Chapter 1.41

A/N: Here we are! We are kicking off the last ten chapters of generation one! That’s right; after chapter 1.50, the star of the show is going to be Loralee Thoreau and she’s going to have a whole new cast of “supporting” characters! But more on that at the bottom.

—Loralee—

“Sea monster!” I shouted from the pirate ship’s look out. This was my favorite part of the school day – recess.

“Hey, rich girl!”

I looked around to find whoever was shouting and found a boy standing by the jungle gym. He was looking straight at me, but I had no idea why he’d be yelling at me. “Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah! Oh, are poor folks like me not allowed to talk to snobs like you?”

I frowned and jumped down from the jungle gym. “I’m not a snob.”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course you are. My dad told me how stuck up your mom was at the parent teacher conference last week. You rich people are all stuck up.”

I glared at him. “Mom is not stuck up! None of us are!”

Luc came over from the monkey bars. “What’s going on?”

The boy scrunched up his face at the both of them. “You two are always together. You’re not too good to hang out with the rest of us?”

I looked over at Luc and then back at the kid. Who was he? I sort of thought he might be a new kid, but I always sat at the front of class, so I didn’t always know who was at the back of the classroom. “He’s my brother. We like to play together.” Luc was younger than me, but we liked the same stuff. “What’s your problem? We haven’t done anything to you.”

“You’re my problem!”

I started to say something, but Ms. Brady came over and ushered us off to separate parts of the playground. I looked back towards the boy, frowning. What was his problem?

---

I stared up at the tv, but I wasn’t really watching it. I couldn’t stop thinking about that stupid boy! Why did he hate me and Luc so much? I had never done anything to him!

“Loralee? Is something the matter?” Mom asked as she came into the living room.

“Mom, are we different from other families?”

She looked at me with surprise and came over to sit down next to me on the couch. “What do you mean? Is this about me and Mama?”

I sighed. “Are we rich?”

“Why are you asking, sweetheart?”

“There was a boy at school today. He was being mean to Luc and me. He called us rich snobs. He said his dad said you were stuck up. Is it bad to be rich?”

Mom sighed softly and pulled me into her arms. “Yes, we are rich. But it’s not a bad thing. It’s definitely not something anybody should be making fun of you for. Your Mama and I have worked very, very hard to make this life for us. We just want to be able to take the best care of you and your brother that we can.”

“Why would he act like it’s bad, then?”

“Well, honey, he’s probably just saying whatever his parents said. His parents might be jealous. They might be upset that you and Luc get to have all these wonderful things that their children don’t. Or this boy might just be looking for something to pick on.” She smiled at me. “And you’re too pretty and smart to make fun of you any other way.”

I huffed softly. “I don’t like him.”

Mom laughed a little. “I imagine not. But maybe you should try to be nice to him. It sounds like he could use a good friend.”

I pouted and grumped. “I’ll think about it.” I didn’t see why I had to be nice if he wasn’t going to be.

A/N: Now, I promised you more about the upcoming supporting cast. Of course, Luc will have his story told, but who else is getting featured? I’d like to hear from you guys! I’ve got one or two people in mind, but the problem lies with Hadley’s children, so I ask you; who do you want to hear about? Joshua, Nora, Nathan, or Theresa? Consider this my version of an heir poll. 😛