I never did get another letter from Nick. But that wasn't my biggest problem anymore. In Augest Mrs. Bradshaw retired from her work at the orphanage. We found out the next day someone else would be taking over. In late Augest of 1991, we were called into a meeting to meet the new person who would be taking over.
"Hello. I am Mr. Crane and I will be running this place as of today." He said in a booming voice that scared me. It reminded me of my father. "Things are going to change around here. You will all be given chores to do. If you do not do your chores you will be punished. To help me make changes I have a small staff. They will make sure you do what you are supposed to." He said looking over the 40 of us sitting in the room. The kids that were 16 to 17, didn't look that scared of him. Then again they were bigger then me too. Once they hit 18 they could leave this place if they wanted as well. I looked around at some of the kids that were younger then me, about 6 or 7 and they were scared of him. They would do whatever he said.
"I have a sheet of paper here with everyone's name on it and the chores that you will do that will be up in the main hallway. Since this is new to you at first you will get warnings if you don't do a chore but after that, I will submit a punishment that I deam nessassary." He said seriously and left the room. We all sat there stunned at what just happened. We could all tell that this guy meant business.
After Crane took over nothing was the same. There were no more birthday parties. But we would give gifts to the person if we got a chance. We had no money at all now so everything was hand made. Nothing was taken for granted when someone was given something. We could never play anymore. We were always doing chores or in school. We would have 30 minutes between dinner and bed when we were allowed just to hang out and talk and play games. I would talk to some kids every once in a while and yea every so often I would laugh but over all I wasn't happy.
Then we found out what punishment was. One of the older boys, a 14 year old, desided he didn't want to do any chores. Crane called him in to his office. Now the rest of us continued our chores but we were quiet so we could listen to what was going on. Out of the blue we heard a scream then some crying. We all jumped in fear. Even a few of the 16 and 17 year olds we taken back from it.
A few minutes later the boy emerged. His face was bruised and he was limping. We all knew he was beaten. I knew that I have 7 and 1/2 years left before I could leave this place legally. I missed Mrs. Bradshaw and I missed Nick more then ever now.
