Out of the blue, the little girl said loudly, "Hello, that's a nice pattern you are making!"

I looked up curious and confused and asked, "Me?"

She nodded and said, " Ahuh." The little girl pointed to the ceiling. I then realised what she was talking about. The sun light coming from the window was shining on my watch and the glass reflected it on the ceiling.

I replied, "Thanks, I guess..."

She said, "My sister likes to do that as well but her pattern is a circle."

I smiled at her.

The little girl then took her mother's - from what I am guessing - hand and walked to me. Her other hand was behind her back.

She said, "I'm Avie." It was then when I realised I was talking to Hanson's little sister.

I smiled at her again and said, "My name's Gabrielle, but people usually call me Gabbi."

I shook her little hand and looked at her mother and did the same. While doing so, she - her mother - said warmly, "Hi, I'm Diana. Pleased to meet you."

Then suddenly, Avie's hidden hand shot out from behind her back. I saw that she was clutching a mini chocolate crackle. She asked me, "Would you like it?" Her cute, innocent eyes seemed very questioning as if I were to make a vital decision.

I said sweetly, "Oh, no thanks. You can have it." She just shrugged an 'ok' and started eating it, by putting singular bubbles of coco pops, one at a time, in her mouth.

Diana and I chuckled. Then she said, " Well, we have to go now, Avie just needed something to settle her rumbling tummy."

I smiled and told them, "It was nice meeting you."

She replied, " Ditto." They said, " Bye Gabbi."

I instantaneously said back, " Bye Diana, bye Avie."

As they were leaving I heard Avery ask ( I knew her name was Avery because I read those magazines.) "Mo-o-om, when are we gonna see Gabbi again....."

I sat back down on the bench and thought about what had just happened. I made up my mind that Avery has got to be the cutest and sweetest kid, that I have ever met. With her fair skin and shining eyes, she looks just like a petite porcelain doll, in a good way. From what I overheard when she was talking to Diana before she noticed my watch reflection, to when she and her mum walked out of the room, I think I could sort of - well not really, but kind or - judge her personality. In my opinion, she is a friendly, curious girl who is not particularly shy. From my knowledge of her - which is very little - she appears to be a cheerful person.

Now onto Diana. Well she seemed so caring and kind. She was also really friendly and easy-going. I don't know how many other parents who talk 'slang' and, for example, Diana saying words like ditto. The Hansons (all the children) were so lucky to have a loving mother like that.

All my thoughts on Diana, the Hanson's mum, reminded me of my mum... and dad. Actually from what I can remember - about my mum - she was a really nice and caring, much like an angel. My dad was really cool as well. Neither of them ever abused me or did anything of that sort. That was why it was such a shock - an unpleasant shock - for them to suddenly leave me without a trace. Even though it all happened three years ago, I remember it as if it were yesterday. (*A.N. hehe, Titanic.*)

When I reached it, I saw that there were no cars in the garage. It probably meant that mum had gone to the local super market, and my dad had to stay back at work for a couple of hours. It was my mum's 'tradition' to leave a note of reassurance when this happened. My prediction was right as I certainly did receive a note.

I walked into the house and towards the kitchen cupboard, to get myself a snack. I got what I wanted which were pretzels but I knew that they would make me thirsty so I went to get some juice form our fridge. (*A.N. These pretzels are making me thirsty, hehe*) The notes my mum left were usually tacked to the fridge with a magnet. So I looked one and saw something I didn't want to see. It was there on the same paper and blue pen that she usually writes with. It was what was written which was not as comforting - safety wise - as it is normally. I read:

After that, all was blurred. Lost in my own world of emotions, I shut everything else out. When I finally 'regained' my consciousness I observed how my life dramatically transformed. I was now living in a children's home, but still went to school as usual. I looked the same, but inside I was a totally different person.

In those days in which I was dismissed from school due to the 'unfortunate occurring' - in my teachers words - I matured immensely, not physically (*A.N. hehe, I bought a wonder bra and started wearing it. j/k*) but mentally. For the first time in my life - I was only in grade five - I thought about things that actually mattered. Life in general, people and their attitudes and the world and what it has become. I thoroughly sorted my feelings and inferred. I gave lots of my thinking time to my parents too. I tried to think about the even lesser fortunate people and gave them my 'mental, telepathic' sympathy. Last but not least, I prayed that my life didn't become even more worse.

That entire memory was a complete nightmare, still is because ever since, it has lingered in my mind, and I know my most feared, forever. There is no way that I will ever be free from that haunting flashback.

Back to present time (reality), I was still in the 'food' room and lonely as ever. The crowd could not be heard, so that left absolutely nothing else to make noise - from my hearing distance. There was silence, pure and utter silence. I always thought that silence kills. Being separated from noise - happiness & fun. I am also isolated from this - the noise and happiness - in a place which I have to call home....the children's home. Back to the point, the deadly silence was suddenly interrupted.

A group of four girls walked in wearing skirts and fashionable tee's. Two of them were about sixteen and the other two looked around my age, 12. I felt uncomfortable while I tried not to stare at them. Even so, they talked so loud that I couldn't help but overhear their conversation.

Mentally, I named each girl, with the first four letters of the alphabet, A, B, C and D. The girl I named 'A' was really petite and beautiful with shoulder length hair and she was the shorter of the two younger ones.

Girl 'B' was the other younger one. She was the ugliest out of the four, but had the silkiest head of long blonde hair, that i had ever seen.

'C' and 'D' were the older girls. 'C' was quite slim with a stern but pretty face. Last of the girls was 'D'. She had brown hair with reddish highlights and her eyes were a deep blue.

To them, I was sure I looked like a dirty, ugly beggar girl who was quite a loner. Anyway, their conversation was as follows.

C: Man, they hated our dance routine.
A: Come on, it wasn't that bad. I mean, they didn't ...'boo' us off the stage or anything....
B: (sarcastically) ....der, it was because they cheered us on so enthusiastically!
A: (annoyed) Shut up!

I now realised why there was a silence before. It was because the crowd didn't respond in any way to their performance - neither good nor bad. I then observed how 'D' eyed me. She started whispering to the others.

I was definitely uncomfortable now!! My brain was thinking 1000km/h to find a plan to get me out of this mess. Half-dramatically, I looked at my watch annoyed.

It should seem to them that I was waiting for someone, and they were late. This meant that they should think that I wasn't there because I didn't have anywhere else to go - but I was actually waiting for someone - and erase the fact in their heads that I was a loner ......hopefully! It wasn't a brilliant plan, but it would have to do.

Unfortunately, it didn't look like it help much because the 'alphabet' girls left the room straight away. While walking out, they peered over their shoulders, with their heads held high, and smirked at me, in an unfriendly manner.