Six years later
Sunny sat on the bench, quietly reading her book. The wind of a peaceful summer's day cooled her down, and she took a deep breath of relief as the sun showered her with its warm light. She felt at ease as she wandered in the world the text had conjured.
"Hey, Sunilda!" an older boy grabbed her book, dropping the cover and watching the pages flip downwards. "Are you reading fairy tales again?"
Sunny gasped, her hands clenched into fists, "Hey! Knock…"
She paused, lost in words. She wasn't used to standing up to people, regardless of their actions. She frowned as she watched the older boy throw the book onto the ground, laughing as he walked away. Sighing, Sunny picked up her book, it was the story her father would always read to her. A story of a wonderful deity whom she has never seen before. She closed her eyes, imagining a world where troubles disappear and there were people as naive as her. For now, nothing mattered as she daydreamed. It was all she did during her free time, to escape the harsh reality of everyday life. Yet she was fully aware that she was still there on earth, surrounded by struggles that are constantly thrown at her. She snapped out of her trance when she heard the familiar sound of wheels and constant honking coming her way. She turned her head and saw an automobile carrying a bundle of suitcases and bags. A dreamy smile fell on her face as she watched as an elderly man with a cane hopped off his stuff.
"Oh, my back!" he howled, his hands rubbing his back to soothe the pain as he fell on his rear.
"I'm getting older these days."
After a moment of hesitancy, Sunny closed her book and sprinted towards the elderly man, wrapping her arms around him and helping him back to his feet. She took his cane from the ground and she placed it back in his hand so that he could stand up on his own.
"Oh, my goodness, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling with anxiety as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, dear." he said, recognizing her voice to be that of a young, almost teenaged girl. His shades covered his pale, blind eyes.
"May I know your name? You seem very young to be out here in that blazing sun."
"I'm Sunilda Tournesol, but you can call me 'Sunny' if you like."
"What a beautiful name!" The elderly man chuckled, though his wheezing was easily heard.
"Mr. Boomer. Tell me, where are your parents"
"Don't worry, I have a guardian at the orphanage named Mrs. Starling.She's just in the kitchen fixing some lunch for a very important person who's arriving here. She says that it's a rich man who wants to adopt somebody."
"Ah, so you're an orphan. What a shame you must be here." Mr. Boomer cooed.
"It's okay, I'm not really an orphan!" Sunny said with a smile.
"Daddy left me here when I was five because he had urgent business to tend to. He said that when I'm twelve and he manages to get back on track, he'll come back!"
"I'm going to be twelve in only two days, Mr. Boomer! I'm so excited for my birthday!" She squealed in an animated manner.
The old man chuckled,
"I'm sure you'll be, but remember, Sunny, some things aren't always as they seem."
"Oh, alright." Sunny said, caught in her trance as she imagined her father walking inside the orphanage and raising his arms so that she could hug him.
"Oh, Daddy.." she muttered. "I can't wait to see you again.."
"Hey, girl!" Mr. Boomer snapped his fingers in her face, catching her attention.
"Are you listening? Perhaps it's best if you don't think about your father on your birthday."
"Why, sir?" she asked, confused. He sighed in response and shook his head slightly. He didn't respond, only looking into her eyes with a hard gaze.
"But my heart belongs to him.." she said, sitting down on her bench and flipping through the pages. He sighed, looking at the book in her hands.
"What are you reading?"
"It's a book about this deity known as The Creator. The one who created all of us. Daddy wrote a book about it, and he told me to read it everyday and never tell anyone about it. But since you're here, I can't exactly not tell you!."
"Your daddy sounds like a crazy man, to be honest." Mr Boomer laughed, wheezing even more.
Sunny grumbled and rolled her eyes, "Sir, would you like me to take you to Mrs Starling or not?"
"Yes, yes! Take me to your caretaker, dear! And don't forget to help me with my bags!"
Sunny noticed the multiple bags on his car roof, tied together like a bundle, but she didn't mind how many she must take. She walked over to the side, and she climbed onto its edge, taking some of the bags and traveling with Mr. Boomer to the orphanage, which was thankfully not too far away.
