Excitement (Open)

Tabitha looked around the courtyard and up at the school, not used to being in such a big place-let alone by herself. She was used to being swarmed by kids from the orphanage she was raised in. "Wow, dis is so nice!" Tabitha exclaimed with her Cajun accent, clapping her hands together. "I can't believe dis place is so huge! It could house all my kids back at de orphanage times ten!"

Maleia came to the courtyard for nothing when she saw Tabitha"Hey,what's your name?"she called as she entered the courtyard.

Tabitha turned and smiled brightly. "My name's Tabitha. And yours?"

Maleia sat down at a tree"Maleia.I hope you don't mind,but why do you talk like that?"

Tabitha smiled and sat next to her. "I don't mind at all, dear! I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana-a Cajun at heart! You should go sometime. Mardi Gras is a blast!"

Maleia shook her head"I can't travel."

"Aww, why not?" Tabitha asked.

Maleia shot her a scared look"Do you really want to know?"

Tabitha wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Darlin', I'm like a mother. You can tell me anythin' and I'll keep it to myself. Heck, de kids at de orphanage I was raised in called me 'Mother'!"

Maleia pushed off her arm"Well,not much my parents died when I was four."she said looking at the clouds.

Tabitha smiled lightly. "At least you knew dem. I was raised at de orphanage...but...if you ever need a mother-figure, I'm here for ya, okay?"

Maleia stared at her for a moment"Well,that's sad,but at least you had a place to stay before you wer here."

Tabitha laughed softly. "I got to cook and clean for everyone, though, when I was...oh...ten or so. I never really got to be a kid. It was tougher dan most people imagine."

Maleia looked back at the sky"Does anyone ever have time to be a kid?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "But there always has to be the adult to make sure the kid gets to become an adult, and from their, raise their own kids."

Maleia just sighed"ya know what?We kinda have the same past."