He opened his eyes, already feeling very hungry. He knew his…room kersbrek..carefgans..caretaker! His caretaker would not have left food for him on the big table if he didn’t hurry down now!

  He cried a little, having to leave his warm bed, but he told himself to be he-ro-ic and hurry for breakfast. His blankie was very twisty and heavy at the edges, so he had to struggle and wriggle a lot before he finally freed his little legs from the mean fabric, finally able to set his feet on the floor.

  The ground was all fuzzy and dust covered, like always, and he cooed with happiness as he drew patterns in the greyish layer with his toes. Then that big gong rang out “BANG!” and he jumped up startled, getting back to readying himself. That scary sound meant he had only a few minutes before the doors closed! He had to make himself neat first, though.

  His friend (who he couldn’t remember much since he had come here, but who was definitely still his friend!) had told him that a real hero was always clean and tidy, and the big head of this place never forgot to tell everyone that they needed to be super shiny every day to prepare for ‘Eenspeckshun’ day, which was always a scary time.

  He kept all that advice with him and ran over to the wet room next door, tapping the glowing-and pretty looking!-symbol on the wall after entering an empty stall, and let the tingly and pepper tasting wave of air wash over him. He was clean!

  He then scampered down the stairs, almost tripping on the wrinkled carpet, and managed to make it into the hungry room in time! If he missed the last moment to get in, he’d have to go on without food until many hours later, and being hungry always made him cry even though he tried to be brave.

  Inside, all the others had gathered up at their own tables, some scaly and others furry, and some pinkish and soft just like him. He could name all of them, since he was usually given the dig-ni-ty of helping one of the grown ups with work! There was Ellie from the third floor, Nedfit from the seventh, Khusor from the same floor! And so many more…

  “Floor-two unit-seven resident one, what are you doing?” A big adult voice came from behind him, and he realized it was for him! Oh, his ‘desiignayshun’…. He turned around slowly, his eyes set on his tiny boots as he answered with a clear and shy voice, “I-I was coming down for food, mister. My tummy hurts..”

  The adult voice rang out again, cool, “You should always look at the person you are speaking to, it’s only polite. Tell me again, but with manners this time. And stand straight, I don’t want one of our charges to develop a hunch.”

  His face reddened, and felt very hot as awkwardly and painfully tried to stretch up his very achy back, looking up into those faraway eyes. No, he couldn’t cry now, good children were obedient and quiet..

  After some effort, he managed to hold a (hopefully) straight position, “Sorry, mister. I am hungry, and I wanna eat now…can I?”

  The adult finally nodded, “Very well, better. You are late by 10 minutes, but since all the occupants of floor five have been sent out, there are still likely to be one or two trays left. Eat fast and come to the message hall. Do not be late.”

  He flinched a little and went off meekly, wondering what was going to happen today. By the way the mister was speaking, he knew he would be punished if he wasn’t…swift, yes. Punishment time was always unhappy, so he took his tray of food and found an empty seat in the increasingly empty room, eating as fast as possible.

  He usually ate alone, except whenever one of the other kids like him was here. They all also got called very mean names because of their bodies, but he thought they were the luckiest of all, always being sent out from here almost as soon as they arrived! He hoped he’d be sent out too one day, but that hadn’t happened yet…

  He finished eating (food was usually some grey hard stuff and very chewy greens with a glass of water-like blue stuff) and wiped off all the stray food that got on his clothes, then hurried over to the message hall. He didn’t come here much, and ‘trepspasiing’ was a big no so he rarely had the chance to sit in the super comfy chairs here. They were so nice! Didn’t even hurt his back like those mean wood chairs did.

  Everyone else was already starting to sit, so he tried-and sometimes succeeded-in pushing past the others for a mid row seat. If he sat in the back he wouldn’t be able to see a thing, and being in the front being easily seen by the adults, which made him anxious.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The raised stage at the end was lit up, and everyone quieted down as the doors closed and the big misters and misses lined up by the walls. He didn’t envy the ones left outside, they’d probably be given letter writing duties as penance.

  The head finally walked in; He felt deep envy as always for them, their ability to fly like a real Star, all that breeze and being able to go anywhere he wanted to go without being stopped…and the head didn’t have any feathers either! They just hovered with those big flamey jets which were also dark, coming from the shoulders.

  “I ask for silence from you, dear children.”

  Their voice was very nice and soft like always. The head didn’t usually punish anyone either, they were all smiley-even if they had a big stone slab in place of a head-and warm to him (and everyone else, but mostly warm to him!) and they even gave him soft toys to play with sometimes! He liked them a lot, lots and lots!

  The head continued, “I hope you all are well. It warms my hearts to know you all are flourishing, and being adopted. Just a few days ago two very dear and lovely children were given to loving families. I hope the same occurs for all of you, soon.” Knowing someone cared for him made him very happy, but he managed to not giggle happily, rules were rules after all! They continued, “I have some important notices for you all. Firstly, we will have two very special additions coming to join our little family here, in just a few hours. I trust my well behaved children here will treat them well. Secondly, it is my pleasure to announce that our sponsor day is coming up again! Many patrons are coming, and thus I hope you all find many sponsors. That is all for now, I will allow you to play again, heavens know you all must be tired of listening to me talk on .”

  He joined in the soft laughs of everyone else, then made ready to leave, when he was motioned to by the head. They wanted to talk to him? Nice! He scurried over to the front, where the head was floating. “Yes, Head? You wanted to see me?”

