Daddy Howell
It was 1932 in Newport Rohde Island and Thurston Howell III, formerly a billionaire was now a multi-millionaire, due to the Great Depression. His factories we closing down and he was very upset. Sometimes he wished he had a son to take over Howell Industries someday. His wife whose given name was Eunice, but who he and everyone else in their social circle called Lovey had always wanted a daughter, but she and Thurston were never able to have a child after years of trying. It was the Howell's tenth wedding Anniversary. They were dinning at the French restaurant where Thurston had proposed ten years ago.
"Lovey, I had the most wonderful idea come to me this afternoon", said Thurston.
"Oh Thurston all your ideas are wonderful!" cooed Lovey.
"Yes, I know they are. How would you like to have an orphan stay with us during the week of Christmas?" asked Thurston.
"Just a week Thurston? Thurston can't we adopt, please?"
"Well what about having the child stay with us for a week, and then we can decide if we want to adopt. All right, Lovey?" said Thurston.
"Oh all right Thurston. I'd like to go to the orphanage myself to select a child, since you will be in London on business", said Lovey.
"A Howell, go to an orphanage? No Lovey, I'll send my secretary", said Thurston.
"Thurston darling, it's the only charity we support that I've never been too. We give to the City Board of Orphanages and I've never been to one. I've been to Harvard and the symphony, museums and opera, but never a Newport orphanage", said Lovey.
"Oh all right dear but do be careful. I've heard it's in an awful neighborhood", said Thurston.
"I'll be alright with your chuffer by the car", said Lovey
"That child is bound to love living in the Howell mansion and maybe even love money after a week!", replied Thurston.
"I hope it's the best Christmas they've ever had! Oh Thurston this will be so much fun! We must throw a party soon!", exclaimed Lovey.
"Yes, dear. Oh Lovey darling, you're marvelous. I'm so glad I married you", said Thurston.
"So am I dear!", said Lovey.
They left the restaurant looking forward to next week.
Lovey Howell looked around the neighborhood in disgust. What had she gotten herself into? As she stepped out of the limo she looked at the very plain building in front of her, the Hudson St. Orphanage for Girls. After she had rang the doorbell a very unprofessional looking woman with red frizzy hair greeted her.
"Yeah", said the woman who Lovey had been told was Ms. Hannigan.
"Miss Hannigan, I'm Mrs. Howell. The Newport Board of Orphans sent me"
After Miss Hannigan lead her in, she began to talk about a child who left the orphanage and how she was sorry she didn't call the cops. Lovey was very confused.
"Miss Hannigan, what are you talking about?"
Miss Hannigan then stated that if she was selling beauty products, she didn't need them. She then put her feet up on her desk. Lovey was appalled!
"Miss Hanigan, I am the wife of Thurston Howell III!" ,exclaimed Lovey
The Thurston Howell III, the Millionaire?", exclaimed Miss Hannigan.
"The Multi-Millionaire!"
"Holy Mary Mother of God!", exclaimed Miss Hannigan taking her feet off the desk.
"Mr. Howell and I would like to invite an orphan to spend a week with us in our home."
Just then a closet door opened and an adorable red head stuck her head out and smiled. Lovey couldn't help but smile back.
"What kind of an orphan did he have in mind?", asked Miss Hanigan.
Friendly, Intelligent", replied Lovey.
The redhead in the closet whispered ,"MI-S-S-I S-S- I –P-P I."
Lovey smiled back at the charming redhead. She wanted to spend the week with her and hopefully adopt her.
"Happy", continued Lovey.
The redhead began to laugh. Miss Hannigan closed the door of the closet ignoring the girl. The redhead opened it again. When Miss Hannigan inquired about age, Lovey looked at the girl's hand signals to find out that she was 10. The redhead girl pointed to her hair.
"I almost forgot, Mr. Howell prefers redheads.", said Lovey once she realized what the girl was trying to tell her.
"Ten year old redheads, sorry we don't have any.", said Miss Hannigan.
"What about this child, right here? ",asked Lovey, who walked up to the redhead who had left the closet.
"Oh Annie, you don't want Annie."
"Why ever not?", asked Lovey
"She's a drunk"
She's the drunk, thought Lovey who had smelled alcohol on Miss Hannigan earlier.
"Annie, how would you like to spend a week with Mr. Howell and me at our house?"
"Oh boy! I would love to! I would really love to!",replied Annie.
Lovey and Miss Hannigan then began to argue about Annie. Miss Hannigan said that Annie was a brat needed to learn her place. Lovey couldn't believe it! Annie seemed like such a sweet girl. Lovey finally threatened that she'd have Miss Hannigan fired because the director of the Newport Board of Orphans was very close to Mr. Howell. This wasn't true, but Lovey wanted to take Annie from Miss Hannigan who she despised greatly. Annie persuaded Lovey to let her take her dog, Sandy with her
After they left, Lovey began to question Annie about her life in the orphanage. She felt sympathy for this girl who lived with such a rude and cruel drunken woman in such a drab building.
"Annie, are all orphanages this dreadful?", asked Lovey.
"I don't know Mrs. Howell. I've lived there since I was a baby.", said Annie.
"Oh, what is it like?"
"Awful, we sew dresses and clean the orphanage, eat mush. We try to have fun when we can."
"Oh that does sound awful dear. You make your own dresses? Does she pay you for the work you do?"
"No she doesn't. We don't get Christmas presents either. No one care for you a smidge when you're in an orphanage.", said Annie.
"What did you do that upset Miss Hannigan so much?"
"I ran away in the laundry cart. Mr. Bundles always washes the sheets at his laundry and I tried to run away today. That's why I was in the closet. Sometimes she locks us in the closet."
"Annie does Miss Hannigan give you schooling?"
"Not much. I taught myself to read though"
"That's how you could spell Mississippi! Well Annie here we are, the Howell Mansion. The first thing we need to do is get you new clothes. That's an awful dress, but first I must introduce you to the servants."
"Wow, this is your house? I think I'm gonna like it here!"
"You mean going to, dear. Nobody we associate with says gonna. I do hope Mr. Howell will let you keep the dog. Come along Annie."
Nobody had ever called Annie dear before, that she could remember. It made her feel like someone cared about her.
