The girl took one last long look at was once her home. All that was left of it were charred remains. There was nothing left for her there. Her belongings that could be saved were in a small backpack beside her.
The site of the fire was littered with footprints from careless people that had walked around, trying to figure out what had happened.
But she knew. She knew and she was not going to tell. She was mute.
"Come along, child," a silky voice said.
She turned and looked at the owner of the voice. Tears were streaming down her face. She was too young to deal with such a loss. She gave in to the childish impulse that she never gave into before. She lifted up her arms to be carried.
The owner of the voice shifted nervously. He was not used to caring for children. He was more of a disciplinarian when it came to children. When the girl started sniffing, he walked over and grabbed her backpack. He then picked up the girl.
"This never happened," he whispered, hoping to get a giggle from the girl. She merely held onto his neck while he carried her away.
By the time the two had reached their destination, a house, the girl was asleep.
The door to the house opened.
"How is she?" A voice asked.
"She just lost her family and house. I would say she is absolutely spiffing," the man answered sarcastically.
"Break it up. Take her upstairs. The open door is her bedroom," a woman ordered crisply.
Even though the man was not used to following orders, especially from this woman, he took the girl up the stairs. He found the open door and walked inside. The room was sparsely furnished, hardly what this girl was used to. He laid her on the bed and placed a blanket over her. He glanced at her face and saw that she was watching him.
"Have you been awake the whole time? I wager you have.
She said nothing.
He shifted nervously again. He was not the type that was used to caring for small children. "Well, good night.
He turned to leave, but was stopped by the sound of the girl getting out of bed and rummaging through her backpack. When she was done, a well-loved book was clutched in her small hands. She held the book out to him.
"You want me to read to you?" He asked, incredulous.
She nodded and sat back on the bed. He stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before taking the book from the child and sitting on the bed. The girl snuggled under the covers.
Bedtime Fairy Tales? Not my choice. What one would you like to hear?" He handed the book to her. She found a picture of a woman cleaning and handed the book back to him. Cinderella? Once upon a time there lived a girl and her parents
By the time the man was done, the girl was asleep. The covers had fallen off of her. He picked them up and tucked her in. He placed the book on the nightstand and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Is she asleep?" The man that met them at the door asked.
"Yes." Was the curt reply.
"Why were you up there so long?
The answer was muffled by a glass that the man was drinking out of.
"Pardon?
"She wanted to hear a bedtime story," The man whispered.
All those that were around the kitchen had to stifle snorts at the thought of this man reading a child a bedtime story.
The man scowled and walked out.