The drive was arduously long and quiet. She stared out the window and wondered when she was going to get to her supposed new home.
"Are you nervous? Lisa asked and stared at her from the rearview mirror.
"A bit".
" Well there's no need to be. They're all very excited to meet you".
"How many kids are they? What're they like?"
"I won't tell you what they're like because you're gonna meet them. But they're six".
She nodded slowly and a shiver ran up her spine.
"Oh, we're here".
Lisa killed the ignition and hopped outta the car.
She got out too and gasped as she beheld her new home.
The white cottage was straight out of a fairytale. It had a stunning garden pathway, vibrant flowers and a cozy front porch.
She squatted to sniff the flowers and then a cute toddler came hurtling out of the house.
"Lisa!", he cried and ran into Lisa's arms that readily scooped him up. She stood up and straightened her pink skirt.
Ashton squirmed and Lisa put him down. He walked over to her and fiddled with the bows on her skirt.
"Come on in and meet everyone", he said.
She smiled down at the toddler and held her hand and led her into the house with Lisa right behind them.
Lisa dropped her keys on the long stool by the door. "Noelle? Where's everyone?"
"Upstairs. I'm setting the lunch table", a teenage girl called out.
Lisa nodded to the direction of the voice and she followed her into the dining.
"We decided to make lunch", she said and Lisa smiled. Noelle tilted her head and stared at her. "Hi, I'm Noelle. I'm 17, the oldest in the house. What's your name?"
She opened her mouth but Lisa beat her to it. "Go and get everyone so that the introduction will be done once".
Noelle nodded.
She stared at Noelle. She had gray eyes and long jet black hair that stopped a little above her waist. She also had a tall, slender frame characteristic of an athlete. She could hear the cheers of the other kids coming down the stairs.
She felt uneasy and nauseous. The toddler came up and held her hand again. She smiled down at him and he returned the smile.
"That's Ashton. He's five", Lisa said, "He's not usually like this with new people, so I guess he likes you".
Then the rest of the kids breezed right past her.
"Hi Lisa", a dark haired boy that had a striking resemblance to Noelle said.
"Kids we have someone new".
They all turned their gazes to her and she begged for the ground to open up and swallow her. Ashton squeezed her hand. She smiled shyly at them.
"Hi. I'm Alaska. I'm 15. That's my twin brother Atlas. People say we don't look alike. They all think he's Noelle's brother".
Atlas scowled. " I can introduce myself Alaska. I'm Atlas. 15 still, I love sports, do you?"
Alaska rolled her eyes.
She stared at Alaska. She had curly dark chocolate hair and gray eyes just like Atlas and Noelle. She noted two similarities between them, their eyes and the texture of their hair.
"I'm Lucius. 11".
"I'm Nikolle", a very shy voice said from behind Lisa.
" Nikolle's very shy", Noelle explained.
" Why don't you go say hi to a new friend, Kole?", Atlas said and tickled her.
She squealed and went up to her. " I'm Nikolle. Everyone calls me Kole. I'm 8 years old and I love to draw".
She smiled and patted the younger girl's head.
" And I'm Ashton!", Ashie yelled.
Everyone burst out laughing.
" Oh Ashie, we didn't forget about you", Alaska said.
" Argh, can we eat?", Atlas groaned.
Lisa clapped twice. " Alright, everyone sit. Lucius say grace".
She put her hands together and stared at the mixed light skin boy with blonde curly hair and clear glasses sitting across from her.
"Amen", everyone chorused.
"Hollup fam", Lucius said.
"Urghhh, what now?", Atlas bemoaned.
"Newbie didn't tell us her name".
"Yeahhhh, a smart observation from the smartest in the house". Alaska cheered.
She gulped.
"She's got amnesia so she doesn't remember her name or her past".
Everyone cooed sympathetically.
"So what, you're like amnesia girl or what?" Lisa slapped Atlas on the head. "Ow, Lisaaaa".
"Be nice".
"How'd the amnesia come about?", Noelle asked.
" I was hit by a truck".
Atlas had a remorseful look on his face. " So what do we call you?"
" I was called Azalea by everyone in the hospital…"
" You can't answer that".
" Why not?"
" Because a name is supposed to be given by a parent as a prophecy or blessing on that child. D'you know what Azalea means?"
" No…"
"Then it's settled. From henceforth you will referred to as Elizabeth, God is my oath".
She scowled. " I don't like that name. I don't want it".
" Well it's either that or letter A".
" I choose letter A", she replied with a defiant tilt of her head.
Lisa raised her brow. " You do solemnly accept that from this day henceforth, in the witness of your new brothers and sisters, you will be regarded as A?"
She bit her lip and nodded slowly.
Lisa also nodded and continued her with her food. There was a hush at the lunch table from that moment until the dishes were cleared by Alaska and Lucius.
****
She twirled the stalk of a flower in her fingers.
" Why would you do that?!", Noelle asked.
" Do what?"
" Listen, Lisa is a no-nonsense woman. You don't wanna get on her bad side or else you'll be stuck doing penance until you're adopted".
Her face fell.
"Come sit with me on the porch let's talk".
They both sat on the steps on the porch. Noelle put her hair up into a ponytail. "I understand you're nervous and when you pair it up with your amnesia,it's difficult,but hey, we're your family, alright?"
She nodded. "I always wish I can remember what my family was like".
"Don't. Focus on making new memories. The old ones will come back when they want to. Lemme give you a little advice, try to be meek and obedient to Lisa. Whatever, and I mean whatever she asks you to do, do it so you won't be punished".
"I don't know if I can just blindly do anything. I'm very stubborn. Ava says that much".
"Who's Ava?"
"Oh she's the nurse that looked after me. Well, she's the only person I allowed to look after me".
"I think you're a bit too young to have trust issues".
You think?