My Name is Cindi

My Name is Cindi

By Kieli Levin

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Kieli Levin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-7349-4

Chapter One

My Name Is Cindi

I wanted to be alone. I wanted to be in the dark. I turned on my black iPod and turned the volume up to medium. My father was working the vacuum cleaner. My mother was cooking roast beef, which I hated most of all the dinners in the Louis family. "Cindi, come down," my mother shouted. I ignored her. My father had to come get me. "Cindi, you know when your mother calls dinner we all come down. Right?" my father told me. "Yeah, right, like I care a bit," I replied to him. "Cindi, you're pushing it to the limit. Now come down!" I got up from the floor and rushed downstairs to the dinner table. Being an only child was fun, because I didn't have to listen to stuff like "Cindi was being rude and all that junk." A ten-year-old girl should have some rights though.

"Why are we having roast beef for the second day in a row," I complained. "Because it is healthy for us," my father replied. I took the peas and threw them at my mother's face. "Cinthia!" my mother shouted. I started to scream and yell, "I told you never ever to call me by my real name again!" "Linda!" my father shouted, "Don't be mean to her. She is just a kid." "Kid, kid, kid. Is that all you're going to call me for the rest of my life? I wish you were dead," I barked, as I slammed shut the wooden door to my bedroom. "Joel, look what you did," my mother shouted at my father.

After my door slammed shut, I broke out bawling. I whipped my purple mini sweater against the fragile doll that my nana gave me when I was eight. I broke it into many small glass pieces. I didn't care. I was so angry. "Cindi!" my mother yelled. I ignored her. "We are going to the bookstore so calm down. Be right back," they both yelled. I sadly sat on my bed crying. If I only hadn't thrown the peas, this wouldn't have happened, I thought.

Chapter Two

Why Did I Ever Ask for That?

About three hours later, my parents still were not home. I waited another hour then I started to wonder why they weren't home yet. I called the Portland, Maine, Police Department. "Hello," I said to the police officer. "Hello, how may I help you?" he asked. "Hello, sir, my name is Cinthia Louis. I live right off of Brooklyn Court, and my parents left me home alone to go to the bookstore. It has been about five hours, and they haven't returned yet," I said to the police officer. "Oh, OK honey. How do you spell your first, middle, and last names?" the man asked. "Cinthia: C-i-n-t-h-i-a, Erielle: E-r-i-e-l-l-e, Louis: L-o-u-i-s," I told him. "OK, thank you. Can I call you right back, dear?" he asked. "Yes, sir," I replied.

So, about an hour later, the officer called back. "Hey, Cinthia," he said as he greeted me over the phone. "Hi, Officer," I replied. "Hey, I hate to break this to you, but ummmm, your parents got into a car crash with a blind driver," the officer explained. "Blind driver ... what? How would they let a blind man on the road? I'll call the court and report the blind driver." "It's too late, Cinthia, they already died about an hour or two ago," replied the officer. I started to feel a tinkling wetness in my eyes. The feeling was terribly strong, so strong I couldn't speak one single word. My lips were swollen, swollen as a cold sore in your mouth. It was harsh, too harsh for me. "Cinthia, are you still there?" the officer asked me. "Yeah, I'm still here," I replied. "Good. My partner, Rene Fortiess, and I will come pick you up.

Now listen closely. We will bring you to the police station.. You will sleep at the station for some nights until we find you a place to live. Does that sound good?" the officer asked. "Great," I replied. I hung up the phone.

I sat down on my bed. "Goodbye Brooklyn Court-forever," I told myself. "Why did I ever ask for them to be dead, Why did I?" I asked myself. Then, soon after that, I drifted off to sleep-my last sleep in my bed.

Chapter Three

Transportation

There are three police cars in my driveway. I got dressed, packed up my teddy bear, blanky and favorite shirts, jeans, headbands, ponytails, hair clips, lipstick, barrettes, and my parents' diaries. Although, I figured that my first cousins in England would end up taking the rest but not the diary. Plus, they are not taking me away!

