"Come back here you little thief!" The storeowner cried. Jason Smikle congratulated himself for his own great work. He continued to speed down the sidewalk on his skateboard, not caring what he ran over.
"I’m going to call your parents!" The storeowner continued to chase after him. This guy was a lot more determined to catch him than others had been. He was beginning to think the chocolate bar he stole was not worth it. He unwrapped it and ate it slowly so the man could see. He turned around for a second to tease the stupid guy. He was so busy enjoying the look on the guy’s face that about three cars nearly hit him. They honked and beeped at him and Jason narrowly escaped being road-kill before he got across the street. The storeowner, however, got stuck on the other side, which gave him a chance to get away.
"Mom, Dad, I’m home." Jason called as he finished up his chocolate bar and let himself into his house. His Mom and Dad were sitting at the kitchen table, looking solemn.
‘Oh no,’ Jason thought. ‘They got a phone call from the cops.’
"Listen Mom, Dad, I can explain, I…"
His Father held up his hand so Jason would stop talking. "You don’t know what this is about, sport, so don’t jump to conclusions."
"OK…" Jason sat down at the round table beside his Mother. "What’s up?" He tried to sound cheerful but the air around his parents was giving him the creeps.
"Jason," His Father began "Your Mother and I have something we need to tell you…"
"But we don’t want you to feel like you can’t trust us because we didn’t tell you sooner," His Mother butted in.
"All right, what is it?" Jason asked. He was starting to be concerned.
"Jason you’re, you’re, how can I say this?" His Father was having obvious difficulty saying what he needed to say.
"Just spit it out Dad," Jason suggested.
"You’re…adopted, there I said it."
Jason was stunned. He had no idea what to say. He ran his hand through his spiky hair. He looked over his Mother and then his Father.
"Damn," He said finally. His Father breathed heavily while his Mother played with a little hand-towel
"I don’t want you to think I don’t trust you guys but, why did you tell me now? I mean why not on my deathbed or tomorrow or ten years ago? What’s going on that would make you want to tell me NOW?"
Jason didn’t get the reaction he was exactly hoping for. His Mother started to cry and his Father looked down at his hands.
"Son," His Father began. Then he looked over at his wife, "Maybe we should talk about this in the living room, it’s upsetting your Mother."
"OK" Jason replied nervously. He followed his Father into the living room and sat on a chair across from him.
"I think I’ll just take your advice and spit it out. It may make it a bit easier for both of us."
"OK," Jason said again.
There was a long pause as Jason’s adoptive Father gathered his thoughts. "For the past few weeks," He started, "We’ve been receiving phone calls saying that they know you are adopted."
"What? Did they threaten you?" Jason cried.
"No, Jason, sit down." His father started up again. "We have reason to believe that the person contacting us is your biological father. We just thought you should know so if you ever pick up the phone and its him…We just don’t want you to be alarmed."
Jason nodded. "What are we going to do Dad?"
His Father shook his head. "I’m not sure yet son, I’m not sure."
Jason walked down the main street to the variety store he had stolen from about an hour ago. He didn’t want to disappoint his parents any more than he already had by stealing. He jingled the money he was saving for a new skateboard in his pocket. He had only saved fifty bucks, but he had stolen nearly forty dollars worth of junk in the past. He did his best to remember every one he had stolen from and pay them back, it was the only thing he could think of to do.
He walked into the store and the owner immediately recognised him.
"Ah, it’s the little thief! I’m calling the cops!" He screamed.
"No wait!" Jason stopped him. "How much do I owe you?" He asked quietly. The owner was shocked.
"Please," Said Jason "I want to pay for it."
The amazed shop owner quickly rang it up on the register. "One dollar, three cents."
"Here,"
The storeowner shakily took the money from Jason. Jason left the store with a smile on his face and headed off to the next one.
The door opened quietly, and the overly hyper seven-year-old crept into her sister’s room. She looked at the older girl to make sure she was still asleep. Naturally, since it was only ten o’clock, she was still sleeping peacefully. She tried to keep in her giggles as she neared her sister’s bed. She lifted the water glass above her head, ready to pour.
"Don’t even think it." The sleeping body said plainly.
"Aw, Helen, I thought you were still asleep!" Whined the little girl.
"I know," Replied Helen. She opened one eye and smirked at her adoptive sister. Unlike Helen, Erin had no idea that Helen was adopted. Helen had known since, well…since forever.
Erin smiled back at her sister. "Can I still pour water on you?"
"No!" Helen laughed. She jumped out of bed. Erin pouted and went downstairs to dump the water. After Helen got dressed she joined Erin in the kitchen.
