HALO, Lorraine C [the giving tree read aloud txt] 📗

staring round the corner.

She wondered how he knew her by name, maybe he was psychic. As if answering her own stupid question she looked at the papers he had handed her. They all had ‘Ideas by Lynn’ inscribed at the top of each page. That still didn’t explain how he had known her surname though.

 

 

She lay on the bed listening to the birds twittering outside. She was dreading the first day at HALO Academy.

She didn’t know what to expect.

At all.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but there was this feeling in the air of a new chapter… a new beginning. But just what it brought... she didn't know. And she wasn’t too sure if she really wanted to find out what it was either.

 

When the Smyth’s had told her they were moving she had been a bit reluctant, she hadn’t wanted to move away from the area she had grown up in and the foster home too soon, but at the same time she couldn’t wait to get adopted. She’d wanted her friends to come with her too but that was impossible, since the Smyths had been persistent that she was the one they wanted. They had come into the home and asked directly for her not even waiting for a reference for the other children. It had been a bit strange but she wasn’t one to ask too many questions.

 

That had been a few years ago. She supposed she had to grow up considering she was now 18, but it was all she had known. The Smyths had got promoted in their work and had decided to share their good fortunes with someone else in their lives. So now she was part of the Doctor Smyth’s family. What more, they had somehow managed to get her into one of the most coveted academies in the country. Well it wasn’t that surprising considering they worked for HALO industries. Everyone knew that if you wanted to be a field agent or future employee of HALO that’s where you started, whether it was for a role as computer programmer, scientist or field agent.

 

When the Smyth’s had adopted her, she suddenly had actual parents to look up to, it wasn’t surprising really that she had decided that she wanted to be a well know research scientist like they were. Or at least that’s what she thought they did; they never really talked about what their job actually involved. All that she knew was that they were important, and for some reason they had decided to choose her.

 

Laying there she couldn’t quite comprehend how her life had suddenly changed in the last few months. Being a foster kid wasn’t easy at all, and she had all but given up any hope of getting adopted. Thinking back she had been quite lucky to be placed in Maple Wood Family Homes, as far as she knew it, was one of the few foster homes that didn't kick you out as soon as they got the chance. Dan and Maria, the husband and wife duo who owned the company, had understood the value of giving all kids a proper chance, not surprising since they had gone through the system as well. All of the homes they owned made sure that each child, whether they were adopted or not eventually, would identify Maple Wood as a home always. Rather than a bump in the road in their childhood. And it was great seeing all the kids who had once lived there sometimes come back and visit years later. Although she had given up hope of being adopted, she really didn't have a bad deal considering the various horror stories that she had heard from other kids in school who lived in different foster homes.

 

Her ‘parents’ at Maple wood had been Ben and Veronica. Ben was a quiet but loving guy, who had been a father to them, always there for them and teaching them things like riding a bike or fixing a car engine. Veronica, was the typical embodiment of a 50s housewife who had somehow managed to time travel to the 21st century. She always made all of the kids big homemade meals every night and made sure they all ate at the dinner table together. They had all been like a normal family.

 

She could remember the day it all changed. It had been her last day working at Model Co, a local business in the town that provided a VIP photo shoot experience day for people. She had been saving up for her first year in university. Although, she had managed to get herself a prestigious scholarship at Russell University, she knew she wouldn't have the kind of money and means that her peers were going to have. And although Ben and Veronica did all they could, there was only so much that they could do with twenty other kids to look after. All she had to do was get through the last year of high school and make them proud.

 

Anyway, she had just arrived from her last day at Model Co, and when she got in through the door the house was unusually quiet. That usually meant everyone was out and about doing their own thing, or more rarely, a potential family was here to see one of them.

 

‘Lynn is that you?’ Veronica’s motherly voice chirped,

‘Yes’ she said as she kicked off her shoes, like they were taught to do when they came in the house.

‘Come in here when you’re ready.’

Lynn took a deep breath, it couldn't be… she was too old …right? She slowly made her way to the visitor living room.  No one ever really went in there except when there was a family meeting or counselling session. Like the rest of the house it was very homey with its comfortable sofas and warm rugs, but somehow that never helped to ease the nerves of meeting a potential adopting family. She didn’t know what to expect.