"Are you ready, Cinthia?" Rene asked. "Yes, ma'am," I replied. "Any last-minute stuff or goodbye calls to best friends, or books, clothes, anything?" she asked. "Nope, I think I'm set to go," I told her. I slicked back my long, light brown hair and wiped the green stuff that grows out of the sides of your eyes from my light blue eyes. I watched out the window as other cars went by. I saw one child with her mother and father. It made me sad to think that now I don't have a mom or dad. "Only three more minutes, Cinthia," Rene said to me. After the three minutes were up, I hopped out of the car and into the police station. When Rene and I walked into the station, I saw some things I probably would not see on an everyday basis. I saw lawyers, teenagers getting in trouble, and an older man about to be put in jail for overnight. "Cinthia, you will be put with some other children, which in the station we call an orphan room. You will be sharing beds and a room with several other children like you," reported Rene. "But I thought orphanages were gone, right?" I asked. "Yes, but not in the police station. I mean, the children who are parentless like you need some shelter and somewhere to go, don't they?" asked Rene. "I guess so," I said. She asked Officer Numnoock for the key to the orphan room. He brought it to her shortly, and we headed to the room. "OK, Miss Louis, here is the orphan room." There were about nine kids in the room. There was one boy hitting and kicking another girl. "Georgie, Jaclyn," Rene yelled. The kids immediately stopped. The kids' shirts and pants looked like they were made from rags. "Here you go, Cinthia," Rene said, as she walked me into the room. She left shortly and told the other kids and me to come to the dining room in thirty minutes. I dropped my suitcase on a bed next to the bathroom door. "What do you think you're doing? a girl named Arielle shouted. She had thick, black hair that went five inches past her shoulders. "I was putting my suitcase down on this bed. I didn't know it was your bed," I said, a bit scared. "That is my bed, you got it," she said. "Yes, I got it," I replied. The other kids gave me a strange look, like: what is that girl's problem? I heard a toilet flush, and a girl came out from the bathroom. "What was all that yelling and screaming?" she asked. "Valiree, this new girl came in and put her dumb little suitcase down on my bed," Arielle complained. "So?" asked Valiree. "She put it on my bed," Arielle complained again. "She doesn't know much, Arielle," yelled Valiree. Valiree seemed like a sweet girl, so she definitely was going to be my new friend. "Hello, Valiree. My name is Cindi," I introduced myself to her. "Hi, Cindi," Welcome." "Cindi. What kind of dumb name is that?" asked Arielle. "She is always mean like that," explained Valiree. "I can tell," I replied. The other kids started to think I was less strange and introduced themselves to me. Rene walked into the room. "So, kids, how is everything going?" she asked. "Great!" I yelled. "Wow, that's good, Cinthia," she replied. "Dinner is ready, but first let me show you all the new room arrangements Officer Ritteir has done," explained Rene. "Georgie sleeps with Carolynn. Vern sleeps with Faith. Arielle sleeps with Jaclyn. Lea sleeps with Rochelle. Catherine sleeps with Valiree and Cinthia. Now it will be three girls to one double bed, so kind of squish in girls," she recommended. We had a pretty nice dinner of chicken and mac and cheese. Then I went to sleep with Valiree and Catherine. "Get to sleep, girls and boys, there is an important day tomorrow of school," said Rene. So I asked Valiree what we could do next weekend and she told me that the station has school eight hours a day, seven days a week.