"You hungry squirt?" Helen asked. Erin nodded furiously.
"Yeah! Make French toast!" Erin cried. Helen laughed but she could not refuse any of her sister’s requests. She never could. She gathered eggs, milk and cinnamon from the fridge and cupboards and started to mix them together as well as get the bread.
"Erin? Can you get the frying pan and put some butter on it and turn on the stove?" Helen asked her little sister.
"Ok!" Erin smiled. She would do just about anything for French toast.
"So where are Mom and Dad?" Erin asked as she tried to figure out which dial to turn from the little pictures.
"They’re at another conference for the next few days." Helen sighed as she reached over and turned on the stove for her sister.
"Oh," Replied Erin. She went and sat down at the kitchen table to wait for her toast. She examined her sister closely. She never did think Helen looked like their Mother or their Father. In fact no one in their family even had blue hair, or blue eyes. They were all Asian people, with black hair and dark eyes. She often wondered if maybe Helen and the REAL Helen got switched at birth and someone else had her real sister. But then Erin’s thoughts took over.
"Helen?" Erin asked, completely unaware of what she was saying. "How come you don’t look like Mommy and Daddy?"
Helen looked up from her toast. She was shocked, but then she smiled.
"Well, Erin," Helen said as she piled French toast and syrup in front of the girl. "Do you think you’re old enough to understand?"
Erin nodded profusely.
"OK then," Helen paused as she thought of a delicate way to tell her sister that she was adopted.
"Do you know what adoption is?"
Again Erin nodded. "Yeah, that’s when a Mommy and Daddy take a little baby from a home with lots of babies and take care of it because the REAL Mommy and Daddy can’t."
Helen nodded, "That’s right. And Erin, I’m adopted."
Erin opened her mouth in complete shock. She gasped dramatically. "You mean you’re not my real sister?" Erin pouted.
"Oh, Erin." Helen sighed. "It doesn’t matter if we’re real sisters or not, I will always think of you as my sister, no matter what."
"Promise?" Erin whined.
"I promise." Helen smiled.
Just then the phone rang. Helen broke herself from her sister to answer it.
"Hello?" She said.
"Helen Barker?" A raspy voice said from the other end.
"Yes…May I ask who’s speaking?" Helen asked politely.
The voice laughed. "You are much more polite than your Father."
"My Father was the one who taught me phone manners." Helen replied confused.
"No Helen," Said the voice, "I mean your REAL Father."
Helen gasped. "Who is this?" She asked urgently.
"I’ve called to warn you." Replied the voice. "You may be needed soon, be prepared for the worst." The voice hung up. Helen shakily replaced the receiver.
"Helen what’s wrong?" Erin asked.
"I…I’m not sure," Helen stuttered. "I think I’m just tired."
"Who was on the phone?"
"A wrong number sweetie, eat your toast." Helen poured herself a glass of orange juice and gulped it down as she tried to shake down the churning feeling in her stomach.
Indigo Perrier sang along with the music on the radio, lightly bobbing her head.
"Now remember, Indigo, no funny stuff. I don’t want another call from your teacher." Mrs. Perrier stated firmly. She dropped her daughter off at school and then headed off herself.
Indigo watched her Mother leave with obvious frustration. Once her Mother was out of sight she went inside to her first class. Indigo’s fine brown pigtails swayed behind he as she hurried to her classroom.
"You are late," The teacher growled.
"I know, sorry Mme. I slept in." Replied Indigo, gently taking her seat. The teacher glared at her for a moment. That was when she saw a new student standing behind the teacher.
"Class," Said the teacher once she had broken her eyes from Indigo. "This is Joel Matthews," The teacher was referring to the new student. He had an Asian face with black hair that came down to his chin and covered his eyes.
"Joel," Said the teacher. "You can take the empty seat beside Indigo." She pointed to the empty desk on Indigo’s left. Joel grumbled as he walked down the aisle to the desk he assumed was next to Indigo.
"Stupid teacher," He grumbled "How am I supposed to know who the hell Indigo is?"
Indigo couldn’t help but smile. "Hi Joel," She smiled, "I’m Indigo."
Joel smiled sarcastically at her, and as he looked up Indigo noticed something strange about him, he had the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen. Joel turned back to stare at his desk. Indigo made a face.
"How rude," She muttered.
Mrs. Perrier smiled as she chatted happily with her new co-worker, Amanda Matthews.
"Yes, we just moved here from California. Joel was so upset." Amanda chatted on.
"Who is Joel?" Erica Perrier asked.
"Oh, he’s my son." Replied Amanda. "Do you have any kids?"
"One," Erica smiled, "Adopted a girl."
