for him “Carlos meet Valorie Blackwood, Valorie this is Carlos.”
As soon as her name was stated, Carlos expression went from calm to sky rocket of shock, for the daughter of the man who was planning to adopt him, is standing before him
Shuffling a bit, biting her lip, unsure how to go from here, but of course the most common thing one did to start a conversation with a stranger, was offering a simple greeting “Umm-Hello Carlos--it’s nice to finally meet you.” She started before she lifts the bag with treats and offers
“Uh do you want alfajores?” She gestured awkwardly
But it was enough to finally get a word out of him “Um . . . yes?” Making his answer sound more like a question than an answer, which was an unusual behaviour to Sanchez knowledge, since Carlos was always dismissive with his approach
Yet with young Blackwood it was different, it brought a small smile on her face, she then stated with a professional tone “Well if you need anything I’ll be down stairs.” And like that she was gone before they could muster a reply
Leaving the pair to their lonesome, Valorie makes her way to him slowly, and quite literally Carlos was producing beads of sweat, and in his mind it was no better, as he was screaming to himself «WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE!?»
Lifting one of the boxes out of the bag, trail of thoughts continued to linger in his mind
«Is she here to poison me? Does she not like the idea of another sibling?» He exasperated
Opening the box, finding alfajores with small squared shaped baking paper on the top half, grasping two, she offered one to him and all he could think was «This feels like a trap.»
And to his surprise she called him out “You think this is a trick don’t you?” She gave a deadpanned look, which shocked him to how she knew accurately
“I-i uh--I.” Unable to form words she speaks up again
“I assure you little brother- wait do you mind if I call you that?”
With a shocked expression he stuttered “W-what did you call me?”
Raising a brow as she sits down on the cushioned nook, just before she takes a bite of her favourite treat she answers “Little brother--after all you’ll soon be my brother.” Taking a small bite, oblivious to the shocked expression Carlos held whose only thought was
«This just keeps getting weirder, and weirder.»
As Valorie was munching away happily, Nanny Abigail who had entered the building, questioned on her arrival, and when finding confirmation she was here, a small smile graced her lips
And in her thoughts, she said to herself «Well Aaron, looks like I won the bet.»
She states, since the pair knew she would venture on her own to meet Carlos, and she betted a week, he betted two weeks, meaning 20 Pesos was in her hands, giggling to herself, she is brought out of her thoughts when she’s asked
“Would you like a beverage Ma’am?”
Turning to the caretaker “Yes please.” She politely answered.”
“Would you like water, cranberry juice, or mango juice?”
“Water will be fine.” Receiving a small nod, the caretaker leaves to fetch her beverage, and Abigail only waited potentially, till the two soon-to-be siblings work out their relationship, without an adult to interfere