Really Close

     One day, Alice decided to go on a journey to find her long-lost brother.
     "It's about time I find my brother." Alice said to her best friend Marissa.
     "Alice, I know you really want to find your brother but, you were so young when he was taken away from you, you barely even remember how he looks like. Even if you did, it's been 15 years, everyone's looks changed," replied Marissa.
     "True... but I got information from the town that I was born in. The townspeople told me that Declan was taken to Khuntoria. So, I am going there," Alice said.
     "But it's like a 15-hour drive! You don't even have the money for gas!" cried, Marissa.
     "I have money saved up from working in the orphanage, don't worry, I have to get going."
     "Aw, well I hope you find Declan soon. I'll miss you. You better keep in touch with me."
     Soon enough, Alice drove down the long long road, until Marissa is unable to see her from the distance...

     "Let me put some music on," Alice said. Alice turned on the radio.
     Suddenly, PFFT.
     "What was that?" Alice exclaimed, jumping out of her car. She looked at her tire. There were needles on the road that had popped her tire.
     "Oh crud, what am I going to do?" she hesitated. Alice pushed her car off to the side of the road
      An hour later, Alice sees a Cadillac coming towards her.  She waved her hands in the air signaling the Cadillac. The Cadillac stopped right in front of Alice and a tall guy with brown hair just like Alice's, stepped out of the Cadillac and walked towards her.
     "Is everything okay miss?" the tall guy asked.
     "No.... my tired popped and I don't have anyone to help fix it." Alice replied.
     "Where are you heading, maybe I can give you a ride if you don't mind," the guy offered.
     "Sure, if YOU don't mind."
     " Of course not, where are you heading?"
     "Khuntoria," replied Alice, remembering the information.
     "Really!? Me too, must be your lucky day."


     During the car ride, Alice felt uncomfortable and awkward because she has never been in a Cadillac. Alice could tell that this guy is very wealthy.
     "I'm Matthew, what's your name?" Matthew said, breaking the silence.
     "A..lice."
     "Nice name, sounds familiar. So what's the urgent occasion going to Khuntoria?" Matthew asked curiously.
     "Well, you see, when I was 3, these men in black suits came to the orphanage and took my brother away from me. I thought they were bad people, but as I grew up Sister Luna told me, a family wanted to adopt a boy from the orphanage, unfortunately my brother was chosen. Now, I am trying find him," responded Alice.
    "I'm sorry to hear that, what's your brother's name?" Matthew questioned.
     "It's alright, his name is Declan."

     Alice and Matthew arrived in the beautiful city of Khuntoria. Alice has never been to the cities. She had lived in the suburbs all her life. Khuntoria was like a dreamland to her. The buildings were tall, and high-class. There were shopping malls, gardens, fountains, and parks. Alice was amazed by how many people are on the streets of Khuntoria. It was very different from where Alice lived. Alice and Matthew arrived in front of a tall glass building that had a huge logo in front. A check mark.
     "What does the check mark represent?" Alice wondered.
     "You're kidding right? The big check mark? It's a popular brand all over the world, Nike." Matthew answered funnily.
     "I know I'm dumb, I lived in the suburbs my whole life and was raised in the orphanage. How could I have known about the outside world?"
     "Then do you know where you're going?" Matthew asked looking at the weird girl.
     "Nope, not at all, I will just go to the place where the paper says to go."
     Alice took her luggage out of the trunk and was ready to go find Declan.
     "Do you want my help?" Matthew asked.
     "No no, it's fine I've asked too much from you. But thank you so much for the ride." Alice said.
     "No problem, good luck!"
     Suddenly, a homeless man came and grabbed the luggage from Alice and flees off.
     "HEY, GIVE ME MY LUGGAGE BACK!" Alice cried.
     Alice and Matthew started running after the homeless man, as they turned the corner, the homeless man was gone, with the luggage.
     "What am I going to do, my money was in the luggage. Now, I don't have money to find my brother!" Alice panted breathlessly.
     "Do you want my help now?" Matthew smiled.
     "Do I look like I have a choice?" Alice replied sarcastically.


     "Wait here, I need to go tell my dad that I'm going out," Matthew stated.
     Matthew entered the building and Alice followed. As they approached the door, workers in suits opened the door as if he was Barack Obama. They bowed to Matthew as a greeting. Alice watched closely that the workers only bowed to Matthew as he walked through the building. He must be really important in this company, Alice thought.
     They walked out the building and Alice was very curious of why he was treated with so much respect.
     "Um.. can I asked why you're the only person in the building who was bowed to?" Alice asked with curiosity.
     "They have to I guess."
     "What do you mean, they have to?"
     "What do you expect when you're the son of the boss of the Nike company?"
     "YOU'RE KIDDING RIGHT?" Alice exclaimed.
     "Ha ha, you're a funny little girl, what is there to joke about? Alright, so where's our first stop to find your brother?"
     Alice took out the paper with the information. The paper had the address of one of the men who had taken Declan back then. They hopped on back in the Cadillac and was off to find Declan.


