Searching for Family chapter 1

I was hiking through the forest to go out camping and I brought my bag full of camping supplies and my bow that grandpa gave to me. Archery was a hobby of mine that I have been doing for 2 years now and I always go to my usual spot to practice. I practice near the cabin that I live in where I make a makeshift target by drawing a target symbol on a piece of paper and stick it on a dead tree, I could also use empty soda cans to practice my accuracy.

My name is James Kennedy. I am 14 years old and I'm 5'5 feet, have white skin, brown eyes, brown strait hair, where blue jean, where a green t-shirt, and have black and white shoes. I live in the state of Maine in America. I was orphan my whole life and lived in an orphanage for my first 12 years of life. I left because I was always bullied by the other kids at the orphanage and the adults in charge did not help me with my bully problem because they never believed me unless they saw what happened, which never happened. I get into fights with them from time to time and when go and get the caretakers to stop it, they never believed me when I say that they started the fight, and the bullies always say that it was me that started the fight and I ended up in trouble, so I stopped coming to them for help. The orphanage caretakers did not care much about what the kids do and so I often must solve my problems by myself. I don't have any friends at the orphanage and I never went to school before. Me and the other orphans were taught English and simple math at least by the caretakers, but if we want to learn anything else, we would have to learn it ourselves.

Since I didn't have to go to school, and I don't have any friends to play with, so I had a lot of free time on my hands. And so, I read every book the orphanage has in my spare time when I'm not doing any chores around the orphanage that the caretakers made us do. I grew to love reading because it keeps me occupied and I don't make me feel so alone when I read. My favorite book was about the animals that live in Africa. It was the only book they have about animals in the orphanage for some reason, but I didn't complain. I loved to read that book all the time because it shows me pictures of animals that I have never seen before and it is always interesting to learn about, my favorite animals were the ones that come in packs, like the lions, hyenas, and jackals because it was always heart warming to see the baby animals with their mothers. I would look at those pictures all the time.

When parents wanting to adopt come by, I was filled with hope that they will pick me, and then I will have a family. But no one ever picked me. The other kids would make fun of me by saying that no one will ever pick me, and I broke my heart whenever I hear about it. It got to the point that by the age of 12 I planned on leave and find my own life out in the world, since I don't have any hope of finding it at the orphanage.

I went to the small town that was nearby and started looking for work. The people in the town were nice to me and even though I can't find a job because I was too young, they did let me do some small tasks for small pay. while not a whole lot it was better than nothing. I didn't have enough money to stay at a motel so I would have to sleep outside wherever I could find, like in alleys or under bridges. There would be some days where I don't eat because I didn't have enough money to buy food every day, although there are some people that are generous enough to give me some food.

After two months since coming to this town I saw this old man that was having trouble with his bags. He was the same Hight as and he had, gray white hair, some wrinkles on his face, blue eyes, wearing a brown shirt, black pants, and brown shoes.

I went over and asked him "Do you need help carrying those?" and he looked at me and said, "That would be most appreciated young man, thank you."

He gave me his bags and showed me the way to his house. His house was farther than I could have guessed as it we went into the forest and followed a trail, the trail lead to a two-story log cabin that was in the middle of the forest. We went towards the cabin and went through the door. What I saw inside was a fireplace with logs on the side, a kitchen that had a pantry, a small fridge, a sink, a stove, and drawers and cabinets to store plates and silver ware. I also saw a reading area with a shelf full of books and a comfy looking chair. I also saw a wood working bench in the back of the cabin next to the stairs, it looked to have some saw dust in on the desk and ground.

The old man said to put his bags on the kitchen table, and he sat down and said, "Thank you for helping me young man it's getting harder for me to travel to the town and back. What's your name?" he asked me.

I said, "James Kennedy" he laughed and said, "Kennedy like the president", I rubbed the back of my head and said "yes."

He stopped and looked with a smile on his face and asked, "Why would you go and help me get my bags all the way to my house, I'm grateful that you did but, didn't your parents teach you not to go into a strangers house?"

I answered his, "I don't have parents and I don't want to see you drop your bags."

He looked at me and asked another question, "you're an orphan?" and I said, "yes."

