Chapter Four

The bar was still active by the time Cedric had arrived. Sofia had fallen asleep with her thumb in her mouth just before he had left as Jessie promised to look after her.

She's definitely getting a pay raise this Christmas, he thought as he ordered himself a glass of beer.

"You look like you've been busy," the bartender smiled at him. "Took care of little Calista today?"

"Actually no. A little girl found me," Cedric answered, taking the cold glass. "She's been abused."

"But who Cedric?"

"Someone by the name of Douglass Johnson."

"I've remember that bastard from two years ago," a voice grumbled, sitting beside Cedric.

"Y-You knew him Roland?" Cedric stuttered.

Roland owned a factory and though he wasn't the one working them, people getting caught in the machine some days got him stressed.

"Indeed I did. He sent the little girl to me for a few hours, said she was good with whatever she got her hands on. She was scared of the machines and some of the adults. She reminded me so much of Amber that I took care of her for those few hours. I taught her to say thank you."

"Roland what happened to Amber?"

"Amber's a sweet little girl. Very generous," Roland smiled. "James is getting into everything he can get his hands on."

"Well he is two!" The bartender chuckled.

"Cedric if you need a sitter, telegram me. James needs someone to play with."

"Sofia's not used to strangers I'm afraid," Cedric sighed.

"Sofia's not used to some grown ups you mean?" Roland asked, taking a sip of whiskey.

"Unfortunately. She's very limited in her words."

"How limited?"

"Like a toddler," Cedric shook his head. "She only spoke "Mister bye bye?" as her only sentence so far."

"I would like to come by tomorrow afternoon and see if I can getting Sofia back on the right spoken words by saying please, thank you, and hello," Roland suggested, causing Cedric to grin.

"She knows those along with stop, kitty, mister, wa wa, and Wormy."

"Wa wa? Let's work on adding t-e-r to it and see if Sofia can say water. Tell you what? I'll come by tomorrow at around twelve thirty before lunch. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Cedric smiled and shook his hand, watching as Roland had left for the night.

Paying for the drink and biding the bartender farewell for the last time, Cedric arrived home to Jessie and Matthew still awake.

"Sofia's a heavy sleeper that little one," Matthew smiled. "Aside from a giggle or two, she's never made a peep."

"That's good," Cedric smiled. "I ran into Roland a few moments ago and I know who Sofia came from."

"Who sir?"

"Douglass Johnson."

"May the Lord bless the little miss away from that terrible man. He's ruined her life!" Jessie shouted, not to where she would wake up Sofia.

"I know Jessie but Roland is coming by tomorrow at twelve thirty to get Sofia talking. He used to watch her. In the meantime I recommend you two go home and get some rest. Sofia probably won't wake up for sometime."

"Of course. Goodnight Cedric sir."

"Goodnight you two," Cedric said as they walked out the door.

In the morning he awoke to Sofia's eyes staring back at him.

"Sofia how long have you been up sweetheart?" Cedric asked, stroking her hair.

Sofia shrugged, being a clue that she couldn't tell time before crossing her legs.

Cedric wondered if she needed to relieve herself as Sofia nodded, running to the first thing she saw.

"Oh no no Sofia!" Cedric scolded as he picked the little five-year-old and carried her off to the bathroom. "This is the potty."

Sofia stared at the object, poking at it.

"Mister?" Sofia asked in confusion.

"It's not gonna hurt you."

"Thank you Mister."

But the so called potty confused her, having never been allowed to use one before as she ran out of the bathroom and ran to the first thing she saw.

And began to relieve herself.

"Oh that Douglass Johnson," Cedric grumbled, picking up Sofia.

"No!" Sofia wailed, kicking her legs.

"Sir what's going on?" Jessie asked over Sofia's wails.

"I was just introducing Sofia to the potty and she ran off."

"Just get ready before Mr. Roland comes this afternoon."

Sofia stopped wailing, smiling to herself before clapping her hands happily.

"What's so funny?" Cedric asked, stroking her hair.

"Cedric where's your robe sir?" Jessie smiled, holding back a laugh. "Miss Sofia did you take it?"

"No!" Sofia giggled. "No! No! No!"

"I take that as a yes Miss Sofía."

Sofía pouted, hugging the robe close. So what if it belonged to Cedric? She liked it!

"Sofia that's a no no alright? Now let me see my robe please?" Cedric smiled, holding out his hand. "Come on sweetie."

"Yes Mister," Sofia frowned, giving the robe back to him.

"Sofia how did you get Cedric's robe sweetheart?" Jessie asked, stroking her hair.

Sofia whimpered, walking to Cedric's room as she pointed to his closet.

Jessie wondered how the child got it opened before Sofia pointed at the broken lock, looking at her feet.

She started to cry before the cries became whimpers, curling herself into a ball.

"M-Me b-bad," Sofia muttered softly, rocking back and forth.

"No Sofia you aren't a bad girl," Jessie assured, a little disturbed by the rocking. "How about you help me make breakfast this morning?"

"Yes?"

"Yes."

Sofía sniffed, getting out of her ball as she took Jessie by the hand. She could cook a little but she liked keeping her hands busy.

Downstairs, Sofia found a stool and began to climb onto the table, spotting some flour. She stared at the object before putting her hands inside it.

"Playing with the flour aren't you?" Jessie smiled, putting Sofia on the stool. "I don't think you want another bath."

"No wa wa! No!" Sofia pouted, crossing her arms.

"Water sweetheart."

"Wa wa!"

"Almost said it sweetheart," Jessie smiled, taking her hand.

It took nearly an hour but they had finished breakfast as Sofia took a strawberry and shoved it in her mouth.

"It seems like you're a fine helper in the kitchen Sofia," Cedric smiled, stroking her hair.

"Mister!" Sofia giggled, trying to get a strawberry in his mouth.

"Thank you for sharing sweetheart but not right now."

"Mister no like me?"

"I like you sweetheart but I have a friend coming to see you at noon," Cedric smiled, ruffling her hair.

"No Master Douglass! No! No! No!" Sofía wailed, surprising Cedric and Jessie.

"Sofia I… What did Douglass do sweetheart?"

Sofia blinked before nodding her head, thinking that his question wasn't something she had to answer. She trusted Cedric a little so she wasn't afraid of what she was about to say.