Chapter 3

Lovey awoke on the small couch and looked over at Maggie. When she first saw her last night, she thought she was a poor girl. Now she knew she was an abused child.

Maggie awoke looked around and saw Lovey. She wondered why she was there

"Good morning Maggie" Lovey walked over to the girl's bed.

"Good morning ma'am"

"I never introduced myself did I? I'm Mrs. Howell." She extended her hand.

"No, don't hit me! "Maggie shrunk back.

"Oh my dear, I'll never hurt you! Would you like to shake my hand?"

Maggie did out of compliance than greeting

"May I… may I have a glass of water?"

Lovey poured one and handed it to Maggie. A nurse and the dr. who was there last night came in and helped Maggie sit up.

"How are you feeling Maggie?", asked the nurse.

"Ok." She was unaware that her injuries had been discovered.

I'm going to check your temperature…"

"Where is my dress and what's on my back?", asked Maggie.

"Last night we looked to see where you were hurt and put you in a hospital gown, gave you a sponge bath and put bandages on you', explained the nurse.

"No! You saw.. If they find out!"

"What they did was wrong people shouldn't hurt anyone like that", the Dr. explained.

"But I'm the scum of the street and need to get punished when I'm bad!"

"I'm sure that's what you've been told, but the Murphy's could go to jail for what they've done", said the Dr.

"Really?"

"Really, now I'm going to look at your back, ok?"

Maggie nodded.

"Then I'll get you some breakfast", said the nurse.

"Mr. Howell might stop by today. He's going to give you some money", Lovey explained.

"My own money?"

"Yes, dear. I have a meeting to go to the board of directors. If you need anything press this button. If you're scared tell a nurse you want me and someone will get me."

"Mrs. Howell, I won't bother you."

"It's all right. You can contact me if you need to."

"May I.. ask you a question"

"Yes,dear."

"Why are you staying with me?"

"You're just a little girl. You need someone to stay with you."

"I've stayed home alone before."

"You shouldn't have, goodbye Maggie."

"Bye, .

A few minutes later Mr. Howell walked into the room.

"Hello little girl, I'm Thurston Howell III."

"Who,sir?"

"You don't know who I am?" Thurston shouted. Maggie was terrified and pressed the call button

"Yes, honey?"

"Go find Mrs. Howell, please. I'm scared."

"Anything I can help you with?"

"This man yelled at me! Who is he?"

"That's Mrs. Howell's husband."

"Are you mad at me Mr. Howell?"

No, just surprised. Here is some money."

"I don't deserve money."

"Nonsense."

"Mr. Howell, may I see you for a moment Has Mrs. Howell told you of the girl's past?" The nurse pulled him aside.

"Yes, those scoundrels!"

"She doesn't know your anger won't turn into violence."

"I see. Maggie, I'm sorry I yelled at you. Well I must get back to the office and my ticker tape machine. Here is the money" he set it beside the bed.

"Will Mrs. Howell, really be back?"

"Of course." Mr. Howell couldn't wait to hear the morning business report and left. Maggie just couldn't understand why everybody was being s kind to her.

"Here's your breakfast." The nurse came in with a bowl of oatmeal. Maggie ate half of it very slowly. It was too much for someone who normally ate so little.

A few minutes later, Lovey rushed into Maggie's room.

"My dear, you've hardly touched your food,"

"You came back!" Maggie wasn't sure if she would

"Of course I did!"

"Do I have to eat more?"

"Well I suppose you don't have to." Lovey replied.

"Your husband gave me money."

"Oh how wonderful!"

"Mr. & Mrs. Murphy won't like that."

"My dear I'll never let you go back there again!"

"What if they find me? Mr. Murphy is strong and he could hurt you!"

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Sally Smith, with Child Protective Services. Are you Mrs. Howell?"

"Yes, you must keep those monsters away from Maggie!"

"I'm going to talk to Maggie about that. Maggie, I heard from the Dr. and nurses that Murphy's hurt you. I want to help you, but I need to know what happened. Her voice was firm, but empathetic.

"I can't tell anybody else!"

"Why not?"

"Because he'll kill more people if he'll find out."

"Who'll kill more people?"

"Mr. Murphy will kill you and everyone else I told if he finds out!"

"Maggie do you think he would kill someone?"

"He said so!" Maggie began to sob and Lovey walked over to Maggie's bed to sit with her

"Maggie I'm going to tell the police you said that. Could you tell me about living with Mr. and Mrs. Murphy?

Maggie was afraid, but told her story of years of abuse and slave labor. It was difficult for her, but Mrs. Smith let her take her time and listened attentively, jotting down notes and giving empathetic glances. Lovey was sobbing.

"Thank you Maggie, I know that was difficult for you to tell me. I'll tell the police and they'll talk to the Murphy's about what happened. I'll have to find a place for you to stay now."

"I want to raise her. I'll have to ask Thurston first, but I think he'll be fine with it. Would you like to live with me Maggie?"

"Will you or Mr. Howell not hurt me? Will I have to earn my keep?"

"Darling how many times do have to be told what those monsters did was wrong to you? You'd be our little girl, a rich little girl! We'd give you the best of everything."

"But I don't deserve fine things?"

"Why not, Maggie?" Asked Mrs. Smith.

"My mother was a filthy prostitute and I should never have been born, so I must suffer and earn my keep."

"Oh you poor dear, no child deserves to live the life you did, no one! Even if your mother was a…" Lovey didn't want to say the word.

Lovey called Thurston who agreed to taking in Maggie. After receiving the news Lovey gave Maggie the first hug and kiss she ever remembered. It was the end of a wonderful morning.