1
A LEXA peered down at the papers that were laid in front of her. She twirled a pen between her right index finger and her thumb, and drummed her left fingers on the desk in front of her. The time has finally come , she thought.
“Having second thoughts?” The lady behind the desk asked. She wore glasses and had a welcoming smile that Alexa could care less about. Her blonde hair was pinned to a perfect bun. She was new and more preferable to the former receptionist, but that didn’t make Alexa any more willing to wait any longer in order get to know her.
“Not even if the world caught on fire. I couldn’t be happier.” Alexa put on her widest and fakest smile. It was a good day. It just wasn’t one to make her happy. She read the first line which was printed in bold one more time with as little anticipation as possible ‘Evacuation from Foster Care Correctional Center’. At least it’s not juvie , she thought. Although it didn’t show, she was more than glad to be out. She had waited this long to get out, but it didn’t make her any less burdened. She scanned her eyes down the page to the very bottom where a dotted line was placed. One last thing to worry about, she kept thinking to herself. ‘Happy birthday to me.’
“Okay, so just sign right there and you’re free to go,” said the lady behind the desk.
Alexa quickly drew her signature. “It’s been my pleasure.” She spoke contemptuously.
“So, eighteen, huh?” The woman asked as a fake attempt of a real conversation.
That’s what the paper says , she thought, but didn’t answer. She replied with a raised brow and a stiff smile. Best not to bait the shark.
The woman keyed in some letters on a desktop that was placed just by the front of her face. “So, I just need to put that information in the system. I’ll get your belongings, and you should be good to go.” After typing a few more words that Alexa couldn’t make out, she pushed the enter button on the keyboard. “There.” She stretched her hand to the locker behind her and pried. It opened with ease. She pulled out an envelope which Alexa immediately noticed had been sealed with an old fashioned wax stamp. “Alexa LeGardien.” She emphasised both words while still holding on to the envelope.
“I don’t have a last name.” Of course she knew she had a last name, she just wasn’t in the mood to hear it.
“Not according to your legal documents. Anyway, this came for you just this morning. No return address. Mysterious .” Mrs. Secretary Sunshine seemed more interested in what lay within it that Alexa herself.
“Whatever,” Alexa responded ungratefully. To hell with manners . She snatched the envelope from the woman’s grip and looked around it curiously. She rubbed her thumb around the wax stamp, which glowed as red as fresh blood. Stamp made of wax . . . Was that something people still did? Her ride was going to be here anytime soon. He’d promised.
She had no outside friends other than her one best friend, Matt, who did everything but send her strange unsigned envelopes. So that ruled him out. She really couldn’t think of anyone else in the outside world who’d be willing to send her a package—no matter how small. So, the question of just exactly who could have sent the envelope spun around her head. But she didn’t want to open it. Not just yet, anyway. She read the line on the front one more time ‘To Alexa LeGardien’ .
“Is that all?” She asked in the hopes that she would not spend another second in that house. It held nothing but depressing memories for Alexa, and she couldn’t wait to get the stench out of her system.
The woman took a look at the small locker one more time. “I guess so. Good luck with whatever your next step is.” She seemed genuine in her statement, making Alexa really wished she’d woken up in the right side of the bed today.
Alexa saluted two fingers. “Thanks.”
She swung the two main doors wide open, and felt the fresh
A LEXA peered down at the papers that were laid in front of her. She twirled a pen between her right index finger and her thumb, and drummed her left fingers on the desk in front of her. The time has finally come , she thought.
“Having second thoughts?” The lady behind the desk asked. She wore glasses and had a welcoming smile that Alexa could care less about. Her blonde hair was pinned to a perfect bun. She was new and more preferable to the former receptionist, but that didn’t make Alexa any more willing to wait any longer in order get to know her.
“Not even if the world caught on fire. I couldn’t be happier.” Alexa put on her widest and fakest smile. It was a good day. It just wasn’t one to make her happy. She read the first line which was printed in bold one more time with as little anticipation as possible ‘Evacuation from Foster Care Correctional Center’. At least it’s not juvie , she thought. Although it didn’t show, she was more than glad to be out. She had waited this long to get out, but it didn’t make her any less burdened. She scanned her eyes down the page to the very bottom where a dotted line was placed. One last thing to worry about, she kept thinking to herself. ‘Happy birthday to me.’
“Okay, so just sign right there and you’re free to go,” said the lady behind the desk.
Alexa quickly drew her signature. “It’s been my pleasure.” She spoke contemptuously.
“So, eighteen, huh?” The woman asked as a fake attempt of a real conversation.
That’s what the paper says , she thought, but didn’t answer. She replied with a raised brow and a stiff smile. Best not to bait the shark.
The woman keyed in some letters on a desktop that was placed just by the front of her face. “So, I just need to put that information in the system. I’ll get your belongings, and you should be good to go.” After typing a few more words that Alexa couldn’t make out, she pushed the enter button on the keyboard. “There.” She stretched her hand to the locker behind her and pried. It opened with ease. She pulled out an envelope which Alexa immediately noticed had been sealed with an old fashioned wax stamp. “Alexa LeGardien.” She emphasised both words while still holding on to the envelope.
“I don’t have a last name.” Of course she knew she had a last name, she just wasn’t in the mood to hear it.
“Not according to your legal documents. Anyway, this came for you just this morning. No return address. Mysterious .” Mrs. Secretary Sunshine seemed more interested in what lay within it that Alexa herself.
“Whatever,” Alexa responded ungratefully. To hell with manners . She snatched the envelope from the woman’s grip and looked around it curiously. She rubbed her thumb around the wax stamp, which glowed as red as fresh blood. Stamp made of wax . . . Was that something people still did? Her ride was going to be here anytime soon. He’d promised.
She had no outside friends other than her one best friend, Matt, who did everything but send her strange unsigned envelopes. So that ruled him out. She really couldn’t think of anyone else in the outside world who’d be willing to send her a package—no matter how small. So, the question of just exactly who could have sent the envelope spun around her head. But she didn’t want to open it. Not just yet, anyway. She read the line on the front one more time ‘To Alexa LeGardien’ .
“Is that all?” She asked in the hopes that she would not spend another second in that house. It held nothing but depressing memories for Alexa, and she couldn’t wait to get the stench out of her system.
The woman took a look at the small locker one more time. “I guess so. Good luck with whatever your next step is.” She seemed genuine in her statement, making Alexa really wished she’d woken up in the right side of the bed today.
Alexa saluted two fingers. “Thanks.”
She swung the two main doors wide open, and felt the fresh
Similar Books
