No one knew from where it had came - the baby with the wide, gray eyes, cheeky smile, and sparse black hair. An ordinary baby caught in an odd, perhaps unfortunate, series of events that had led some "no-good-for-nothing" mother to abandon her child. And "such an adorable child" as the one they all crowded around, the mothers were quick to announce.
The one question that everyone thought, but were, in fear of appearing selfish, afraid to speak was: Who will care for this child?
The night was cool, and a gust of breeze passing by made one of the concerned woman in attendance step forward. Gently, bending at the waist, she tugged the blanket higher on over the baby's plump body. As if to thank her, the baby honored her with a wide, toothless smile. Immediately, she clutched her heart, and fell to her knees. And in that moment, her heart overflowed with love that she had never thought possible, she decided that she would care for it. If only to earn that same smile, once more.
And it had been decided, without much protest, that Noamora would care for the babe.
And so she had.
With all the experience that her 16 years had afforded her, she pampered the baby. She breast fed him; clothed him; changed him; taught him to read, write, walk, speak (she made sure to let the whole village know when he said 'Mama'), how to cook, sew, and iron; and how to fight, ride a horse, and shoot a bow.
And she took pride in the fact that she had accomplished this all alone.
They lived, together, alone but not secluded, in a cottage that Noamora had built on the outskirts of the village; just her and 'Anon'. That's what she had christened him. It meant 'soon' - for what, she did not truly know, but she always believed that he was destined for great things, soon. And that's what she had named him.
The villagers, perhaps feeling guilty for not immediately offering to rear the babes themselves, provided her with enough comfort, so that she could focus solely on her main luxury: Anon. Anything she needed, they would provide. She could walk into any store, or up to any stand or stall at the market, and take as much goods as she could carry - free of charge. When it rained, snowed, sleeted, or hailed, brave men would trek up to her cottage armed with food, firewood, and bundles of home-stitched clothing. As independent as Noamora was, she saw the valuable time that she was gaining from this service to devote to her precious child.
And this is how they lived for many seasons.