Just some warnings for neglect and abuse at this point. Just an idea I had that was keeping me awake today!
A Child Called Nobody
Chapter 1
Tom and Sasha had tried it all. Fertility treatments, IVF, taking a break, having couple's weekends but they just couldn't seem to conceive. All Sasha wanted post-retirement was to be a mother and Sam and Ashley didn't require much. There was an over-abundance of children in 'orphan's homes' now, and at Tom's suggestion, they drove to their nearest one on a Saturday, hoping to find one that they connected with.
"Maybe we should have made an appointment?" Sasha remarked as they got out of the SUV.
"Nah. Places like this will put the kids on display if they know you're coming. I want it to be a bit more natural. Not so forced." Tom answered. He knocked on the front door and finally a lady in her fifties opened it.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Are you Mrs. Abernathy? The director?" Tom asked. The door was only cracked a small amount.
"Yes." Mrs. Abernathy answered.
"My wife and I are looking to adopt a child and we heard about this place. We were hoping to meet some of the children." Tom said.
"You didn't call for an appointment." Mrs. Abernathy pointed out as she opened the door a bit more.
"Yes, sorry about that. We were also thinking of making a donation. My name is Sasha Cooper-Chandler and this is my husband Tom Chandler." Sasha said. Thankfully, Mrs. Abernathy didn't seem to know who they were and opened the door, mostly because of the donation.
"Do you want a girl or boy? Young or old?" Mrs. Abernathy asked. She led them into the front room. What surprised both of them was the lack of children's paraphernalia. In fact, they couldn't even hear them playing.
"I'd like to meet several and just see who we connect with." Tom answered.
"Where are they?" Sasha asked.
"This is their quiet time. I will be right back with a few." Mrs. Abernathy said before leaving the room. Tom and Sasha shrugged at each other and settled on the couch. A few minutes later; a door opened but it was not Mrs. Abernathy. It was a young girl, carrying a heavy ash bucket. Without noticing she was being watched, she began sweeping out the fireplace.
"Do you need some help?" Tom finally asked. The girl turned around and looked at them in absolute horror.
"I'm sorry; I didn't know you were in here. I am not supposed to be out here if there are people in here." The girl said. Tom immediately recognized bruises all over her and stood up. The girl shrunk away.
"Its okay. What's your name?" Tom asked. Before she could answer, Mrs. Abernathy marched in and scowled at the young girl.
"Girl, I told you to stay out!" Mrs. Abernathy said. It shocked both Tom and Sasha when she slapped her across the face.
"Hey, that's not necessary." Tom said. He was across the room in almost a sprint, and as soon as he got close to the girl, he realized that she was familiar. "What's your name?" Tom asked again.
"She's nobody. Don't you worry about her. Just an insolent girl." Mrs. Abernathy answered. Sasha had also appeared next to Tom and put her arm around the girl.
"I'm Nobody." The girl said.
"Tom; I want this one. I want this girl. Today. NOW!" Sasha said.
"You don't want to meet any of the others?" Mrs. Abernathy asked.
"No. We'll take her. What do we need to do to make that happen?" Tom asked.
"I'll just have you sign some papers but really? She is not a good girl. There are lots of other children who would be better fits." Mrs. Abernathy asked.
"She is the one we want." Sasha said. She still had her arm around the girl and was rubbing her back. The girl had put her face into Sasha's shoulder. As soon as Mrs. Abernathy was out of the room, Tom led them to the couch.
"Is your real name Hannah?" Tom asked. Sasha looked at him in complete confusion.
"How'd you know? No one has called me that in years. I'm Nobody." Hannah asked.
"Tom?" Sasha asked.
"We're taking her with us, but she won't be staying with us. She's Mike's daughter." Tom answered.
"Daddy?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah. He's missed you a lot." Tom said. Sasha nodded in agreement.
"We have to do something about these other children too though." Sasha said.
"I'll make the call as soon as we leave. Just want to get her out of here." Tom answered.
"Why? I'm Nobody. No one is going to care what's happened here." Hannah asked.
"No, sweetheart. You have been told you're Nobody, but you are someone who has been missed and grieved for. You have nothing to worry about now." Tom said. Sasha nodded in agreement and rubbed Hannah's back reassuringly. She had intended on going home with a child, but had no idea that they would be taking home a child that would never belong to them, but would be loved irregardless.