Professor Utonium cocked his head to one side at the sudden and persistent knocking at the door. "Now, who could that be?" It was 8:15, and he had only just put his girls to bed. He walked to the door in a rush so as not to keep whoever it was waiting. "Yes, can I help you?" He couldn't have possibly been prepared for what he saw.
A man stood there. He looked to be about his mid forties, and his chestnut brown hair that was combed to one side had just a touch of grey. Tired eyes looked to the Professor behind wiry glasses. The man, however, was not what the Professor found to be most startling, for in his arms, he held a small, sleeping child of about four and a half years old. Although he hadn't seen her in three years, there was no doubt in his mind who she was.
"Lizzie?" He whispered in a daze.
Relief spread quickly across the strange man's face. "Oh, thank goodness! You remember! Well, that simplifies things! However," he added as the Professor opened his mouth to pour out a flood of questions, "I really haven't the foggiest clue as far as the details of this matter. This letter," he said, producing an envelope, can tell you much more than I could, I'm sure of it."
The Professor took the envelope, and let the man place the small girl gently in his arms so as not to wake her. "Let her rest," the man recommended. "From what I've heard, she could use it." He turned and proceeded down the front walk to his car. The Professor closed the door.