Chapter Four

Getting to Fit In

The next morning I found out something that I think all human beings should know. Arielle and Lea are very rude, crude, and mean people. "Cindi!" yelled Valiree very loudly. I felt the cool air of the fan whipping against the back of my neck. This is a feeling I normally don't feel. "Your hair!" Valiree screamed. I felt my hair. The only the problem was, well, I had no hair! Well, now I can say I had my first buzz cut, I thought. "It was Lea and Arielle. I saw them! I'll report it," exclaimed Vern. Valiree told me that he was very interested in reporting bad cases of bullies and so on. He went and told Rene. She came in and took Lea and Arielle to the hallway for five minutes. They came back looking all sad. But they must have learned their lesson. "Ha-ha," yelled Arielle, "Cindi is bald now, Ha-ha!" I knew right from the start that Arielle was a terribly mean girl. Rene stepped into the room. "I'm terribly sorry of what happened, Cinthia," she said. "To cheer you up, I brought a wig, and here is a cupcake just for you. "Enjoy!" She quietly closed the door and went down the hallway. "Let me have the cupcake, Cindi," begged Arielle. "I'll be your best friend," said Valiree. Stop asking me!" I yelled. I went into the bathroom to eat my cupcake and locked the door after myself. I ate it slowly. Then I got out and got ready for my first day of school. I learned something: the station has its own school. So, I got my backpack that Rene gave me and brought it to school with me. I sat down at my assigned desk. The reason why I knew it was my desk is because it read Cinthia Louis on it. My desk is right next to Vern's and Faith's. They weren't too bad of people. Faith's long, knotty, red hair got on my desk when she put her head down. "Stop it, Faith," I called out to her. "Well, at least I'm not bald like you are," she replied. "I have a wig. Plus, people won't bark about my hair being on their desk," I said to Faith. "Cinthia Louis, Faith Freemand," Teacher Franny called. Franny was kind of a weird name. Well, at least for a teacher. I mean, why couldn't she have us call her Miss Franny or whatever her last name is. Basically, she was a tutor, because she was not a regular teacher and this was not a regular school.

Chapter Five

Valiree Resivan

Valiree Resivan was my new best friend. I had never really known much about friendship until I met Valiree. I got to know a little more about her. She is the same age as I. She had four sisters and one brother. Their names were Roseleena, Kayla, Emma, and Veronica. Her one brother's name was George. Roseleena would be in college now and age seventeen. Kayla would be in seventh grade and age thirteen. Emma would be in second grade now and age seven. Veronica would be in fourth grade and be age nine. Then, George would be fifteen and a sophomore in high school. Her parents died when she was four, playing tennis at the health club when the lady behind her accidentally whacked her forehead hard with a tennis racket. So, her aunt Wendy had to raise the six children. Her one brother and four sisters died last year in a huge house fire at their cousin's house. Luckily, Valiree was at her friend's house when that occurred. So, she was offered the chance to live at her friend's house, but chose to come to the orphan room. "Why would you want to come here?" I asked her. "My friend's dad always smoked a cigar, so I chose not to stay there and to come here," she answered. "I would have chosen the same," I told her. "Maybe someone will adopt us," I told her. "Maybe, but I highly doubt it," she replied. "Yes, I guess you're right, Valiree," I replied. "I usually am," she said.

Chapter Six

The Lookers

One Saturday morning, I woke up and got ready for school. Rene called all of us out to the hall for a special chat. "Boys and girls, there is a nice couple coming today to check into adopting children. So, my whole purpose of telling you is well ... look cute. That's all," reported Rene. I placed my wig on nicely, even though I really didn't need it anymore, because my real hair was starting to grow back. "There is not a chance that the couple will ever adopt Arielle and Lea," said Valiree. "Not a chance," I replied. The both of us laughed and laughed and laughed the day away. We sat on those dumb and not so comfy benches. Officer Rerigh came over and combed each one of our heads. I made my wig really pretty. The couple walked in. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Loveman," greeted Rene and Officer Rerigh. Mrs. Loveman had shiny, long, blonde hair. Mr. Loveman had short, brown hair. Finally, they told Rene they had decided. "Who?" asked Rene? "The one with the cutie smile, straight teeth, and brown hair." It couldn't be me; I really didn't have too straight of teeth did I? "Cinthia Louis, that's you, honey," reported Rene. My face went totally blank. I felt steam rising from my head. Slowly, my self-esteem went even higher. I felt special but mad. Did I have to leave Valiree behind? Some words blasted out of my mouth faster than I could catch them. "I'm a packaged deal. You can't let me go without my best friend, Valiree," I blurted out very quickly. "But Cinthia, they picked you not Valiree," Rene reminded me. Tears slowly ran down my cheek. "You can't let me go without her, please," I cried. "Cinthia Louis, go pack your bags. You're leaving tomorrow morning. Start now," Rene yelled! I don't think I had ever heard Rene yell. The yelling reminded me so much of my mother and father that night at dinner. But, now that's the past, and I have to forget what happened and move on as they say. But, for me, it's just not working. I miss them a ton. I went slowly to the orphan room to pack my bags while the other children carried their behinds off to station school. I didn't really unpack before, just my clothes. I miss my bed, my closet, my room, my everything! I remembered when my mother and father took me to the beach when I was five years old. We swam in the water and had a blast together. Those were the good old days that, for sure, I will never ever forget.