"Oh really?" Amanda squealed. "How old is she?"
"Fifteen and a half." Smiled Erica.
"Really? My Joel is adopted as well. What a funny coincidence."
"Yes it is. So why did you move?"
"Actually, it was pretty scary. Joel doesn’t know but we’ve been receiving threatening phone calls from who we believe is his real Father."
Erica gasped. "That must have been horrible." She sighed. "I would do the same thing as you if I had that problem, I would get my but in gear and ship me and my daughter off to Guam!"
Amanda and Erica both enjoyed a good laugh before Erica had to leave to answer the phone.
When Erica returned she was very shaky.
"Erica?" Amanda asked. "What’s wrong?"
"I…I think I’m going to have to move to Guam." Erica replied.
Jasmine ran around her house like a crazed madwoman. It was her youngest brothers fourth birthday and she wanted it to be perfect.
Her black hair was tied into a high bun to keep it out of her face, and her brilliant blue eyes scanned the room and checked for any final details. In two hours she would sneak away from the house of screaming four-year-olds and be at the fair with her friends.
It was that weekend that colony L4 had it’s annual festival and she wanted to make sure she was there. Birthday party or not, she would have fun today. She smiled at the picture of her three brothers, her and her parents. She was the only one who looked Asian. She had often wondered about that when she was younger. She just assumed she had some Asian in her bloodline and she got a fair share of it.
But then, two years ago, she overheard her parents arguing about her. They mentioned her adoption and that was that. She knew then why she was different from the rest of her family. She was adopted! Her parents had still not told her and she never let them know that she knew she was adopted. They continued on life as usual and no one was the wiser. But then the phone calls started.
Her parents never told her about them either. She had listened once to one of them. The voice on the phone was raspy and unnatural. He demanded to speak to her, but her parents wouldn’t let him. It annoyed her that they were so overprotective. Didn’t they know she could take care of herself?
The phone rang.
Jasmine jumped at it, just in case it was him.
"Hello?" She said pleasantly.
"It’s about time I finally got to speak to you." Jasmine immediately recognised the voice. It was him!
"Yes! I mean, who is this?" Jasmine cried.
"That’s you all right," The man chuckled. "Your enthusiasm comes from your mother no doubt."
Jasmine gasped. "You know my Mother? Can you tell me about her? Who is she?" Jasmine asked furiously, she had a million more questions to ask.
"I can’t tell you about your parents now." Replied the man. "You will find that all out in due time."
Jasmine was disappointed. "Well what can you tell me?" She snapped sourly.
"Now THAT is from your Father!" The man chuckled.
"Will you knock it off?" Jasmine cried.
"That too," The man muttered.
"STOP IT!"
"Ok, OK, man your family is scary. Anyway I CAN tell you that you will meet your family soon. You will be needed before that. If you really want to know about your parents, you can read history books about the war between the colonies and Earth. They should both be in there. Ta ta."
The dial tone greeted Jasmine next. She growled slightly, but then decided she was pleased at her new information. She decided to call up her friends and tell them she couldn’t make it to the fair, she had an appointment at a library.
David rang the bell of his best friend’s home. He waited patiently for her to open the door. A small girl with cherry coloured hair poked her head outside.
"Hi Alexis!" David smiled.
Alexis yawned. "David what are you doing here? It’s eleven thirty."
"I know Alex, but this time I’ve got it!" He excitedly rushed into Alex’s house.
"David," Alexis whined. "You don’t got nothing in the middle of the night."
"Yes I do, that’s my best thinking time." He flopped a big book on the table.
"This time I’m sure I’ve found them!"
"What makes you so sure this time?"
"A guy on the phone tipped me off."
"A guy...on the phone…told you where to find your parents?" Alexis mumbled tiredly
"Yes! And wake up Alexis."
"Sorry." Alexis murmured. She let herself drop onto the chair. David flipped the pages of a history book.
"Your parents are in a history book?" Alexis raised an eyebrow at him.
"That’s what the guy on the phone said!" The blonde boy cried. His wild, mischievous eyes danced with the thrill of finally finding his birth parents. His adoptive parents didn’t have a clue about his search and neither did anyone else. Just Alexis knew. She tried her best to help him, but they had no idea where to start searching.
"Here," David said. He pointed to a picture of a man in a uniform.
"Doesn’t look a thing like you." Alexis replied plainly.
"That’s what I thought, but I needed a second opinion." David flipped through the pages again. "What about this one?" He asked. This continued for nearly an hour until finally Alexis insisted that he should leave. By then they had narrowed it down to three choices. As soon as David got home he looked through the pages of the book again. He spent all night searching and arguing with himself.