     Matthew pulled up to a cottage house. The house seemed vacant for a long time. Alice and Matthew stepped out of the car and knocked on the rusty door. An old lady appeared at the door.
     "May I help you kids?" the lady questioned.
     "Hi, yes, I was wondering if Lucas Johnson is here?" replied Alice.
     The old lady broke down in tears. Alice and Matthew looked at each other confused. The old lady was breaking down in front of them. They both lifted her up and led the sobbing lady to the couch.
     Matthew asked, "Ma'am are you okay?"
     Alice looked around the room. There were pictures of the old lady and an old man standing beside her. He must be Lucas Johnson, Alice thought.
     "I'm sorry, I couldn't hold back my tears. May I ask what you kids want from Lucas?" the old lady whimpered.
     "I have a question concerning his job when he worked as a bodyguard for a family. Is he here?" Alice asked.
      "I'm afraid I can't help you. He's gone." the old lady said while looking at the pictures.
      "What do you mean he's gone? He moved?" Matthew asked, confused.
      "No, he passed away four days ago." the old lady started sobbing again.
      "I'm so sorry to hear that Ms.Johnson."
      Alice became petrified. She was so excited to ask Lucas Johnson which family he worked for. I came too late, Alice thought. She sat on the couch, paralyzed. Alice was as still as a rock. She didn't know what else she can do, because it was too late. Matthew walked over and shook her gently by the shoulders.
     "Alice, are you okay?" he asked.
     "I-I thou-ght that th-this would be my on-ly hope to finding my brother." Tears came rolling down Alice's eyes.
     "Don't worry, we'll find him, it's not the time to give up now." Matthew persisted.
     "I'm really sorry to hear that your brother is missing, but you guys might get some information from Gabe Roberts." Ms.Johnson smiled.
     "Who is he?" Matthew wondered.
     "Gabe is Lucas's best friend and they worked together as a bodyguard for the same family, so you guys can go ask him, here's his address." said Ms.Johnson.
    Ms Johnson wrote down the address and handed it to Alice.
     "Thank you so much, please take care!" Alice cried happily.
     "Good luck!" Ms.Johnson waved.
     "Thanks!" they both shouted.


