Chapter Six: Deanna Jones

Helen nodded and followed the girl. They left the main quart of the shop and entered a strait passage. Marissa led her to a massive wooden door and knocked a few times. An abstruse voice responded and they walked into a small room that had only a table and a couple of chairs. Many pictures and portraits hung all over the walls, and Helen noticed a lot of books and an old radio lying on a desk. The woman who owned the Bookland read a book and didn't stop reading until Marissa spoke.

"Deana, this is the girl who called you yesterday. Her name's Helen. Oh! I must be leaving you two, I think I heard a customer walking in!" Marissa gave a quick smile to Helen and momentarily went out.

Helen looked at her hands, then feet, then decided to look at the woman. Deanna was a blonde woman and Helen reckoned she was, more or less, 30. She was wearing one coloured jumper and a common pair of jeans. Besides this ordinary stuff, Helen noticed one amusing detail on Deanna's left hand. She wore a lot of bracelets that symbolized Christmas. One of them had small Snowmen, the other one showed little Christmas-trees, and there were a few with tiny bells on it. Deanna was obviously one of those people who really enjoyed holiday times.

"Have a seat." Deanna finally said, gesturing towards Helen. "Cigarettes?"

"No, thank you." Helen responded without thinking. "I don't smoke."

Or… do I?

"So, tell me… er, Helen, right? How old are you?" asked Deanna, curiously studying Helen's face. "You look pretty young to search for a job. Shouldn't you be in some high school or college or something?"

Once again, Helen had no idea what to answer.

Should I make something up or… or… just say the truth?

Deanna seemed like a nice person at first glance. The whole store was friendly looking and the sales-woman, Marissa, was rather likeable as well. Helen caught herself thinking how she really wanted to work there.

Then why shouldn't I just say what's the real deal with me?

"You didn't runaway from home, or something like that?" asked Deanna suspiciously, realizing that Helen was thinking what to answer.

Helen smiled but put back on her serious look right away.

"Um... No… not really. Er, this may sound a bit weird to you, but…"

"They've thrown you out?"

Helen couldn't help but grin, even though she was trying to say a painful thing. Deanna reminded her of a big child for some reason. Maybe the holiday bracelets had something to with the impression too.

"No… Actually, it'll sound even more odd, but… but I don't know how old I am. I neither know what my real name is… nor whether I smoke or not. I've actually got… well, I've got amnesia."

Helen clearly said the last word, but in a much lower voice. The expression on her face almost showed disgust at the mention of amnesia.

Deanna looked flabbergasted. "Dear Lord…"

Deanna Jones had never met anyone in her entire life who had amnesia and the fact the poor girl didn't know anything about herself was almost unbelievable to her.

"But…" she managed to say after several moments of silence. "How can it be possible that you don't have anyone to… I don't know… tell you about your life? I mean, you've gotta have family that could tell you your past, right?"

Her voice was almost begging, but Helen simply shook her head.

Yes, it is quite unbelievable. A young girl such as myself with no family.. Without anyone in the world that could connect her to something that happened before...

Sometimes Helen would ask herself if her parents had ever even cared.... Had they looked for her at all? Or had they stopped doing that after some time? Did they try hard enough to find her? Or what if she hadn't had parents at all...?

"Friends?" Deanna was persistent.

"No…"

"Cousins?"

"Not that I know of…"

"Enemies?!" cried Deanna.

Another head-shake.

"How can that be?"

"I don't know," shrugged Helen, trying to sound as calm as possible. "A couple of policemen found me lying near one street a half a year ago or so… and brought me to hospital. I had been in a coma for a while… so doctors think that something terrible must have happened to me. An attack or something. When I woke up, I had no idea who I was. There was nobody to tell me."

Deanna stared tensely. She couldn't say anything and her look was lost somewhere in Helen's eyes.

"Then," Helen continued, "after months of recovering, here I am, ready to start a completely new life. In this book-store… Yeah…"

Helen smiled trying to look as happy as possible, but the sorrow in her eyes assured Deanna that Helen was in lot of pain. There was no smile that could trick what eyes would show.

"I'm so sorry," she tenderly whispered, "I know how it feels to lose a loved one, though I have no idea how it must be to lose… everything… I really hope you'll find a friend or just a replacement for it in me. And I believe Marissa will be there for you as well."

Helen's hazel eyes widened.

"Oh, you don't mean I actually…"

"'Course I do. I mean, I can only believe your words… and as far as I know, you can be an insane psycho killer on loose, but… you didn't really think I'd let you go away with such a sad smile on your face, did you?" winked Deanna, smiling. "All I want from you is to be here every day at 8 o' clock and work till 5. And of course, try to sell a book from time to time. Marissa will explain everything you find confusing. Now, go run home and get some rest because the working day starts early tomorrow."

Helen could feel enormous amounts of happiness running through her taut body. She opened her mouth to say how grateful she was, but there were no words…. No voice….

Deanna realized Helen had troubles speaking because of the over excitement, so she simply said:

"Don't bother thanking, girl. You'll see what kind of a witch I can be when I officially become your boss."