Brand New Journey

Chapter 1

It was nearing the end of spring in 1985 as Amanda King made her way home from work one day and while driving noticed all the different gardens of her neighbors as she approached Maplewood Drive. They were well-kept and appeared vibrant against the day's sunlight.

As busy as she found herself lately at the Agency Amanda would have to bow out of some PTA functions and miss plays and various conferences that her mother Dotty West, had to attend in her place.

Her boys Phillip and Jamie King however, had seemed unscathed by it all as they knew Amanda loved them and did her best by them since her divorce from their father Joe King, back in 1982.

She did help them on weekends with their individual activities and also was a coach for their ball team, The Bombers.

Turning onto Maplewood near her home she almost didn't see a little girl who had suddenly wandered into the street!

Slamming on her brakes she quickly turned the car off and jumped out running to the girl stating, "Omigosh! Honey, are you all right?! Let me take a look."

Checking her over quickly Amanda surmised that she was indeed all right and breathed a sigh of relief!

Kneeling down to her she stated, "Gosh. I'd better get you home. Where do you live, Sweetie?"

The young girl pointed to a house across the street where the front door was open and answered, "Over there with Grandma."

Amanda nodded and getting up she took the girl's hand leading her toward the house and responded, "I'm Amanda King. What's your name?"

The girl replied, "Kelly Morgan. My grandma's sleeping, but I can't wake her up. She must be real tired."

Amanda swallowed hard and shook her head immediately thinking, Oh Dear Lord, no!

As they walked into the house and Amanda shut the door, she was distracted by the smell of something burning in the kitchen!

She quickly ran in and going to the stove turned it off and put the saucepan in the sink running cold water in it.

Kelly sighed commenting, "Grandma forgot dinner."

Amanda nodded and remarked, "I guess so, Sweetheart. Where is your grandma?"

Kelly then brought Amanda to the living room where on the couch lay a woman in her early 50's.

Amanda went over and felt the woman's hand and checked for a pulse. There was none!

Not wanting to frighten Kelly she stated, "Kelly, why don't I find you something to eat and you know, I'll bet "Sesame Street" is on right now. Would you like to watch that while I clean up the kitchen?"

Kelly excitedly replied, "Oh, boy! Bert and Ernie are my favorites!"

Amanda smiled down at her as they went back to the kitchen and she responded, "Mine too, Honey. Okay, you go on in the other room while I get you something, all right?"

Kelly asked, "What about Grandma?"

Thinking quickly Amanda remarked, "She's still resting, Sweetie. I'll check on her in a little while. Go on now."

Kelly nodded and scampered off to the family room. Amanda then got on the phone and called her house.

Dotty answered, "Hello?"

Amanda commented, "Mother, it's me. Listen, are the boys home? Good. Please tell them to stay put. I need your help. I'm at the Morgan place. 4528 Maplewood. Could you come over, please? We have a situation but I'll explain when you get here, all right? Thank you, Mother. See you soon."

Hanging up she set about getting a snack for Kelly and a few moments later brought it in to her asking, "How are Bert and Ernie, Honey?"

Kelly shook her head and said, "Cookie's on!"

Amanda smirked knowing Kelly meant Cookie Monster and replied, "Well, he's fun too."

Just then the doorbell rang and Amanda stated, "You stay there and I'll get the door."

Amanda went to the front door knowing it was Dotty and let her in commenting, "Hi. Come with me to the kitchen."

When they got there they sat at the table where Amanda filled Dotty in on what happened.

Dotty shook her head sadly as Amanda finished the tale stating, "Oh, the poor child! What are we to do?"

Amanda sighed and responded, "Well, I've been thinking about it and if it's all right with you I'd like her to stay with us. At least temporarily until we can find her other relatives if she has any, that is."

Dotty nodded and stated, "Of course, Dear. You don't even have to ask me. We'll fix up the den for her. Now, have you called the police yet?"

Amanda shook her head remarking, "No, but I will when you take Kelly back with you. Let's talk to her now-"

Dotty asked, "What do we say?"

Amanda replied, "Follow me."

They went to Kelly in the family room who was engrossed in her show and Amanda turned off the set stating, "Kelly, this is my mother Dotty West. She lives with me and my two boys, Phillip and Jamie. Since your grandmother is still resting why don't you come back with us for a little while, huh? I know she'll feel better knowing you're with a neighbor close by rather than being by yourself, okay?"

Kelly thought for a moment and responded heading for the living room, "I'll tell her where I'm going-"

Dotty stated quickly taking Kelly's hand, "That's all right, Darling. Amanda will leave her a note. Don't worry. C'mon, let's go."

Kelly then asked, "Can I bring my color book?"

