Hot Tears (511 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.44 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Cool Beans (View user info) at 2007-11-20 06:28:52 EST
I am sitting across the table, watching them eat. They keep glancing at me, probably wondering why I'm not eating as well. The truth is, I don't want to break their fancy china. In my previous house, we ate with paper plates and plastic silverware sitting in front of the TV.
The house before that didn't even feed me; I got to fend for myself and scrap leftover food off the bottoms of pots and plates and the sink. Back at the orphanage, we ate off of plastic, yellowing trays with yesterdays breakfast still crusted to the sides.
Even if I don't break their china, I have no idea how to eat this food. I look around, nervously. There are four forks on the left side of my plate. Four. Each a little smaller than the previous. I have two knives and two spoons on the right, and a small spoon lying across the top of my plate, right next to the perfectly folded satin napkin and crystal clear champagne glass.
My stomach grumbles, but I don't eat. I don't want to break their fancy china. God, don't let me break their fancy china.
***
It's a little past four, the part of the day where the older kids get bored and mean and the younger kids get anxious and start breaking things. The volunteers are ready to go home and the supervisors help themselves to a fifth cup of coffee. The visitors start trickling down, and the smell coming from the cafeteria gradually gets stronger. The TV's start to drone on endlessly and everybody stops paying attention. The little bit of life that actually exists in the Golden Gate Orphanage of Alameda County, California begins to burn out for the night.
Earlier today we had eight visitors, or four young, happy couples shopping for children just like you would shop for a pet. They walked through our activity center, skimming the perimeter, silently judging each and every one of us. They make remarks like "Oh, how cute!" and their expressions look as if they're silently asking themselves "I wonder if they're house broken yet." Just like you would shop for a pet.
My eyes move from the TV to the front door, and I notice a tall man wearing a suit and a hat that kind of looks like one a detective would wear. I picture him sucking on a pipe and holding a magnifying glass, and the image makes we smile. A meek, timid smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"What's so funny?" the little kid watching TV next to me noticed my change in mood. I think his name is Robert.
"Don't worry about it," and I go back to picking out the hem in my trouser leg. He shrugs, gets up, and makes his way over to the other side of the room to play some dominoes.
The man invites himself into the activity center, and I notice a pretty lady holding his arm. She's wearing brown heel shoes and a light pink dress. I think it's funny how people get all dressed up to go pet shopping, but there's something about this couple that's different than the others I've seen today. They don't just press their noses into our faces and babble about how "precious" we are and poke the glass to make us come closer. The man in the detective hat is kneeled over, playing dominoes with Robert, and the pretty lady holding his arm is talking to a girl in braids; I think the girls name is Cynthia. It seems like these people actually care. But thirteen years in an orphanage snaps me back to reality, and I make my way to the cafeteria before they get the chance to talk to me.
User Reviews
Submitted by maf54 (user info) at 2008-05-14 16:16:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2008-05-12 13:42:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-11-25 18:49:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
nice story...that place actually existed around the turn of the 20th century in the fruitvale district of Oakland Ca (Alameda County)
i think it was a big brick building on E14th St at about 29th St or so
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-11-25 18:26:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'll second that; being a dad rocks.
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-11-25 17:48:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by BuSt3r (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:02:31 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
How would using the wrong fork break the china? are you a retard as well as the previous statement? Hmmm this is perplexing, yet so gay
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I see a whole bunch of fucking n00bs are running around the place!
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-11-25 17:46:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2007-11-20 09:11:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
BEAN
Good read, finnish it though, or just have it continued on another post.
So how goes it? been more than a while since we caught up. Life not kicking you too hard I hope.
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Life is fuckin awesome... being a dad rocks !!
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-11-20 22:26:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I fixed my own dinner tonight. Vienna sausages, tortilla chips, and a carrot. No fork needed.
Submitted by TheDoctor (user info) at 2007-11-20 17:28:17 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
The only dick is Yozz.
Submitted by Yozz (user info) at 2007-11-20 17:22:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Dick
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v
Submitted by TheDoctor (user info) at 2007-11-20 17:05:43 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
No Comment
Submitted by His_Infernal_Majesty (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:10:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I don't know about a gay picture. looks like a hot chick to me
Submitted by BuSt3r (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:02:31 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
How would using the wrong fork break the china? are you a retard as well as the previous statement? Hmmm this is perplexing, yet so gay
Submitted by OscarZAcosta (user info) at 2007-11-20 11:44:44 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Something tells me you're a fat fuck.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-11-20 11:29:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-11-20 10:11:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-20 09:24:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Kinda cool story, but that picture it too fucking gay.
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2007-11-20 09:11:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
BEAN
Good read, finnish it though, or just have it continued on another post.
So how goes it? been more than a while since we caught up. Life not kicking you too hard I hope.
Submitted by ShimishSmortion (user info) at 2007-11-20 08:21:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Finish it up. Was good was you presented though.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-11-20 08:15:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?
WHOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-11-20 07:36:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I am having a hard time reading right now.
Submitted by keitsith (user info) at 2007-11-20 06:38:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
gay
but maybe i should have read the text first
nah.. too long
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 06:35:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
This is a 1 to me. It was good, incomplete, but good. You had so much more story there but seemed to just not give a fuck about finishing it.
Submitted by woolfe (user info) at 2007-11-20 06:30:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment