How Cliche Kittens

Enter, Adrian!

The girls were dressed in their Santa dresses. They had put on white thigh-high socks(that Audrey forced them in), and were wearing their winter coats. Everyone was piled into Audrey's car. Why? You ask. Well, it was one-thirty in the afternoon. Audrey had finished the ham, and had made four dozen sugar-cookie-men. Why? You ask again. Well, Audrey had taken it upon herself that they volunteer to read Christmas stories to orphaned kids. Deidara had tried to talk her out of it. Audrey had promptly started crying and calling him heartless. Evelynn at thrown a phone-book at Deidara's head for making Audrey cry. Deidara then agreed it was a good idea. Gina calmed Audrey down.. And now they were on their way to an orphanage. Not that Evelynn could blame Deidara for not wanting to go. The idea was silly to her all the same. Everyone except Audrey and Deidara(he was worried she might cry again) sighed as they pulled into the orphanage. It was one-forty five.

"Oh, we're early! Oh, well, maybe we'll have time to read them an extra story!" Audrey chirped. She seemed oblivious to the groans that came from around her.

Now, don't get anyone wrong. There was nothing wrong with spreading a little joy to orphaned kids. In fact, if Audrey had told them about it earlier, and not five minutes before they headed out the door, everyone probably would have been talking excitedly about it. Evelynn, on the other hand, was not too fond of the idea. She had spent four years in an orphanage, before getting tossed around from foster home to foster home. Which means coming to an orphanage was bringing up old memories she'd really rather not deal with. She hadn't been abused or anything, no. It was just the fact that she would understand how these kids felt. No families. No real love. No place to actually call "home." It left a bitter taste in her mouth. Sighing, she pushed the thoughts a side as hey piled out of the car, and marched into the double doors of the place.

They were instantly greeted by a woman, Jane, who explained to them that it was playtime right now, and the kids were outside playing in the snow. In about ten minutes it would be story time, and that's when they would separate into groups, and read two stories to each group. Audrey was ecstatic, and handed over three plates of cookies to Jane. Apparently, the orphanage was small, and only held about thirty kids. Lucky Audrey brought three dozen cookies.

Jane then separated the companions. Audrey and Deidara were taken to what looked like a playroom. Gina and Itachi were led into a living-room type room, complete with fireplace and Christmas tree. Evelynn and Sasori were led to what they assumed was a school room. Judging by the desks, chalkboard, and teacher's desk.

"There will be ten kids to a group." Jane explained. ('Like we couldn't figure that out,' Sasori had muttered to Evelynn.') "Story times will last thirty minutes, and then you're free to go."

-With Gina and Itachi!-

Gina shifted uncomfortable on the couch. The room was nice. The fireplace was ablaze, the Christmas tree was sparkling with lights, and there were stockings hung around the room. Still, Gina felt very uncomfortable.

"Is something wrong?" Itachi inquired, looking over at his fiance.

"Er, I'm not that good with kids.." Gina started. She was cut short when a lady, who was not Jane, led a group of ten kids into the room. The lady set them up around the floor on the carpet in a half-circle, gave them each a cookie, and told them to behave while the 'lovely couple' read them some stories.
Gina looked around. The kids looked to be from ages two to age six.

'That's right. Evelynn mentioned something about that.' Gina thought, 'Something about they were able to stay at the orphanage until they started kindergarten, then they to be placed in homes.' The blonde shook her head.

Itachi stole a glance at her, and then handed her one of the children's Christmas books. 'The Grinch who stole Christmas.'

'It could be worse, and at least the kids are behaved,' Gina mused to herself, and began to read. The children listened intently. Apparently, they really enjoyed story time.