Amanda nodded querying, "Sure, Sweetie. Where is it?"

Kelly went to open a cabinet and pulled out the book and some crayons and answered, "Right here. Let's go."

Dotty led her to the front door and looked back at Amanda to ask , "You'll be right behind us?"

Amanda cleared her throat and remarked lightly, "Soon as everything's straightened up here I will."

Dotty nodded understanding her meaning and headed back to their house with Kelly.

Amanda shut the door and went to the phone to call the police who came within minutes followed by an ambulance.

Amanda let everyone in and as the ET's were checking on the woman, Amanda explained what little she knew of the situation.

The officer taking down her information asked, "Where is the child now, Ma'am?"

Amanda replied, "Well, I thought it would be best to have her stay with me until they find her family."

The officer queried, "Your address is-"

Amanda responded, "4247 Maplewood. It's very close by."

The officer nodded finishing writing down everything and put the pad and pen back in his pocket and stated, "Okay. I'll let my superior know that she'll be there. Thank you for your cooperation, Ma'am. For now, we'll hold off on calling DCF but they will have to be notified if we don't locate her family, all right?"

Amanda swallowed hard and remarked, "Thank you, Officer. I'll take good care of her."

The ET's were finished examining the woman and placed her on the gurney to take her out to the ambulance.

Amanda walked outside with the officer and sighed as she watched them load the elderly woman in and drive away.

The officer responded, "The woman will be at the morgue. Call us if you get any new information. Oh, and you should move your car if that's yours in the street. Have a good evening."

Amanda nodded and answered, "I will. Thank you, Officer. You too."

She watched as the police car pulled away and she shook her head thinking, Shoot. I did forget the car being there.

Amanda got her car moved to the driveway and then went back in to get some of Kelly's things.

Going upstairs she searched for Kelly's room and finding it went to look for a suitcase. Not finding one in the girl's closet she went out to the hall closet and found a small pink one with Kelly's name on the tag.

Bringing it to the room she began packing clothes for a few days and also some stuffed animals. One of which was a brown horse with a pink heart on it's side.

Packing it she also found on Kelly's dresser two framed photos. One of Kelly as an infant and the other a more recent one with her grandmother.

Packing those as well, Amanda then went to get Kelly's toothbrush and hairbrush out of the bathroom and finally closed the suitcase and headed downstairs.

Needing to lock the house up she thought, Where is the grandmother's purse?

"Ah." she replied aloud as she found it on the hall table near the front door and remarked,"Why didn't I notice it there before?"

She took the purse and suitcase with her as she headed out locking the door.

As she made her way to the driveway and put the items in the back seat of her car she noticed Lee pulling up to the curb.

He got out of his car and walked towards her stating, "Hi. I heard there was some trouble here. We got a call at the office. Billy wanted me to check it out. Are you all right?"

Amanda sighed and nodded responding, "Yeah, but there's a three year old at my house right now who won't be if we don't find her family-"

Lee put up a hand and replied, "Hold on. What three year old? What happened?"

So Amanda went through the events of that afternoon as she was coming home and stated, "There she was just walking out into the street, Lee. I-I could've hit her-"

Lee squeezed her hand gently responding, "But you didn't. Where's the grandmother now?"

Amanda remarked, "At the morgue. Do you think the Agency can find her family?"

Lee sighed and answered, "They'll do what they can, Amanda. You know that."

Looking at the back seat of Amanda's car he asked gesturing to it, "What's all this?"

Amanda stated, "Kelly's suitcase and the grandmother's purse. Kelly needs clothes for a few days and the purse has the house keys and any money and ID-"

Lee went to open the purse and found the wallet with the woman's ID and remarked, "Rose Morgan."

Putting everything back he returned the purse to the back seat and responded, "Okay. I'll get back to the office and fill Billy in and I'll call you when I know something, all right? But don't worry, huh? It'll be fine. Just go ahead home and I'll see you later."

Amanda hesitated before getting into her car and asked, "But what if-"

Lee sighed and answered, "Amanda please stop, okay? I'll figure this out. Go."

Amanda sighed and nodded and got into her car stating, "Goodnight, Lee. Thanks for coming over."

Lee smiled at her and replied, "No problem. Goodnight, Amanda."

As she pulled out he went to his car and getting in got on his phone and called Billy stating, "Billy? I'm coming back in. You're not gonna believe what happened here in Amanda's neighborhood."

Billy cleared his throat and answered somberly, "Well you and I need to talk anyway, Scarecrow. Get here when you can."

Lee was puzzled by his tone and shrugged stating, "Okay. I'll be there soon."

They hung up and Lee started his car and pulling away from the curb thought, He just needs a vacation I'll bet...

TBC