Page 9 of Claim Me

INDIGO

I wake up to the feel of Tangina’s snout poking my forehead. The black miniature pig grunts when I open my eyes and moan. A retreating Tangina makes room for an Australian shepherd to lick my face.

Sitting up, I wipe my forehead and notice three elementary school-aged children watching me. They aren’t familiar to me, so they’re likely Caveman’s newest temporary kids. The blond boy standing nearest to me must be related to the blonde girl at the door. They have essentially the same face and pale blue eyes. The other boy is taller with dark hair and a face full of freckles.

With the drapes pulled back and sunlight spilling in, I notice the beige wood paneling on three of the four walls. A stone fireplace is to my right. The sliding glass doors are to my left. The three kids step directly in front of me. Though wary, they snicker at how the Australian shepherd mutt climbs half on the couch to lick me again.

“You’re supposed to get up and eat,” says the girl.

“Who are you?” I ask. “I don’t think I’ve seen any of you before.”

The blond boy leans forward and challenges me with, “We haven’t seen you, either.”

“I’m Indigo. I used to live here a long time ago,” I say and run my hands through my hair. “I’m going to be around more. If you want me to call you anything besides ‘kid,’ you best tell me your names.”

“I’m Vanilla,” announces the blond boy, seeming proud of this fact. “That’s my sister, Chef.”

“I’m going to make you flapjacks,” she explains and spins to make her yellow flowered dress dance around her knees. “Caveman said you need four of them and a big glass of orange juice. He said you don’t eat bacon.”

I glance at Tangina sniffing the kids’ hands and shake my head. “No bacon.”

“What’s your name?” I ask the boy with all the freckles.

“Caveman calls me Farmer because I’m going to buy a cow one day.”

Standing up, I nod. “Makes sense. He gave me my name, too.”

“What does Indigo mean?”

“It’s a shade of blue.”

“You’re a color?” Chef asks.

“No, he’s sad,” Dot Callaghan says as she enters the room. “A sad little boy in a grown man’s body.”

I look at Aunt Fred and Caveman’s sister. Her thick brown hair is pulled back with a wide red headband. Her dark brows are arched, waiting for my response. A smile warms her beautiful face. She looks ready to laugh at me.

Feeling on the spot, I mumble, “I’m fine.”

“Then, how come you’re hiding from Winifred?” When I just shrug, the three kids glance at Dot who laughs. “He’s shy but don’t be fooled. Inside that quiet man roars the heart of a beast.”

Rolling my eyes at her teasing, I’m mostly relieved she isn’t asking a bunch of questions. I assumed my fuckup was already widely known based on how Siobhan has a big mouth and noon is just around the corner.

I hide out in the bathroom for a long time, washing my face, using my index finger as a toothbrush, and hoping to outlast the people on the other side of the door.

I finally exit to find the four of them still waiting for me. Even the dog and Tangina sit nearby.

“No hiding, Indigo,” Dot says and gestures for me to follow them. “Chef wants to make you flapjacks. Farmer will pour a glass of orange juice. I’ll get you coffee.”

After I’m ordered to sit down, I check my phone. Aunt Fred and Elvis have texted me with supportive messages. They promise to visit me soon.

Dot stands behind me and brushes my hair. I want to tell her to stop, but she’ll just pitch a fit until I let her do whatever she wants anyway.

“Are you paying rent to stay here?” Dot asks as she ties my shoulder-length hair into a ponytail. “Or will you earn your keep?”

“Like with chores?”

“I was thinking you’d make a fine babysitter.”

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