Chapter 1002
Camilla swallowed her bitterness and forced a smile. "I'll take you back. And I also need to bring some gifts for the other kids too. Just think of these as welcome presents!"
The orphanage often got loads of gifts from all sorts of folks. Cherry nodded eagerly. "Thanks a bunch!"
Camilla drove her back to the orphanage, a small place with two old buildings painted yellow and blue.
Kids were playing all over the yard.
"Imogen, I'm back!"
Cherry jumped out of the car and ran straight into the arms of a woman in her forties.
"Cherry, you little rascal! Where did you run off to? We were all worried sick!" Imogen Hayes scolded, looking stern. "Do that again, and you're in big trouble!"
Cherry stuck out her tongue and glanced at a little girl, about five or six, standing behind Imogen. "Debra, I got you some cotton candy."
She grabbed a pink cotton candy from Camilla and handed it over.
That's when Imogen noticed Camilla. She hurried over. "Thank you so much for bringing Cherry back. She's usually so good; I don't know why she ran off today."
Camilla looked at Cherry with a soft smile. "She walked halfway across Brussville with just a dollar to buy cotton candy for Debra."
Before she could finish, Debra swatted the cotton candy out of Cherry's hand. It landed on the ground, now covered in dust and grass.
"Who told you to come back so soon!" Debra's face twisted with anger, her innocent eyes flashing with resentment.
Before Imogen could react, Camilla rushed over. She hugged the almost-crying Cherry and glared at Debra. "Debra, Cherry went out of her way to get you that cotton candy. Why'd you do that?"
Debra snorted and ran off.
"Debra!" Imogen sighed. "Debra and Cherry used to be so close. I don't know what's gotten into her."
Tears welled up in Cherry's eyes. "Debra said I took away your affection, so she doesn't like me. I wanted to make her happy, so I went to get her cotton candy. Why does she still hate me?"
Cherry started to cry.
Camilla's heart ached. She took a deep breath and said softly, "Cherry, you can't make everyone like you. If Debra doesn't like you, there are plenty of other kids who do. That's what matters."
Imogen suddenly realized what was going on. "I get it now. A couple wants to adopt a girl. Debra must've known and tricked Cherry into leaving."
A chill ran down Camilla's spine. Debra, just a little kid, had such a cunning plan.
Was it just her nature, or had she learned to be this way in the tough environment of the orphanage?
If Cherry ever turned out like that, it would be like smashing a beautiful piece of porcelain into a million pieces.
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