 

‘Lynn, come in, this is Sarah and Michael’, Ben gestured at the young well groomed couple sat on the couch. They didn't look like they belonged here at all, rather, they would probably look more at home in a city apartment and boat parties. They were dressed normally but it was the air around them and the way they were put together. The woman, Sarah, stood up and shook her hand, her face seemed to be glowing with excitement and hope. Michael seemed more reserved but he was still friendly and shook her hand.

Lynn took the seat opposite the young couple.

‘So Lynn, Sarah and Michael want to adopt you.’ Ben just dropped it into the conversation as an opener as if it wasn’t anything. ‘We’ve let them know that there are lengthy procedures and that it takes time, but they are insistent that it’s you they want. Now of course you know how it works with the probation period and getting to know each other.’

Lynn nodded she was too shocked to form any sentences. Kids her age never got taken...ever, it was almost an unspoken rule. No one wanted a grown up, most families wanted a baby that they could nurture and mould into one of their own, not one with baggage and one whose formative years they had largely missed. They wouldn’t know what she was like and she wouldn't know what they were like. But as Ben would say, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, even if you’re not sure it’s a Trojan horse. Which to her didn't sound too wise, but she was sure Ben meant well.

 

‘Mike and I, have been thinking about this for a long time, and as soon as Veronica and Ben told us about you, I knew you were the one. Now I know you probably think we’ve bumped our heads, but we are sure about this.’ Mike didn't say anything but he held Sarah’s hand lovingly as she made her reassuring speech to her.

‘But I will be leaving for university next year...’ Lynn didn't dare finish the sentence, Veronica gave her a warning eye that said please don't sabotage yourself again.

‘We know, Veronica told us, and luckily for you Mike and I are Doctors, who specialize in scientific and academic research for various companies and the government. Which means we can be flexible with where we live and work. Now, I know the student experience is popular, all that living in dorms, But Mike and I are willing to move to nearer to Russell so we can be closer to you, if you don't mind. I know it’s three years away, but anything to give you a proper experience will be worth it, so what do you say.’

 

Lynn looked at Veronica questioningly, were they for real? Veronica nodded, as if she knew what she was saying. She supposed she did since she’d dealt with many of these situations over the years. She wasn’t normally so quiet and shy so instead she chose to nod, it was easier than opening her mouth and possibly ruining this surreal situation.

‘Well, as I explained to you both we do have to follow procedure so you and Lynn will have to get to know each other for the next few weeks, and ultimately it’s up to her. But I have faith in you guys.’ Ben added.

 

She didn't really remember how the rest of that meeting passed as it went so fast, she was left alone with the couple to talk, and over a few months she had learnt that Sarah and Michael were the real deal. But she still wasn't 100% on why they had chosen her. But this was one gift horse she wasn’t ever going to question, at least for now. Although she had been set on going to Russell, HALO was even better, considering it had a 100% chance of employment afterwards. Perhaps she might get the chance to repay Sarah and Michael for giving her some type of childhood in the end.

 

They had finally moved into this beautiful house, she looked across her new room as she drifted off to sleep. She was ready to start a new adventure.

 

Chapter Two

 

Chapter Two

 

Struggling to open her eyes, her hand shielded her from the relentless morning sun that struggled through the slitted blinds. A sense of dread was snaking its way into her morning hazy thoughts, she didn’t know what to expect as always she’d be the new girl. Everyone already had their own group of established friends whereas she didn’t. To make it worse she knew she wasn’t one of those quirky new girls who was awkwardly pretty and got on with pretty much everyone. In fact she was the opposite. Five foot nothing, normal features; black hair, weirdly black eyes and normal everything, no legs like bar stools or wavy flowy blonde model hair nothing at all. Just full on long bangs that were allergic to brushes. Another thing she found strange was the fact that she had been chosen by the Smyth’s. They were a normal white couple… and well she was a whole different shade of brown. She could just see the strange looks they’d get at the graduation, and the questions would follow next. Obviously then they’d know she was