The words seemed to come from a great distance as though being heard through the walls of a draughty apartment building in the city. The city...home.
Daniel's eyes fluttered open slowly. He tried to rub the sleep from his head, but found his limbs were still too weak with sleep to lift from the mattress. His eyes focused on a pleasant looking elderly lady. As he gazed slack jawed at this stranger she smiled gently and patted his hand.
"There, there child, no need for alarm. I am Nurse Dorothy Middlemiss, or Nana Dot as most children here call me." She looked him over, studying him carefully, as if to make sure nothing was amiss.
"Wh..Where am I ma'am?" Daniel questioned softly. Even though he was not aware of how he got wherever he was, he was comforted by the presence of this grandmotherly woman with her soft silver curls, plump rosy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes. "You are in St. Catherine's Children's Ward." "The hospital." She added, seeing his look of confusion. "Now I have some questions of me own, if you don't mind," she said briskly, wiping her hands on her apron as if readying herself for an unpleasant task. "Your name please?"
"Danny" he whispered. "Daniel Joseph Whipperton." She brushed a wandering lock of dark hair from his eyes. "Just how old might you be Danny?" He cringed at the question, knowing, as always, his slight size was in complete opposition to his age. "Thirteen and a half years ma'am."
"Alright then Mr. Daniel Joseph Whipperton age thirteen and one half years, you rest here a spell and I will be back shortly." She began to move slowly toward the door. "But ma'am please! I don't understand! How did I get here? What is wrong with me? Where are my parents, my baby sister? Please tell me, don't just leave me! I am so afraid!" A sob escaped as he tried hard not to cry, as it so often made some grown-ups very cross with him. Daniel pled again, "Please Nana Dot, please tell me what happened."
Nana Dot's expression softened. She looked at Daniel with a mix of sorrow and pity in her wise blue eyes. "Child, we don't know what happened to you. You were found unconscious in a bank of snow outside the village of Eckerby by some passing motorists. You were found alone and the area was searched thoroughly, no one else was found. You have been checked by our doctors and there has been no injury or sickness detected. After some rest you will be right as rain, but we have been unable to find anyone who has reported missing a boy such as yourself. Sheriff Beaks has been waiting on tenterhooks for you to awaken young man! He has many questions for you. Now please, you need to rest while I wrangle up some food for you. Later, after you have filled your belly you may remember more about your circumstances. I must call the sheriff now and let him know you are awake." She brushed away the hair from his eyes one more time and straightened his blanket before leaving the room.