I than explained to him my time at the orphanage, the reason why I left, and what I have been doing in town. He looked me in the eyes and smiled again and said, "I have an offer for you. You can sleep in my home for as long as you want and in return you would help me get whatever I need in town." I was the happiest with the offer and said yes.

As the months pass, I continued to help his out around the cabin and the old man, who's name is Abraham Nicholson, but I call him Mr. Nicholson. He taught me many things as I lived with him. He even taught me how to shoot an arrow when I was interested in the bow when I was looking in one of his books which he allowed me to read. He went and got a bow that was hanging on the wall and said that he would teach me. We went outside so he could teach me, he showed me the proper way the draw the bow, and what my stance should be. Mr. Nicholson would sit back and watch how I do. After a few days of what starting Mr. Nicholson would compliment me by saying how fast of a learner I was. He even showed me how to carve my own arrows in case I broke mine. Mr. Nicholson was also very wise because one day, while I was talking with him about my time at the orphanage and how angry how angry I was at the other kids, the words he said after I told him I would carry for the rest of my life.

"I understand why you would be angry for I would be in your place, but I believe you should let go and forgive them." He said liked he experienced similar hate I felt before. I looked at him angry, "Why should I forgive them for all they done?!" I shouted and he said, "It is important to forgive because if you don't than you would always be angry and bitter. And while I know that what the other kids did to you was terrible, they were in the same position you were and were only upset about not having a family. They were sad about having no parents like you."

I never thought of it like that before, and Mr. Nicholson continued what he had to say, "The world is not as black and white as you would think and people are grey, even if you think that someone if bad on the surface, they can be good deep down." I didn't know what to say as I never thought of it like that. I looked him in the eyes and said that I understood and that I would keep that in mind for the future.

On the day of my birthday, Mr. Nicholson got me a cake and gave me a present. When I unwrapped it, it was my very own bow, it was made of wood and was smoothed when I rubbed my had over it. I asked him if I could try it out, he said yes, I went outside and when I tried it, it felt perfect for me. That was happiest day that I have ever felt. Two weeks later was the saddest day of my life. After I came home after from town, I called out that I was back and what I saw shocked me. I saw Mr. Nicholson on his chair not moving. I went to him and checked his breathing and heart beat but found none. It was there that I broke down and cried and then after a few minutes I got up and saw a not that I did not see. I picked it up and read it, it said:

Dear James,

If you are reading this than I'm sad to say that I have already passed away. I wanted to say thank you for being with me in my final days. I have felt my time would come soon for a while now, but I didn't want to tell you because it would make our time together sad and please forgive me for not telling you. I wanted to tell you that after I have died to not be sad for It because it is a natural part of life. I want you to remember the good times we had and what I have taught you. And I want you to know that as I grew to know you, you felt like you were part of my family as my grandson. And after my passing I want you to find your own family. A family is not someone that is related by blood but by surround yourself with people who love and care about you. So, James don't lose hope for a family.

Love your Grandfather

The last part that he wrote shocked me. He said that he's my grandfather. I didn't understand what he meant, but reread what he said about family and looking back at all the times we've spent together I came to realize that he was like a grandfather to me, because after all he taught he like what I think family would do and he made me the happiest that I have ever been. I cried again realizing that I have not only lost a friend but someone part of my family.

The next day was when he was buried and everyone who knew him came to pay their respects. After the funeral, I learned that in his will he gave me his cabin, where I still lived. I promised him that I would one day find my own family.

Months later I still have not found a family, but I still hoped, and I still went into town to gather supplies and I still do odd jobs here and there for money. I practice with the bow I got from my grandfather. After he died, I started call him that when I remember him. I was planning on going out camping since I have never ventured out of the wood very are. I packed my bag with bottles of water, food like; packets of beef jerky, trail mix, and canned food, a lantern(I don't have a flashlight), matches for the lantern or to start a fire with, a compass, a blanket and pillow (I don't have a tent), a first aid kit with bandages and other things, a small pan for cooking, bowl with fork and a knife to eat with, and a knife just in case I need it.

I started walking through the forest and as I was admiring the beauty of nature, I stopped and saw something glowing on the ground. I went over to look at it and what I saw was what looked to be a crystal, but it was blue like a sapphire. As soon as I picked it up it started glowing and i started feeling dizzy fell unconscious.