Adopted

For Me

I throw my bag onto my bed and open the closet doors. It's not a walk-in closet, but there is enough room for a bunch of hangers. Already there are a few items, so I bring them out. There's a ruffly pink dress, which is too bad, because I hate ruffles. And dresses. And the color pink. I scoff and toss it aside. The next thing is a blue shirt with a sparkly heart on it. Not as bad as the dress, except sparkles are too noticeable, and hearts just make me seem like a lovey-dovey girl. I put it on my pillow.
Next are some jeans. One pair is very tight, and another has rips in it. But the last one has rhinestones on the pockets. Rhinestones are different than sparkles - rather than announce my presence, they quietly tell everyone that I'm better than them. I smile and fold up the rhinestoned jeans, putting them next to the shirt. There are also a few pairs of sweatpants, but each one is in bright colors. Some leggings might be good to sleep in. There's a purple long-sleeved shirt with a picture of a rabbit on it, and also a long white nightgown. I almost smile, because Mrs. Belleman is sweet. But I stop myself. There's no need to get attached to someone who'll only give you up a week or two later. Trust me, I know. I learned the hard way. Boy, did I start in the foster care system as happy and full of life as a flower - but soon enough, that drained right out of me, and I'm just like a daisy with all the petals picked off but one -  One more rejection and I'll be hysterical.
I slip on a pair of fluffy green slippers, along with turquoise leggings and the purple shirt. I shuffle out to the living room and greet Mrs. Belleman with a nod. "Oh, you look darling!" she exclaims when she sees my outfit. "Just beautiful. Gorgeous!"
I refrain from using my manners throughout the entire snack. I'm sure she notices, but she doesn't say a thing. I'm just not ready to be a daughter yet. No use building yourself up when someone's going to tear you down. I grab the last cookie and run to my room. Mrs. Belleman starts to call me back, but then stops. Finally, she's realized how much she bugs me! I sigh and collapse on my bed. I take off the slippers and stuff the cookie in my mouth. I just manage to start reading a book when Mrs. Belleman appears. She holds out a flimsy toothbrush, the kind that you get as a complementary gift from hotels. She also has a small tube of mint toothpaste.
"I went to a hotel, just so I could get you these. The nearest store was too far away." She says, softly. I use all my strength to stop myself from smiling. Tears fill her eyes as she looks down and sucks in a breath. "Well... good night, dar- I mean, Maya." she whispers as she places the toothbrush and toothpaste on my dresser. I hear her feet pad off down the hall.
When I'm sure she's gone, I allow myself to quietly cry. She's being so nice. It's almost like she means it. But it's just a bribe, I'm sure. A bribe to get me to pay attention to her. But- is that really such a bad thing? She's lonely. She spent money on getting a foster child, and she bought all these clothes for you, Maya. She even paid for a night at a hotel, just so she could get this toothbrush and toothpaste for you. She's put in a lot of effort. All for you. Show her some appreciation.
So I quietly slip out of bed and put on the slippers. I tiptoe down the hall. Mrs. Belleman is reading a book on the couch. I creep up behind her and watch her for a while. She's reading Anne and Green Gables, one of my favorites. I make my way to the front of the couch and sit next to her. She looks up, but then quickly looks back down.
"Thank you... for the clothes." I say. It's barely audible, little more than a whisper. But she looks into my eyes and I know that she sees I mean it. "And thanks for the toothbrush and toothpaste. And... thanks for... you know... adopting me."
Mrs. Belleman sniffs and holds out a hand. I grip it and nod. She smiles. "You know, Anne of Green Gables was always my favorite." she tells me.
I nod. "It's mine, too." We talk about books for another hour before she yawns and says she must be getting to bed. I yawn, too. "Good night." I say. She looks back at me and says "Good night."