     During the car ride, Alice wondered if this would be the day she would finally see her brother. The sun was setting as they reached a narrow road. It was pitch black.
     "They really need to install some lights here," Matthew whined squinting at the road.
     All of a sudden, the car stopped.
     "What just happened?" Alice panicked.
     "Hold on, let me go out and check."
     Matthew stepped out the car and, PLOP!
     "AGH, it's quicksand! Alice!" Matthew screamed.
     "Are you serious!?" Alice climbed out from her side of the car and landed on dry sand. She hurried over to the other side where Matthew and the car were sinking.on
     "Are you okay right now? Don't move around too much or you will sink faster. I'll go find a stick to pull you out" Alice declared.
     "Yeah, I'm fine right now, just hurry," Matthew said impatiently.
     Alice saw a broken log on the side of the road and picked it up. She handed the other end to Matthew while holding the log tight.
     "I count to 3 and you pull as hard as you can okay?" Matthew demanded as he reached for the log gripping onto it tightly.
     "1"
     "2"
     "3!"
     Alice yanked the log with all her might and fell on the ground where Matthew started panting beside her.
     "Wow, that was scary!" Matthew laughed.
     "You wouldn't be laughing if I left you dieing in there, now would you?"
     "Whatever, let's go. I need to change my clothes."
     "The house is just right up there, let's go." Alice said desperately.
     They walked up the hill and knocked on the odd-looking house. An old man opened the door and asked, "Hi, can I help you kids?"
     "Yeah, are you Gabe Roberts?" Alice asked.
     "Yes, I'm Gabe."
     Alice looked at Matthew and smiled widely.
     "Yes, you will be a lot of help. Can we come in?" Alice grinned.
     "Of course!"
     "Mr.Roberts, I was wondering if I could borrow a pair of pants and t-shirt? I got stuck in quicksand 10 minutes ago," Matthew asked uncomfortably.
     "Oh god, wasn't there a sign there to warn you kids? Here take these and go to the bathroom on the left."
     "Thanks a bunch," Matthew said as he grabbed the pants.
     Alice sat down and was excited to hear about her brother.
     "So, what brings you two here?" Gabe questioned.
     "A very important situation. Do you remember working for a wealthy family and helping the family adopt a 5-year old?" Alice explained.
     "Yes, of course, I worked with Lucas, it's the family of N-"
     "AGH, sorry got to go pee, it's been a long trip here!" Alice yelped.
     She rushed into the bathroom forgetting that Matthew was in the bathroom.
     "AHHHHH!" Alice screamed in terror.
     Matthew was half naked and turned around facing Alice when she barged in screaming. Alice's mouth dropped open.
     "WHAT!" Matthew shouted.
     "Your, yo-ur, yoo-urrr back..."
     "What about my back?"
     "Your, your back!" Alice shouted
     "WHAT ABOUT IT!?" Matthew shouted confusingly.
     "THE LOTUS BIRTHMARK!" Alice shouted louder.
     "Yeah, so!? I was born with it, what is so surprising about a birthmark?"
     "IT'S THE SAME ONE DECLAN HAS! Are you Declan...?"
     "Are you nuts? How could I be your brother and not know?"
     "FOLLOW ME,  AND LET'S ASK GABE!"
     Alice dragged Matthew through the hall desperately wanting to know the answer.
     "Gabe, is the family that adopted my brother, the family who owns the Nike company?" asked Alice.
     "Yes, how could you have known?" replied Gabe.
    Alice was very excited, "DECLAN!!!"
     "Whoa, whoa, whoa, this must be a mistake, my parents never told me that I was adopted." Matthew proclaimed.
     "It's true. Your family didn't want you to know that you were adopted and besides, you were too young to remember that you were adopted from an orphanage. If you don't believe me, I have a question. Do you have a lotus birthmark on your lower back?"
     Matthew became speechless, realizing the facts. He turned towards Alice who's crying from joy.
    "A..lice? Are you really my little sister?" Matthew stuttered.
     "Yes Declan, I have finally found you. It makes perfect sense now. We have the same hair color and eyes. And you're 2 years older than me." Alice grinned.
     Alice and Declan hugged each other. It was the happiest moment of their lives. Gabe smiled happily.
     "All this time you were with me, you never told me you had a lotus birthmark. Now wouldn't it have been much easier if you had told me earlier. AND Gabe, you should of told me that the wealthy family was the family who owns Nike," Alice said.
     "Well, you never told me about the birthmar,." Matthew snapped.
     "AND, Alice you didn't let me finish because you had to go to the bathroom," replied Gabe.
     "Oh snap! the bathroom!" Alice exclaimed. Alice rushed into the bathroom.


     Declan and Alice took the cab home. Alice was excited to tell Marissa the good news. During the ride, Alice smiled and said, "So, all this time we were really close..."

Really Close Paragraph 1.

     One day, Alice decided to go on a journey to find her long-lost brother.
     "It's about time I find my brother." Alice said to her best friend Marissa.
     "Alice, I know you really want to find your brother but, you were so young when he was taken away from you, you barely even remember how he looks like. Even if you did, it's been 15 years, everyone's looks changed," replied Marissa.
     "True... but I got information from the town that I was born in. The townspeople told me that Declan was taken to Khuntoria. So, I am going there," Alice said.
     "But it's like a 15-hour drive! You don't even got the money for gas!" cried, Marissa.
     "I have money saved up from working in the farm, don't worry, I got to get going."
     "Aww, well I hope you find Declan soon. I'll miss you. You better keep in touch with me."
     Soon enough, Alice drove down the long long road, until Marissa is unable to see her from the distance...

Really Close

The thought of having an older brother. Wouldn't that be nice? A person who could help chores, teach you everything, and support you. Tears rolling down from the dark brown eyes, remembering that "person" who has been with her when she was 3-years old. When Alice was 3, her brother was 5. Alice couldn't remember how he brother looked like, all she can remember is the light-red/pink lotus-like flower shape, printed on her brother's foot. It was a birthmark.

My story is about a girl named Alice who had her brother taken away from her when she was 3. 15 years later, she decides to go on an expedition to find her long-lost brother, not knowing how her brother looks, the only clue to find her brother is the birthmark. During her expedition, she meets a guy who is 2 years older than her. His name is Matthew. He is a very wealthy boy who is the son of a wealthy family. Alice gets her personal belongings stolen on her trip to find her brother, so Matthew becomes friends with Alice and offers to help find her long lost brother. Will Alice be able to find her long lost brother?...