Chapter+One

//The Perfect Stranger//
 * //~__5 years later__~//**

"I understand that you need help finding your parents, but you have to have a parent or in this case, a legal gaurdian to be with you to fill out all this paper work," said the lady at the front desk. "I mean, we could put up posters on every block. But we won't be able to get DNA tests, and things like that. I'm sorry."

It's been five years and I still haven't found my parents after the tornado. "But I'm 17. Isn't that close enough to an adult." I tried to make the cutest puppy face that I could ever imagine. I guess it didn't work. "I'm sorry, but the law states that you must be 18 or older to be considered as an adult. I guess that there is only two options. Either you get ammancipated or you wait another year or so. Or well you could just bring me a legal gaurdian to sign all this paperwork. I'm sorry, other than that, I won't be able to help you." I was getting mad. But then I also wanted to break down into tears. "Bu-" I started to say. But the lady interrupted me.

"I'm sorry, as I said I will not be able to help you." She got up from behind the front desk and literally began to push me out the door.

I began to walk down the sidewalk, tears running down my cheeks. But as I turned the corner, I ran into somebody. "Hey, you look a little familiar," said the old lady. I quickly wiped my tears so she won't ask me any questions. "Are you related to-" she began to speak but didn't seem finish her sentence. She looked a little lonely, like me. She had on a wrinkled, magenta skirt and a green camp shirt with a flower pattern sweater wrapped around her neck. "Oh, never mind. I'm a little crazy you know," she said. Quickly replacing the sentence she had begun earlier, with that one. She gave a small chuckle.

"You look a little troubled, you know. Like your heart has been shattered long ago and you are looking for all the missing pieces," she was beginning to freak me out a little bit.

"Excuse me but are you some sort of physic or something?" I knew that, that couldn't be possible, but I just needed to know.

"Oh, no dear. It's just that you looked like you were in a rush to nowhere and tears were running down your cheeks."

"Oh...sorry."

"Can I get you a coffee or something. I just finished running my errands and I just so happened to have no more plans for the day." she gave another small chuckle to herself. I felt a little bad every time she did that. I always kept forgetting to laugh along.

"Well," I looked around, trying to figure out an excuse not to go. But when my eyes met up with hers, it felt like she had gone through the same thing I was going through right now. "Sure."

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======================================================================================== "So what's your story?" asked the old lady.

I began to shuffle my hands and my feet. "Well, back in 1992, a big tornado hit Arkansas."

"Ooh, yes. I remember. I lost my puppy in that one." I took a sip of my coffee and waited a couple seconds to see if she was going to say anything else. My throat was starting to burn. I didn't realize how hot the coffee was.

But she didn't. I wish she had though, I felt a little uncomfortable talking about the tornado. I continued anyways.

"Well, the tornado hit and when it left, I couldn't find my parents." I felt a huge sigh of relief when I said it. I knew it was a little too short, though. But it was gonna have to do.

"Oh, that is horrible. Have you ever tried looking for them?" She asked such obvious questions.

"Yes," I said. Tons of times. I even tried to go to police station today to see if they could help me. But they told me that I needed a legal gaurdian."

"Do you have one?" I started to get scared, not knowing where this would go.

"Well... no." It felt like something bad was gonna happen.

"You don't? Well, I might be able to help you, you know. I mean, I am like 74 years old," and yet again, she gave herself another chuckle.

"You can? Oh, Oh, thank you. C-can we go tomorrow, they said that you'll have to sign some paperwork and stuff. I'm not really sure why though. Probably to give them information about my parents. But don't worry, if they ask you anything about them, I try to answer them for you." I felt so much better after letting it all out. Tears of joy started to trickle down my cheeks.

"Welll then. I guess it's a done deal then," said the old lady. She reached her hand out for me to shake it.

"By the way, I didn;t quite get your name," I asked her, shaking her hand.

"Oh, sorry child. My name is Sue Marshall. And yours?" she had already pulled her arm beack and set it on table.

"Oh, mine is Jamie Rice. I know, it's a wierd name bu-" I began to say.

"Oh no, it's quite lovely actually."

"Thank you."

We both got up and left The Cofffee Place. A little bell rang as I opened the door for Sue. It kind of reminded me of hope.