New changes
Summary: Hard times and lack of funds force the house that was covered in vines to close down. While the other little girls are lucky to go home, Madeline isn't so lucky, being faced to go to an orphanage unless a teacher that she loves tackles something she never thought possible to do. Adoption.
Chapter One
Twelve mouths to feed, twelve times the clothes and laundry, twelve times everything.
The little girls in front of her were well behaved as they curtsied for their guest that evening.
Miss Clavel forced herself a smile as Madeline stood beside her.
Their special guest was an older gentlemen from the orphanage. He would be the one to give Miss Clavel the adoption papers if he saw that evening that she truly deserved them as a fit mama to young Madeline. The twelve little girls, Miss Clavel, and Mr. Po sat down to dinner. Chatter filled the room as Mr. Po began asking Miss Clavel a few questions to determine if she would be a fit parent.
Miss Clavel knew this was to come. She couldn't afford to miss a beat or it would be over and that little red head would never be her little girl.
Besides money was getting tight with all the girls because of lack of funds.
Watching Madeline talk with Chloe, Mr. Po looked at Miss Clavel with a smile.
"Young Madeline seems to be a happy, joyful girl for her age," Mr. Po commented with a small laugh.
Miss Clavel let out a small breath "Yes she is and well liked with all of the girls."
Mr. Po dabbed his mouth with his napkin. "Once the school closes will you be financially stable to take care of Madeline?"
"Yes I will. I have more than enough money to take care of myself and that little girl," Miss Clavel said as Mr. Po noted the way Miss Clavel said that she meant it with full love and honesty.
"They're going to close the school?" Madeline asked, not meaning to eavesdrop on her teacher and the gentlemen who came to the old house that was covered with vines that evening.
"Money hasn't been good remember?" Nicole reminded Madeline who looked confused before she he nodded at what Nicole said.
'Where will I go?' Madeline wondered, hoping that it wasn't with the gentleman.
Once dinner was over the twelve little girls brushed their teeth and went to bed.
In the entrance after the little girls went to bed, Mr Po was standing with Miss Clavel. He bid her good night and after that closed the door and drove away.
Miss Clavel sighed to herself as she and Mrs. Murphy looked over bills.
"How much for this week?" Miss Clavel wondered in a whisper, not wanting to wake up or alarm the girls about finical trouble.
"I'll count this time but Clara it's time to tell them. They, especially Madeline, will see through our smiles soon enough," Mrs. Murphy reminded her friend who sighed again. "They might be little girls but you taught them to be well mannered."
The sun was shining through the old house before breakfast that next morning as Miss Clavel ,at the head of the table, tapped her glass to get the girls' attention.
The noise confused the girls who softly took a bite of their bread before turning their eyes to their teacher.
Miss Clevel cleared her throat "Little girls I have some sad news. The school will be closing sooner than I expected." The girls waited for more, the eyes barely moving. "In a few days we will all have to say goodbye."
The girls all left the room, not really feeling up to breakfast as they decided, with permission of being excused from the table, to go play outside.
Miss Clavel watched the girls play out of the window all except one.
Madaline.
Miss Clavel was going to go talk to her until a knock from the back door had her heading in the opposite direction. It was Mr. Po from the orphanage. She waited.
He calmly handed her an envelope
"Congratulations," Mr. Po said and with that he left, leaving a shocked Miss Clavel with the papers folded up in her hand as she closed the door.
The realization didn't hit her until she was in her office signing the papers. Looking at her signature she realised in that moment she was now Madaline's guardian.
Mom. Mama. Madeline could pick either and it would be strange.
"Madeline? Quel est mon petit?" Miss Clavel wondered, speaking their native language of French before switching back to English. "Are you alright?"
The little girl stared with tears in her eyes before running into the lap of the teacher that she loved as Miss Clavel stroked her hair.
"What will happen to me?" Madeline hiccuped, not wanting to leave the old house to a strange place once it closed.
"You can come and live with me Madeline," Miss Clavel suggested, not wanting to spoil her surprise for the child.
When money was getting more difficult not to spend a week or so ago, Madeline had tried to raise more to help.
"For how long?" Madaline said as Miss Clavel laughed.
"Why forever Madaline. You could... be... my little girl, "Miss Clavel said, hoping that Madaline would say yes.
Madeline put her arms around her new Mama. "Yes Miss C..Mama." The new word leaving her lips and she was glad she could finally say it.
Miss Clavel had tears in her eyes at the hug, trying not to sob.
"Madeline just have promise me one thing amoureux," Miss Clavel began with a smile, trying to wipe her tears away.
"Not to tell the others that you're my mama until they have to leave?" Madeline guessed, snuggling close. "And do you have to send those papers in? Do we have to go somewhere so you can be my mama for real?"
Miss Clavel nodded softly, patting her head. "Yes I will once they are signed. And no love."
Giving her new mama a kiss on the cheek, Madeline ran outside before stopping herself.
She had a week until she could spill the beans that Miss Clavel was now her mother.
But how could she?
She knew that she couldn't do it right away, not wanting to confuse her friends.