  They made a sound like two rocks scraping, which didn’t scare him, for he knew it to be laughter, “Little one, I’ve told you before, it’s ‘Headmaster.’ I see you’re doing well, I am happy to know that. Are you feeling better? When the surgery occurred, I was-“

  “I’m okay! Really, Head…master. I’m even standing straighter now, please don’t blame yourself!” He always felt bad for making them sad, as was common when they saw him. He didn’t know all the important stuff, but it was something to do with why he had trouble balancing, and his spine was all twisty.

  “You’ve always been such a patient child. It’s a shame your body is…but I digress, I called you here to tell you that the two children coming here are both going to live in your unit. You wanted more friends yes? Don’t worry, they wont bully you. I hope you all get along..”

  He was surprised! He’d be getting friends? People would finally stay with him? That was so nice! The head really was great, giving him Aquaint..Ackuint…acquaintances! “R-really? I’m so happy! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!” He felt such incredible joy, he couldn’t help babbling excitedly.

  The head seemed pleased by his enthusiasm, large stony hand gently patting him, “Yes, indeed. Run along now, they’ll have finished cleaning your unit up by now. You need to be at your best to greet them, don’t you?”

  That was all the motivation he needed to speed back out of the room, up the stairs and into his room. He had to stop and gasp when he saw the changes to it though. Everything looked so shiny and new! He was sad that the soft fuzz wasn’t there all on the floor anymore, but at least there was a plush and colourful carpet here now!

  The bed he slept in wasn’t in the corner anymore, replaced by one In the center of the room, and this one was larger and looked softer! It had two other beds on its left and right. How did he know they weren’t his beds? Because his had his soft blankie on top of it! He didn’t know what he’d do if they’d replaced it…he really liked its softness.

  As he was busy looking around this new looking old unit of his, he heard steps come up to the door behind him. It must’ve been the new people! He wanted to look ‘prezehntayble’ for them, so he hurriedly straightened himself out, trying to ignore the pan by using his new big bed’s post as a helper. He really, really hoped that his new friends would be nice!

  The door opened, and a big miss stepped in, a rubbery one this time, looking around. She saw him, “Ah, occupant one? Very good, you’re already here.” She turned back and spoke to someone he couldn’t see, “Alducine, Kestrauj, come in. You’ll both stay in this unit.”

  He saw them, then. One was a super shiny feathered boy, with soft fluffy feathers trailing across his arms and neck, and having two big wet looking wings on his back, with his feet being all sharp and claw-like. The other was a girl! She looked like a human too, but he felt something…large around her for a moment when he looked. He attempted a winning smile.

  “H-Hello! I..it’s nice to meet you both!” Aw, no. He sounded all nervous, they’d definitely laugh…

  “Whee! Hihi! I’m Kestrauj! Wow, you look funny, pal!” The winged boy chirped cheerily and fluttered over to him, hands poking and prodding him, as he was looked over.

  “Ow! Please don’t push me from behind, it hurts!”

  “Aw, really? I’m sad you don’t have flappers like me, they’re so warm! You’re nice and cool though!”

  At least the boy seemed friendly, while the girl…Duciane? Caldiun? She had a look that he recognized as being all smug and big-minded, as she looked around, “This…doesn’t seem entirely unideal, I guess. You, over there, what’s your name?”

  It took him a moment to realize she was referring to him, and the feathered boy also stopped his fluttering about, looking curious, “Yeah! I also wanna know, is it a cool name? I bet it is, isn’t it? Tell me!”

  He found himself at a loss, partly out of shyness, and somewhat because he didn’t know what to say. His name…should he use the one people called him here, or try to remember the one swirling away in his head? He took too long to think maybe, and the girl walked over to him in the meantime.

  “Oh, you must be suddenly mute now? I guess that’s an acceptable reason not to answer me. I’m magnanimous, so I’ll heal you, even that twist in your spine. You’d better be thankful!” She put her hand to his chest, her voice a bit mean, and suddenly there was a great kind of itchy and cold feeling going through his whole body.

  Kestrauj trilled excitedly from his side, “Oh, she did that to me too! It feels nice doesn’t it? Made my achy wing feel all nice and whole again!”

  It felt fine, he didn’t like feeling scratchy, but the pain in his back from standing straight so long went away! That was nice. The girl didn’t seem happy though, her lips turned out, “This…you aren’t okay yet? I already put so much in you, I refuse to accept this!”

  “Oh! Are you special-superspecial?! She looks mad, you did that just standing here! Heh, I knew I’d like you pal. I hope you feel better!”

  He shook his head and coughed, deciding to go along with it, since his new friends were still waiting, “Thank you, Ald..uh, can I call you Allie? It’s hard to say your name..”

  She sniffed, looking a bit upset still, “Since you dare to not be healed by me, I guess I have no choice but to stay around you! Fine, call me that..”

  Kestrauj scratched the floor with his sharp feet and asked, shyly, “Uhm…if she has one small, can I have one too? I’ll be…Kest! Yeah, I like that!”

  He laughed softly, nodding, “You can be Kest!”

  He then remembered he hadn’t told them who he was yet, “Allie…Kest…It’s nice to meet you two! You can both call me..”

  Oh right, he forgot! Which name?! He…looking at those two pairs of eyes, one happy and the other sulky, he decided to go with the one used by everyone here.

  “…please call me Faiz.”