"I'm so glad you came along, my dear." Mr. Boomer said as they walked along the dirt road.
"I was rather worried about all of the traffic! Especially with the drivers nowadays."
"How come you don't have an assistant for all this stuff?"
"Oh, I'm a very stubborn man. I can handle things by myself.I don't give a hoot how old I am!"
"But that's not very safe!" Sunny worried.
"Anything could happen to you! You really do need an assistant!"
"Will you stop worrying so much?"
"I worry because I…" Sunny hesitated, but she continued. "I care about you, sir. Just like how I care about Mrs. Starling and the little ones."
Mr Boomer nodded his head as they slowly approached the door, "You really are a nice girl."
Sunny knocked on the door, calling out.
"Mrs. Starling! There's a visitor!"
"I'll get it!" a voice so young called in the distance.
A little boy opened the door, his innocent face easily melting Sunny's heart.
"Hello, Charlie!" she said, kneeling down to his eye-level. "Where's Mrs. Starling?"
"Oh, she's in the closet, she's getting prepared because the special man is coming today." Charlie said, his voice quiet
"Is that him?"
"Why, yes, my dear boy. I am the special man you guys are all exuberant about." Mr. Boomer chuckled.
Sunny lightly gasped, and she immediately stood by the side. Suddenly, the man's friendliness began to make sense.
"Please, come in, sir." she sweated, a goofy smile presented. "We were hoping that you'd come."
Mr Boomer chuckled again.
"Don't worry, my child! Your first impression was excellent! I can already tell that you're a lovely girl perfect for any family!"
"But sir, I'm afraid I can't be adopted, my father promised that he'd come for me on my birthday!"
Mr. Boomer shook his head and sighed as he walked inside, Sunny and Charlie following him.
"You never know what will happen next." he said, playfully spinning his cane.
"Sir, stop!You might bump into something!" Sunny panicked, staying by Mr Boomer's side in case he fell over on his back again.
At that very moment, Mrs. Starling came out dressed in a proper short-sleeved shirtwaist which was as white as snow and a short skirt that was just slightly frilly. She had a smile on her face upon noticing Mr Boomer.
"Hello, Mr Boomer. As you may know, I am Mrs. Starling." she spoke. "Would you like a seat?"
Mr Boomer giggled and took a seat on the rocking chair while Mrs Starling, Sunny and Charlie together sat on the couch.
"Your girl, Sunilda, she's a sweetheart." he complimented, and it caused Sunny's cheeks to turn pink.
Mrs Starling giggled at the sight, and she nodded her head, "I thank you kindly, sir. We are honored to have you with us."
Charlie nudged Sunny's shoulder to get her attention, "Sis, who's that? Why is he so special?"
"He's a wealthy and noble man who came from a faraway place." Sunny whispered. "So he's here to adopt somebody."
Charlie gasped and said out loud, "Will I ever be adopted?"
The two adults glanced at him. However, Mr. Boomer chuckled while Mrs Starling sternly shook her head. Sunny sighed, took Charlie's hand, and together they walked outside, sitting on a bench.
"I'm sorry, Sunny." Charlie frowned, pouting slightly.
Sunny smiled and gave his head a pat, "Don't worry about it, I know how excited you are because someone is finally coming over to adopt one of us."
"Why won't anybody adopt me?" he asked, his lips quivering as his eyes glossed. "Why did Mama leave me?" His voice came out in a whisper.
Sunny wrapped an arm around Charlie's trembling shoulders,
"Hey, don't cry, Chuckles." she attempted to console him while fighting back tears of remembrance.
"I know it hurts to be abandoned, but don't worry! There are people like Mrs. Starling and I who always love you, even if you have to go."
However, whatever she said enhanced Charlie's tears, and he wrapped his arms around Sunny, his face on her shoulder.
"But I don't want to leave you!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled yet tearful. "I want you to come with me!"
"I can't, Chuckles. I have to wait for my father to come get me."
"But what… what if he doesn't come?" Charlie asked.A pang of anguish struck her heart.
"He will come, I'm sure of it. Even if people tell me that it's best to just forget and live on, I would rather stay here. This is home, and my heart belongs to my daddy."