Changing Destinies

Annabell looked around in wonder. She had never seen so many stores in one place before. She wondered if it was like this in London because she was never allowed to go when her Uncle and Aunt took Dudley on a shopping trip, but her she was. In America with her so called family sitting in a taxi on her way to a hotel where they will be staying for the next month. Her Uncle Vernon had been offered a promotion but he would have to move to New York in America so. Her Uncle, Aunt and cousin had been offered a tour of the company and Annabell had to come along as Mrs. Figg was ill, Aunt Marge hated Annabell and Vernon's friends from work either did not know of Annabell or thought she was too badly behaved from what Vernon had told them.

Uncle Vernon made sure Annabell knew the rules before they had left. She was to stay out of the way, not be seen by Vernon's soon to be co-workers, and she was to clean up after them even thought the staff would do it because they wanted to make a nice impression. So there Annabell was, all alone in a two bedroom hotel room wondering whether or not it was safe to go out and wonder the streets or if she would be caught and punished by the Dursleys when they got home. She desided she would go out because after all, her 'family' was to be expected around four in the afternoon and it wasn't even eleven yet.

As Annabell roamed the street she sang happily as she went, "

All around me are familiar faces

Worn out places, worn out faces

Bright and early for the daily races

Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses

No expression, no expression

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow

No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take

When people run in circles its a very, very

Mad world, mad world,"

Still singing the song that described her life she walked into the bright store with a neon blue sign saying Leopard Recording Studio. She looked around at the photos of beautiful girls and handsome guys when a man in a blue button up shirt and jeans walked up to him and put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Annabell, not expecting it, flinched and backed away from the tall man with wavy black hair and a friendly smile.

"Whoa clam down there little girl. I'm not gonna hurt you, my name is Jack and my wife and I own this recording studio. What's your name child?" asked the man that had startled Annabell. Annabell still not feeling comfortable with the man backed away slowly until she ran into a wall stopping him from moving.

"My name is Annabell sir," Annabell timidly replied, " I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to be in here I just saw all the cool instruments and wanted a closer look. I'll leave if you want me to!" As Annabell shuffled towards the door the man stopped her and replied with a chuckle, " no you don't have to leave, I was just wondering if that was you singing earlier? The song that goes 'All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces, bright and early for the daily races, going nowhere going nowhere'" At Annabell's nod his face broke out into a huge smile making it look like his face was split in two. " Well then Annabell, how old are you, and where are your parents? Surely you can't be wondering around here all by yourself!" asked Jack as he looked appalled at the idea.

Annabell looked down at her feet nervously and replies, " Well I'm five years old, and my parents were killed in a car accident when I was young, that's where I got this scar on forehead," said Annabell gaining a little confidence, " at least that's what I was told. Now I live with my Aunt and Uncle in the UK, but my Uncle Vernon may be transferred here to work so my Aunt, Uncle and cousin are on a tour of the company right now."

Jack just stood there staring at her for a few seconds trying to shake off the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Well why aren't you with them on that tour?" he asked curiously

Annabell looked down at her feet again loosing all her confidence and mumbled, " They don't want me to be with them. I'm supposed to stay in the hotel room and not be seen but I couldn't help but wonder around. I've never been to stores other than the grocery store. I'm not allowed to go on shopping trips." Annabell rambled on forgetting that she was talking to Jack and that she was telling the man some of her secrets. It took a long moment for Jack to get over the shock of what was just revealed but when he did he demanded, "Annabell are you ever hurt by your Aunt and Uncle or called mean names?" in the gentlest voice he could at the moment.

Annabell frowned saying, " yeah they call me freak or Potter which is my last name so I don't really mind that one, and sometimes when I do freakish stuff my Uncle hits me and locks me in my cupboard for a few days. They always need to weed the garden and cook dinner so I'm never really locked in for too long." Annabell thought this treatment was normal so she did not try to hide it.

"Annabell, do you know that the way your relatives treat you is not right? It's called child abuse when someone hits their children or call them mean names like your Aunt and Uncle. Do your Aunt and Uncle treat your cousin the same way as they treat you?" Jack said with tears in his eyes threatening to spill over.

Annabell thought and her eyebrows puckered with concentration until she finally replied, " No they don't treat Dudley like they do me. I suppose its cause I'm a freak and Dudders is perfect." she said being completely serious. Jack closed his eyes for a moment, swallowed and said in a soft voice, " sweetheart you are not a freak, whatever your relatives say, don't believe them. No child deserves to be treated like that." he paused thoughtfully then continued, " Hey Annabell how about my friend Steve shows you all the instruments while I go talk to my wife for a moment how does that sound. I will be in the other room the whole time ok?" He asked Annabell. When she nodded her head he took her to a back room with the instruments where Steve was practicing.

He took Steve aside and said, " Hey I need you to look after this little girl named Annabell for a few minutes while I talk to Chelsea. Be careful with her, I'm sure she has been abused I'm just not sure how bad, and make sure she doesn't leave yet, ok?" before turning to Annabell and saying, " I'll be back in a few minutes ok?" then after receiving both nods turned and started toward the room his wife was likely to be in. All he could think was that this was going to be a long day!