Bittersweet(Kaylee Johnson) My mom used to tell me tales of my long lost brother. How he ran away from home. Mom still loved him, she still sets a place for him at the table for dinner. One night after dinner her and dad sat me down and told me they found my brother. His name was Jason. We were going to see him in the morning. I was so excited to see him that it took me forever to fall asleep. That was the last time I saw my mom and dad alive.

"Miss?" someone says, and I snap out of my memory.
"What?" The man at the counter asks me what I want.
"One bagel please." the man bags the bagel.
"$4.99" Holy cow, I don't have that kind of money.
"Nevermind." I say and rush out of the diner. Thats how much money i usually have for the week, not for breakfast. The only person I have left is my brother, and he ran away again. This time he left a note though.

Daria,
37, 5, 327 SW 2nd
Love always,
Jason

That's all it said. I stared at the note as if that would give me the answer. All it was, was a bunch of numbers. I growled in frustration. It had been two hell filled years since my parents died. I was in Lebanon, Oregon right now. Just one of the street beggers now. I pushed my strawberry blond hair behind my ears, to keep it out of my blue-green eyes, and headed to the homeless shelter. It was time to give up. I simply could not find my brother on my own. I absentmindedly started singing a song I learned in elementry school.

Fifty Nifty uninted states
From thirteen original colonies
shout em'
count em'
tell all about em'
one by one till we get it all done
Alabama
Alaska
Ari-

Wait, thats the answer! I pulled out the note, 37. Um, Oregon! yes, Oregon, I was already here. But what about the rest? Five, what could five mean. Wait numbers! I rush down to the library, and run to a computer. I type in, 'Oregon Cities, alphabetical order' I click the first result.
Adams
Adel
Adrian
Agness
Albany.

Albany! I'm in Lebanon, So close! I rush out and run to city hall.
"May I help you?" The lady asks.
"Er, yes, you see I came to visit my brother, but he is in Albany, and I got mixed up and came here.
"Well I can get you a bus ticket."
"Yes, thank you, You're a lifesaver."
She hands me the ticket and I sprint to the bus station, ariving out of breath. I look at the ticket and notice my bus leaves in five minutes.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I arive in Albany, soon noticing, I might need an address. I look at the note. 327. I ask a pedestrian, and he points me to the street. Finally I reach the house. I almost can't bring myself to knock, for fear of what might happen. I reach up and knock. A man answers the door. He can't be older than 30.

"Yes?" he asks more like a demand than a question.
"I..er, well..um."
"What!" He seems annoyed.
"I'm, er... Daria."
His eyes go wide.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"Why?"
"Changed my mind. Do you have the note?"
I hand him the note, he takes it, and throws it to the garbage bin, and shuts the door.
"Wait, I'm only 15, I need a place to stay."
But it's too late, he is already gone. I turn around and head to the homeless shelter.

Mom used to say, "The best things in life are worth waiting for." So I'll wait. I'll wait until the day i die for my brother to come back. After all, he is all I have left. Like it or not. I still don't know what I want, but it sure as hell is not this.

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