Something is Definitely Wrong Here

It was a quiet morning. As usual Lili woke up early. She couldn't help noticing how bright it seemed. But her parents weren't awake so it must have been earlier than it looked. She climbed out of bed and looked at her clock. It was almost noon! She had slept very late, and her parents, how could they still be sleeping? She walked into their room and they weren't there. "Well I guess they must be downstairs," Lili said. That was unusual because her parents usually stayed upstairs and watched TV until lunch. As she went down the stairs she listened hard for talking or the TV, but she didn’t hear anything. She walked into the kitchen hoping to see her mother cooking but saw only Red, her cat. She stopped to scratch Red behind her curled ears.

She continued until she had searched the whole house. "Maybe they're outside," Lili said, hoping that they were. But her mother and father weren't in the garden or on the front sidewalk either. She noticed a small piece of paper taped to the front door. Quietly she walked up her front steps to get the note. Lili hoped it had nothing to do with why she couldn't find her parents. But her worst fears were confirmed as she looked down at the scribbled note.

Lili was shaking. How could her parents do that to her? How could they expect her to understand? She had to call someone. But who? Her best friend Lia? Yes, Lia would understand not to tell, at least not yet. Lili picked up the phone. She dialed Lia's number and then listened to the ringing as she waited for someone to get the phone. "Hello, Lia speaking," Lia answered. "Hi, it's me Lili," Lili said, and then continued to explain all about her parents and how scared she was. "Who could adopt you?" Lia asked. Lili had no clue. "I don't know," Lili answered, her eyes burning, trying not to cry. "Hey, maybe my parents or Lila's parents, or maybe even Lori's parents could adopt you," Lia said hopefully. "But Lila's dad is allergic to cats (Red) and Lori has 3 sisters and 1 brother already." Lili said sadly. "Well that still leaves my parents," Lia said, adding "I could ask them." Lili didn't know about telling any adults yet, and she didn't really want to ask them, she thought it was too much to ask. She finally replied "I don't know, it's a lot to ask." But Lia was already asking. "They said maybe!" Lia said excitedly. "Really?" Lili asked. "Yes!!" was Lia's reply. "They said that they'd have to talk to social services to see if they could and that it was a big decision that took a lot of thinking," Lia said quickly. Lili was exited now, but had to ask "would they let me keep Red?" After going to ask her parents Lia replied "ya, you can keep her." They both said goodbye and Lili went to her room to gather what she wanted to take to her new home. (She had to have one, even if it wasn't with Lia) She couldn't believe what had just happened. Her parents had never seemed like they didn't love her or were upset. "What happened?" she asked herself as she wondered what had gone wrong. She read the letter over and over again. Written at the bottom was their new address. Why had they told her that they would be at 80101 Sheris Street? What city was that in? Surely they were in another city, how could they stay here? Her tears blurred the ink on the paper as she thought about them. She already missed them. Why her, why had she been given parents that didn't love her enough to stay with her, or even arrange a home before they left? How could anyone do that to their own child? She held Red close like if she lost Red, she would have nothing. That was how she felt.

(written at 8)