Crystal (Orphans 2)

"Beautiful grounds," Ms. Thacker emphasized. "Maybe you would like to move in with me," I said dryly.

She just glanced at me and then smiled with that syrupy look of understanding I hated and continued to look out the window.

"There are other girls your age here, and the school system you'll attend is one of the best," Mr. Kolton said.

"How do you know that?" I queried. He glanced back at me and kept driving without replying.

"Crystal does well wherever she goes to school," Ms. Thacker said. Mr. Kolton laughed. "She'll probably end up tutoring the other kids here, won't you, Crystal?"

I didn't reply. I stared out the window, but I wasn't looking at my new home. My thoughts were back at the funeral I had just attended. Ironically, Karl had been right in planning it all before his and Thelma's deaths. The agency had decided I could attend the service even though Karl and Thelma had not completed the adoption process. Their family members all offered me their condolences and then guiltily explained that they had no place for me. Karl's brothers couldn't take me in. His father and Thelma's father were incapable of being guardians, and Thelma had no relatives who were interested.

Ashley and her mother were at the funeral, as were Uncle Stuart and some people from Karl's office. Before the ceremony ended, I looked back and saw Bernie standing near a tree, watching. After the final prayers were said, I headed toward the car with Mr. Kolton and Ms. Thacker. Ashley ran up to hug me and to promise she would write me if I would write her. I nodded. I hated promises. They were like those balloons I had seen drifting in the wind. They had shape until the air escaped, and then everyone forgot them.

Bernie stepped out from the tree, and I stopped. "I thought you didn't approve of funerals," I said. "I don't, but I wanted to be here for you."

"What's that, step seven?" I asked.

He looked down.

"I'm sorry," I said. He looked up at me. "We were both wrong. We both should have just said what we felt and not used any disguises."

He nodded.

"I guess we did learn something important, then," he said.

"Yes. I guess we did."

I got into the car. He stood there and waved as we drove off.

I could still see him standing there now. I blinked and woke to the present as Mr. Kolton brought the car to a stop in front of the big house. They got out my things, and we walked inside. A boy and a girl, not older than ten or eleven, were playing a board game on a big table. They looked up with curiosity. A door opened at the rear of the hail, and a tall woman with her shoulder-length brown hair swinging loosely about her face came hurrying out to greet us. Although she had a pretty face and bright blue eyes, the wrinkles in her forehead and at the corners of her eyes were deep enough to cause me to think she was older than she first appeared.

"Hello," she crie

d with excitement. "I was in the kitchen and didn't hear you drive up. I suppose this is Crystal. Hi, Crystal. Welcome to the

Lakewood. This is going to be a real home. You'll see. You have a nice roommate, too. Her name is Janet, and she's the sweetest little girl. She's shy, but I bet you'll get her to be more outgoing. They tell me you're very smart," she said. "We sure could use some help in that department," she told Mr. Kolton. He smiled. I thought she would never stop talking. "Although my kids usually do well. We insist they do their homework before anything else. There are rules here, but good rules. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Louise Tooey," she said, holding out her hand.

I took it to shake, but she held onto mine and patted it.

"I know you're a little frightened about being in a new place, but this is a special place. It was once one of the most popular tourist houses. It's really a very warm place, full of fun. You'll see. Anyway . .

"Go on!" we heard someone shout.

A boy about fourteen came charging down the stairway. His face was full of fear. Above him, a tall man with a wooden face towered above us all. He had thick shoulders and long, muscular arms, one of which had a tattoo on the forearm.

"Gordon," Louise said, nodding at Mr. Kolton and Ms. Thacker. "The agency is here with a new girl." His threatening posture relaxed, and the face that had looked so dangerous moments before softened.

"Well, hello there:' he said. He glanced at the boy. "Go on and do your chores, Billy:' he said sternly. Then he smiled at Mr. Kolton. "Got to maintain discipline around here."

"Of course," Mr. Kolton said. The boy hurried out of the building.

"This is Crystal. Crystal, this is my husband,

Gordon."

"Welcome," Gordon said. There was something in his eyes that frightened me, an animal look. I glanced at Mr. Kolton and Ms. Thacker to see if they saw it, too, but they seemed oblivious to everything but the task at hand, which was to hand me over and leave.

"Why don't I show Crystal her room and have her meet Janet? Gordon, you can take her suitcases, right?"