CH7[ Loveman House

The Loveman family lived in Portland, Maine, also. The next morning, I woke up and hugged Valiree good-bye. "I'll miss you," she said. "Me, too," I replied. "We can write letters to each other," Valiree suggested. "Great idea, Valiree," I yelled out. I packed my last-minute things, like my jeans, headbands, and bunches of hair and clothing stuff . I left her with my old-time favorite pair of jeans. "This is my gift to you, Miss Valiree," I told her. "Thanks so much, Cindi, you really are my best friend," she replied. I decided that it was about time she had some new clothes. She had those ripped-up shorts and a shirt that was cut like a triangle but looked very out of style. Valiree told me the clothes that the station kids got were white when she got them, but they are not allowed to wash clothes at the station, so they turned brownish green from playing outside in the summer. She took the jeans and promised to take gentle care of them. We gave our last good-bye hugs. She gave me the address to the station. I taped it to my neck, so I wouldn't lose it, but later I might feel pain when I tried to take it off. My hair was starting to grow longer now, about to my ears. I was happy it was finally growing back after Arielle and Lea.

"Hello, Cinthia." What would you like us to call you, dear? "Mr. Loveman asked. I noticed that there were three other girls with Mr. and Mrs. Loveman Well, I thought, I really do not want them calling me "Dear." Better off calling me Cub or Bear. Should I even have them call me Cindi? Or, is that my mother and father's nickname for me? "I'll go by Cindi," I told him. "Let me introduce you to your new siblings," said Mrs. Loveman. The lady looked pretty fat. I hope she isn't carrying another child inside of her. This is Lucy, This is Lilee, and this is Hailee," she said. Lucy and Lilee were twins. I could tell. Hailee was just the older sister. I could tell that, too. They took me home to their house, which I guess now was my house. "Are you going to be my bigger sister," asked Lucy. "Yes, I am," I replied. "Cool," yelled Lilee. "Ummmm ... not cool. She is going to be my bigger sister, also, and I wanted to be the oldest. Can't we give her back, Mommy?" asked Hailee. OK, now I'm guessing that Hailee doesn't really like me at all! "Hailee Rachael!" yelled Mrs. Loveman. "Cindi, dear, what would you like to call us, Mother and Father, Mom and Dad, Mommy and Daddy, Pa and Ma, Mama and Papa?" asked Mr. Loveman. "For sure, I wouldn't go with Ma and Pa, or with Mommy and Daddy. Let me get used to you guys for a while and then I'll start to think," I told them. "Great suggestion, Cindi," Mrs. Loveman said. The other girls went up to their rooms, and I sat on the couch watching television. Mrs. Loveman sat down next to me. "I know how it feels for you, honey," Mrs. Loveman said. "Really?" I asked. "Yes, I do. When I was a child, my family tried to kill me. But still I have no clue why," she told me. "What kind of parent would want to kill their children?" I asked her. "Dumb parents," she replied. "I ran away from home and was found on the streets by an old woman named Hope. Her name really did mean something to me. A lot to me actually. She cared for me, she made me clothes to wear to school, but she fed me some gross soups. But I loved her, because she cared for me." "Wow, you got lucky," I said, acting jealously. "Then how did you meet your husband?" I asked her. "When Hope died, I was on the streets again. Then my husband's family took me in, and we fell in love and then soon after that got married." "So, now you know how I feel?" I asked her. "Sure do, sweetheart," she replied. "I feel a lot better now," I said to her, even though my parents died in a huge car crash. "Why don't you go change into comfy clothes." You look like you're tired," Mrs. Loveman suggested. "I don't have anything new or special," I told her. "Really? Well, I guess we need to go family shopping this afternoon, huh?" she asked. "Guess so," I replied.

(Continues...) ]CH7

Excerpted from My Name is Cindiby Kieli Levin Copyright © 2009 by Kieli Levin. Excerpted by permission.
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