"Maybe far away
Or maybe real nearby
He may be pouring her coffee
She may be straighting this tie!
Maybe in a house
All hidden by a hill
She's sitting playing piano,
He's sitting paying a bill!
Betcha they're young
Betcha they're smart
Bet they collect things
Like ashtrays, and art!
Betcha they're good --
Why shouldn't they be?
Their one mistake
Was giving up me!
So maybe now it's time,
And maybe when I wake
They'll be there calling me "Baby"...
Maybe.
Betcha he reads
Betcha she sews
Maybe she's made me
A closet of clothes!
Maybe they're strict
As straight as a line...
Don't really care
As long as they're mine!
So maybe now this prayer's
The last one of it's kind...
Won't you please come get your "Baby"
Maybe"
- Annie -
I stopped singing and looked out the window at the stars. The Big Dipper was very visible tonight and the North Star, as always was shining brightly. I heard a conversation going on in the next room. I quietly got off the windowsill and got onto my bed. I then got off the bed and got down on my knees. I crawled quietly, trying not to wake the other girls up around me. I exited the room and closed the door slowly. I tip toed toward Ms. Crockett's office. There was a couple talking to my current guardian. I pressed my ear to the door to listen to what was going on. As you probably know now, I'm a very curious girl.
Conversation
Ms. Crockett: "It is a pleasure that you guys even came to adopt one of the girls. It doesn't matter what time. Please sit down"
Woman: "We would like to adopt a girl who is around nine or ten if that's possible."
Man: "Yes. We aren't picky at all, but we would like to see the girl before we adopt."
Ms. Crockett: "Certainly. I have 5 girls in that age group. I'll just look in my files for there pictures."
There was the squeaking sound of the old file cabinet drawer being opened and the sound of shuffling papers.
Ms. Crockett: "Here we are. Tell me when you've made your choice."
Their was a brief silence. I was in total suspense. I was nine so my picture would obviously be there as well. I wanted to know which one of us would leave with a family a have a great life and leave the orphanage behind forever. It would be sad to leave or see one of us go.
Man: "I think we have decided on her."
Woman: "Yes, we will adopt this girl."
Ms. Crockett: "Oh, Steph. Are you sure? She is a very quiet girl."
Man and Woman: "Yes."
Ms. Crockett: "As you wish. She sleeping right now, so you'd better come in the morning to take her home. But you can fill out these papers and you'll be good to go."
There was a pause and all you could here was the sound of the ball point pen rub against the sheets of paper.
Man "I think we are done now."
Woman: "We will come pick her up at 12:00. Is that good for you?"
Ms. Crockett: "Yes that is perfect. And I would like to thank you again for adopting one of the girls. Steph will be thrilled. You have know idea what this means to the girls. She's going to have a home and parents!"
End of Conversation
I tip toed quickly to the bedroom and climbed the stair set to the upper level of beds, and slipped into my bed. I hear loud, strong footstep made by the man and the click clacking sound of the woman's heels. I closed my eyes and I felt a tear escape from my eye and fell onto my sheets. Then two words escaped my lips, in a soft whisper.
"Thanks, God."