Chapter 10: Recovery
Marimba rolled her head from side to side and slowly opened her eyes. She could hear a storm raging out her window as Calico sat by her bed holding some sort of thing that looked like a bird.
"How do you feel?" Calico asked as she stretched.
"I've woken up. What's that in your hand?" She asked as he put it in her hands.
"It's a crane. I thought you'd like it." He said as she crushed it in her fists glowering at him.
"Do you know what I'd like?" She asked as Calico didn't look directly at her.
"No."
"I'd like to hear my mother's voice again. I'd like to hug my father. Where do you think they are now?"
"I'm sorry, but they're no longer here. My mother is gone also. They're dead." Calico said with pink cheeks.
"You should be ashamed. Your mother came into this house and killed my parents! I killed her! You think some paper thing will help do you?"
"Well, yes. It always helps me."
"This was destroyed because of her. Get out!" Marimba screamed as Calico scurried from the room and Skyler came in to see if he could help.
"It's not his fault. I asked her to come here. I thought it would help him. You don't have to be so harsh." Skyler said taking the seat Calico had just ran from.
"Is there a storm outside?" She asked letting her anger deflate.
"Yes. It's supposed to storm for a few days. I don't want you to be without these." He said placing a new pair of ruby slippers on her feet.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" She asked kicking her legs in the air.
"Have you forgotten? You click your heels three times and say--was He stopped as she gazed at him in confusion.
"All right. I clicked my heels three times, but there's no home so there can be no place like home." She said as tears filled her eyes.
"Why do you say that? You have a home here." He said taking her hands in his as she cried.
"An orphan has no home! I have no home! What will become of me?" She asked as Skyler wiped her face with a tissue.
"You'll stay here for now. You can do what you like when you reach eighteen." Skyler said as she stopped crying and squeezed his hands.
"You are a good man, and Calico doesn't deserve what I did to him. I'm sorry, Calico!" Marimba called as Calico appeared in the doorway with another paper animal in hand.
"You're forgiven. Will this help?" He asked handing her a paper kitten as she smiled.
"Thank you. It's beautiful." She said holding it to her cheek as sleep overcame her.
"Are you really all right after what she said to you?" Skyler asked turning to gaze at Calico with concern.
"I'm fine. Nothing phases me. How could she fall asleep so fast?" He asked gazing at Marimba's sleeping form.
"I gave her some medicine that makes her sleep. She needs to rest." Skyler said leaving the room as Calico sat in the chair waiting for when she'd wake again and smile at him as he folded another paper bird.