The clouds lazily separated, and joined other clumps of clouds around, creating a pattern one could never fathom was possible. Shawn laid on the ground, basking in the sun wondering how it would be, to be a cloud. He was a cloud, and he never knew how it all happened. He never realized how he had become, what he had become…

Well, that’s the liberty one had, and could laze on, especially when on vacation. He had plucked a blade of grass, from the ground and was chewing one tip while laying on the ground. As he chewed, the blade of grass looked like it was dancing to the wind, that just refused to blow. He casually, looked down the cliff and saw the beach where his 3 brothers and 2 sisters played in the waters. At 23, he had a huge responsibility already. He was the eldest. He needed to have an eye on them. They did obey and respect him, but still younger siblings were always younger siblings and, they always were a tad bit naughtier. A poke on his shoulders and he turned to see a shabby 4 foot boy in tatters stand, with his dirty paws extended for alms.

“Do you have anybody?”, Shawn asked, inquisitively, looking with wonder at a kid alone in the wilderness.

The kid shook his head negatively.

Shawn looked around, and nope, there wasn’t anybody around. This was a private spot. So if this kid had to beg alms here, and didn’t have any body, he definitely had to be living in bits. One good thing was, there was nobody to watch or see, what would happen next. He grinned, looking at that puzzled face.

The kid felt something suspicious, and turned to walk away, fear slowly flowing into him, seeing the way Shawn was appraising him.

Shawn caught the kid by surprise, by pulling the kid’s hand, and dragging him down the treacherous cliff to the beach. The kid was terrorized, and started wailing. He struggled in vain. They reached the beach, but Shawn didn’t stop, and he kept pulling the kid with a broad smile while keeping him in tight grip, and his smile looked as though he owned him. His brothers and sisters had also stopped playing and everybody ran towards them. Shawn shoved the boy, and he fell face down. The boy, raised his face with dread and found himself surrounded by all of them. They were laughing at him, mocking at his dirty ill-fitting dress… And he was getting scared…

Shawn asked him,”What’s your name?”

The kid sniffled with head bent and scared,”Everyone calls me jug, because of my bend knees that prevents me from running.”

Jug looked up, to see the guy who dragged him kneel. He shrunk expecting a back hand on his cheeks, the way people had done from time immemorial. The guy did lay a hand on his shoulder, but gently, and he said,”Jug, today onwards you are George, because we don’t have a George. That’s Jacob, Ron, Robert, Miley, Ginny and myself Shawn. You will not beg anymore, I did once, but now, I manage myself and these kids around. From today onwards, I will manage you and your expense as well, and we are all there for you. You will study and do well. We are your family from now. Deal?”. Silence descended among them. The waves crashed near by, as though demanding an answer from him, for them.

Jug nodded timidly, fear ebbing away with the waters that receded after the waves. He felt like in a dream.

Coming to think of it, they hadn’t laughed at him. Rather, they had laughed at life and now, were clapping in excitement, that he was becoming family… Becoming George…

All of them hugged George and started tickling, playing and laughing with him. And he also responded. Shawn smiled at the easy reunion that happened between these kids, who would make just anyone family. He turned and walked back to the cliff, the sounds and shrieks of the kids playing behind, making him reminisce his lost childhood but happiness brimming, that he could provide atleast that to them.

He laid on the cliff, watching the clouds lazily separate, yet again, and joining other clumps of clouds around, creating a pattern one could never fathom was possible… Like his family…

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