"You're five and you're all alone?" The woman said in a shocked voice. Meredith nodded.
"The nanny will be here soon." She shrugged. Ellis had Meredith enrolled in a 'proper preschool' back in Seattle. So she knew how to talk like an adult.
"You shouldn't be alone." The woman said.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Mary, Mary Kerev. And you are?"
"Meredith Grey." She said softly.
"Well, Meredith, I have a son, Alex. Would you like to play? He's your age."
"Mom said I can't leave the house when she isn't home."
Mary nodded. "Are you going to be okay?"
Meredith nodded.
"Here." Mary reached into her purse and pulled out a pen and pad of paper. She jotted something down and handed it to the little girl. "Give me a call if you need anything. I live right down there." She pointed to the house across the street and down one.
Meredith nodded and smiled.
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"She's five. Alex's age and is all alone. It's like her mother just… I don't know." Mary ranted to her friends sitting in a circle.
"That's not right." One said shaking her head.
"The nerve of some people, they have kids thinking they're going to be adults as soon as they can walk." Another one said with a sigh.
"She talks like an adult. No fumbling over words. It's crazy." Mary said.
"It's neglect, is what it is." The older looking one said.
"I can agree to that." Mary said. "Gin. Your deal."
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She walked down the stairs looking at the ugly, fat lady sitting on the couch. She sighed and walked back up the stairs not daring to go down while she was watching her shows. She opened the door and stepped into her room. She walked over to her window and climbed up onto the window seat. It was getting dark. So she knew that her mother probably wouldn't be home anytime soon. Another night that she would tuck herself in. She yawned to herself putting her feet against the wall and staring out on the dark night. The stars were bright something she didn't see a lot in Seattle because of the clouds.
She sat there for another thirty minutes or so before getting up and going over to her door. She climbed on a chair that she had pushed over there and turned off the light. Then, she walked over to the bed. Pulling the cover back some, she slipped into the bed coving herself up again. She rolled on her side and let her eyes shut.