Thanks to Justice237 for reviewing. And for an idea that he shared with me.
"Now…." When I had finished my call with MiniMay's social worker I went back into the quiet room where May-Li was cleaning out a cut Alex had hit up across Gabe's eyebrow while Gabe seemed to be trying to get away. "Gabe. Sit still." I turned to MiniMay and Libby, who as usual had stayed close to Gabe. "And you two. You're grounded. Both of you."
"For how long?"
"Until I say it's done." I was starting to hear how annoyed and stressed I sounded. I just needed to get this over with. "What do you two think you are doing?"
"I didn't even do anything." Alex protested loudly. "I was talking to Libby. Then I said that you're not the only ones who have lived on the street. I wouldn't think it's something for little girls because life out there is rough. And suddenly Gabe was all over me. Why should I get punished?"
"Stop that or I'll double that time for the grounding."
Alex glared back at me. But silent at my threat of a harder punishment. And both of the boys sat silent while May-Li packed together and I waited until they were done to turn to MiniMay again and realized what would be most important right now.
"Can you come with me into the office MiniMay?" She froze and fear shined in her eyes. "It's okay. It's nothing dangerous. I just need to talk to you and…" Libby and Gabe reacted too. "…I need to talk to only you for a minute. Okay?"
MiniMay froze for a second. Then slowly, and quietly followed me as if she was afraid that if she made a single move or sound too much I would get angry and hurt her. I made sure not to make any sudden moves that might scare her when I followed her through the door between the quiet room into the office and closed the door after us.
"Now." I waited for her to crawl up into the sofa and then sat down in my chair again. "For all children who live in a place like this there is something called the social services. They work with you children to make sure to keep you all safe. There are social services in loads of towns and places all over the world. Now the social services here have gotten a call from the social services from another town. Another town called Dover. There has been a man there who's looking for his daughter. Somebody named Meredith Marie Maynard. Is that you?"
Of course I hadn't expected a verbal answer from MiniMay. She hadn't said a word since before she came here and she didn't seem to have any intention to say anything at all in the future either. But of course- as for any child, I could see the answer in her eyes and the way she looked at me.
"MiniMay." Not to scare her I still used her nickname. Then I stood up, then kneeled in front of the young girl so I wouldn't seem too big and scary for her. "I know you don't want to talk. But if your dad have been trying to hurt you or your brother. Then it's very important that you let us know." MiniMay still didn't say a word. She barely seemed like she had heard what I had said. "Maybe if that helps. Do you want me to get Libby and Gabe too so they'll know too?"
Maybe I didn't expect an answer at all.
Then suddenly, barely big enough to at all be noticeable MiniMay bobbed her head up and down in a nod. It only lasted for a second- but it was definitely there and I didn't have to walk far to get the two. They were both waiting for their youngest friend right in the hallway.
"Come in you two." I went back to sit in the desk chair and Libby and Gabe came to sit down. Gabe laying his arm around MiniMay's shoulder in a comforting move. "I just had a phone call from your social worker Sarah. She told me that there is a man named who has been trying to find his daughter. This man have got two children, twins, but when they were with their mum his daughter just seemed to disappear. And he's searching for his daughter whose full name is Meredith Marie Maynard. And we're thinking that might be MiniMay"
All the three mysteries callously looked back at me. But what was going on in their minds I could only imagine. They were obviously, all three of them working very hard not to tell anyone about who they really were.
"If someone is at risk of getting hurt… Either you MiniMay, or one of you, or anybody else- then it's very important that you let an adult know about it. Then we can deal with it and make sure everybody's safe. Okay? I do get that it seems scary to tell somebody else what has happened when it's been only you three for so long. But you're not supposed to be alone when you're children. And you don't have to be alone anymore now."
When there was a sound from outside he office I was interrupted and looked outside. Memories flashing by about how all of the children had ended up here and what they had been like when they first arrived. Jody who had been left alone who had been trying to escape and eaten every chocolate biscuit that could be found in the house. Chloe who had fallen out a window all of that time ago and finally been reunited with her brother. Toni and Billie who for so long had barely had anything except for each other…
With all of these children and all that had passed by under my watch. I knew I could barely imagine how many children I, and my co-workers had helped together. But still, even after everything. A new child with a new kind of problem just made me feel so helpless.
And seeing the three in front of me only staring back at me… While I could hear laughing from upstairs.
This wasn't the way children were supposed to be.
Someone in Dover is looking for his daughter, who we heard about in the last chapter. And it really does seem like it's MiniMay. But now Gabe and Libby knows too so maybe they'll have something to tell about it.
Random fact
I've had the names and portrayers for this mum, dad and twin brother planned since the beginning of this story. Their names are Angela, Alistair and Michael. And they're portrayed by Naomi Watts, Haaz Sleiman and Jeremy Maguire.
