"Hey, kids!" Plegmenkof yelled out to them. All the kids looked at her, except Anya. She was still mad at her for taking her locket away from her. But Anya was going to get it back, and she knew how to do so too. The old lady continued "Tomorrow, we're having someone new sent here. His name is Brian. He is 17 years old. And you better be nice to him, his family is really wealthy!"

Then everyone heard this whiny voice pipe up "Ms. Phlegmenkof," It was that no good sneak Nellie. She kissed up to everyone if she wanted something. Anya and Nellie never got along. Anya sort of had a feeling that Nellie to Comrade Phlegmenkof where Anya hid her locket.

Comrade Phlegmenkof smiled "Yes Nellie. What can I do for you?" Nellie was sort of like a teachers pet if there ever was one.

"Well, I don't want to be a tattle tale. But, Anya is ignoring you. I know you don't like tattle tales, but I thought since everyone had to follow your rules, maybe Anya should too." Nellie explained. That's when Anya looked up.

"Anya! I'm very disappointed in you. You should be more like Nellie. She is sweet and kind. She is very nice and pretty. If you obeyed me more often, maybe you wouldn't be like you are now. You would be more like Nellie and I." Comrade Plegmenkof said, thinking that Anya would apologize. Anya got up and walked over to her.

"So, you want me to be a two face, no good, stuck up, mean, obnoxious, person? Or do you want me to be like Nellie?" Anya said somewhat saucily. All the kids looked at Anya like she was their heroine. Plegmenkof's face turned bright red. She was so mad she couldn't even talk. Finally she managed to say something.

"You are very lucky. You should be grateful and very thankful! I feed you, I cloth you, and I put a roof over your head. If you ever speak to me like that again, you won't be living here. And I'll make sure of it." The old, mean, and cruel lady headed off to her office.

Anya's best friend rad over to her. "Anya, why did you do that? If you get caught again then you won't be here anymore." Carrie asked.

"I can't let her push me around like that. And really I don't care if I get thrown out of here. At least I'll get my locket back." Anya said, being proud of what she did.

"Hello, Anya," Nellie said walking up to her. "That was real mean. You should apologize for what you said to Ms. Plegmenkof."

"Look Nellie, I'm not apologizing for something that is true. And you know it. You just want to get good with her. Then you will stab her in the back. At least I'm being honest and not a kiss up." Anya declared. Carrie stayed quiet, she didn't want to get on Nellie's bad list. Anya didn't care what Nellie thought, she didn't care what anyone thought. She just wanted to find her family and leave.

"Well, Anya, your right. I don't like that old lady anyway. But even if you told on me shewouldn't believe you. I'm perfect and your not." Then that no good Nellie walked away.

Anya ran up to her and asked "All right Nellie, in what ways are you perfect?"

"Well, I have beautiful blonde hair, while you have auburn. I'm tall and skinny and you short and not skinny. And I don't ever play baseball with those smelly boys."

"I have beautiful hair! It is much better than yours. Mine' has curls while yours is straight. I may not be tall, but I'm a lot stronger than you and smarter. As for being skinny, I don't mind not being skinny. And at least boys like me. So there." Anya said smarting off to that mean old Nellie. what does Nellie know anyway? Nellie's mouth dropped open and she ran way acting like she was crying.

"Anya, your crazy. No one in their right mind would say that to Nellie." Carrie said trying to warn Anya. Carrie continued "Anyway, lets forget about Nellie. What do you think that Brian will look like?" Anya rolled her eyes. Carrie was boy crazy, boys were her only thought. Anya on the other hand thought more about getting out of this place than anything.

"Oh, Carrie. Is boys all you think about?" Anya asked her boy crazy friend.

"Yes. So what do you think Brian will look like?" Carrie asked. Carrie was really serious.

"A dog probably. All boys do." Anya declared. Anya didn't like boys, well she did, but only for friends. Never for dating of any of that sort.
 
 

The next day was really busy getting ready for the new kid named Brian. Anya, Carrie, and Nellie scrubbed all the floors. Actually Nellie supervised and Anya and Carrie did all the hard work. Plegmenkof was doing all the paper work, or that is what she made all the kids think. All three girls were silent.

Then Nellie said something "I have a feeling that Brian is going to like me, because of my looks."

"I guess bad looks does a lot for you, Nellie. Even guys take pity on you." Anya said making Nellie really angry.

"Well, you would know. You look like a dog, Anya. As for your friend Carrie, she is perfect just like me. Carrie, how would you like to be my friend? Ms. Phlegmenkof will really like you." Nellie said trying to take Anya's friend away from her.

"No, Nellie. That is a really nice offer, but Anya is my very best friend, and I can't bail out on her. But thank you anyway." Carrie answered politely. Anya smiled. Carrie was her best friend. Now Anya knew for sure.

"Snooze you lose." Nellie said with a snobby tone in her voice.

Just then a boy came threw the door. Comrade Plegmenkof ran up to him and said "Are you Brian?"

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" Brian asked politely.

"Well, I'm Comrade Phlegmenkof. Welcome to my orphanage." Comrade Phlegmenkof said nicely, for a change.

Anya's mouth dropped. He was so, so, so........

© 1999 AnyaMuse@aol.com
© 1999 AnyaCI@aol.com