Chapter 8

The sun smiled warmly on the grassy hills of the park. Wind whispered softly through the rustling leaves, Birds chirped their song as they flew gracefully overhead. A gurgling fountain stood in the center of things. All around people were enjoying the beauty. Some were on a picnic; others were simply playing on the soft lawn. It was a perfect day. Almost. Despite all the beauty, a young man still sat alone on a park bench with his head in his hands, weeping.

"Joe…." Frank began softly as he walked slowly up to his younger brother. But Joe didn't answer. He just looked away with tear filled eyes.

Frank sighed and continued as he sat next to his brother, "Joe, it's going to be ok. Somehow. We ju-"

"It doesn't matter anymore," he hoarsely whispered, looking down at his hands and feeling the tears well up again.

"Joe-"

"And its not as if you'd care!" Joe started, getting angry. "You don't even seem to want her. All you care about is the stupid Network!"

"Joe! Of course I care, but-"

"But what? The President is more important than your own sister!"

"Joe, stop this. Please….."

But Joe didn't want to hear any of this. He stalked off, leaving his brother behind. Frank knew that if he followed Joe, the argument would only continue, so he calmly watched as his brother left the park.

Once again, Joe sat alone on a bench weeping. He came all the way to Pennsylvania in hopes of finding his twin, but to his dismay, he couldn't even find a trailer park. As he sat there watching the amber sunset, he heard a soft voice behind him.

"My, my, young man, whatever seems to be the trouble?" crooned a frail old lady dressed in a long tattered black coat. She sat next to him, her elderly bones cracking and grating as she did so. "I couldn't help but notice you sitting over here, sad as you are. Whatever is so upsetting that it has strong, young, handsome man like you in such a state?" she repeated.

Joe looked up and wiped his red, tear stained eyes with his sleeve.

"Come, now. You can tell me. I won't bite!" she soothed with a small chuckle. She reached out a wrinkled hand and touched his arm. Although her hands felt like ice, there was a warm feeling of love and comfort radiating about her. Her sliver hair glittered in the sun.

"Well…." Joe began, but stopped as a sob caught in his throat.

"There, there. It's ok. Just relax. There, there," she whispered in his ear. The mature woman pulled Joe to her chest and held him, rubbing his back as he sobbed freely. A soothing, secure aurora encircled Joe.

"Are you lost?"

"I-I-I…..can't……find….a-a-a-a……trailer park. Its s-s-somewhere in th-th-this town," he finally straightened up and wiped the tears from his cheeks.

My! There hasn't been a trailer park in this town in ages!"

"So I've noticed," he said. Then he had a sudden thought. "But there was one? Do you remember it?"

"Of course I remember it. I may be old but my memory's not that bad!" she chuckled. "Yes there was one, over on the west end of town. I should know. I lived there for over 50 years."

"You did! What Happened to it?" Joe asked, taken aback.

"Umm…..let's see. Almost 13 years ago there was an enormous fire. The entire place was destroyed. I still remember it so well," she recalled, looking off into the distant setting sun. "I know several people died that night. It was a great tragedy."

Joe was trembling with hope. "Do you remember any children?"

"Children? Hmmmm…. Well, let's see. There were only about ten families in the whole neighborhood. I remember this one couple that had a young boy only months before the fire. What a tragedy. The youngster didn't even have a chance. Died in the fire, the poor thing."

"Do you remember any children that would have been about eight at the time of the fire?" he asked, biting his lip.

"Eight, you say? Hmm…. Ah! Why yes! There was this darling young girl. I'd say she was about eight. What a sweetheart. Used to always bake me cookies and talk with me in the afternoons." She smiled with fond memories.

"R-r-r-really!" Joe asked, the tears beginning to form in his eyes again. "Wh-a-a-a-t hap…ended to her?" Please don't say she died in the fire, his mind screamed.

"Oh the poor dear. The fire started in her trailer, I believe." Joe let out a choked gasp, but the woman still continued. "Luckily, though, the darling did get out in time. Unfortunately, her parents didn't. The poor child. She was alone after that."

"S-s-she's still alive?" he stammered.

"Well, I haven't seen her since then. The state whisked her away to the orphanage across town. I almost took the dear in myself, but even then I was too old. I could hardly take care of myself, let alone a young whippersnapper, even though she was an angel. I'd say she would be about your age right now." She shook here head and sighed. "I wonder what ever happened to her…"

"The orphanage! Why didn't I think of that!" Joe exclaimed, more to himself then to the old lady sitting next to him. He turned around to look in the direction of the park to see if he could spot Frank. When he couldn't, he turned back around to thank the old woman, but to his shock, she was gone. Even more amazing, there was no one in sight!

Frank sat alone on the park bench as the sky slowly faded from blue, to amber, to red, and finally a deep purple. Gazing up at the stars, he silently wished that everything would work out.

"FRANK!" yelled Joe, interrupting his older brother's thoughts.

"Joe! There you are! I was worried sick. Come on, we'd better start heading home," he said, getting up from the bench and heading in the direction of the van.

"No! Frank, listen! I know where she is! The orphanage! We have to check the orphanage!" Joe excitedly cried, grabbing his brother's arm.

"Orphanage! How do you know? Come on, Joe, we don't have time for any more games. We have the Networ-"

"This isn't a game! I'm serious! We have to check the orphanage!" Never before had Frank seen his younger sibling so excited. Not even on Christmas morning. Once again, he knew there was no arguing. When Joe made up his mind, his mind was made up. There was no changing it.

"Ok!" Frank grumbled. "But this better not be another wild goose chase!" he threatened as the two climbed into the van.

"I swear its not! Now just shut up and drive."

"Ok, then, were to?" he questioned, starting the van.

"645 Spruce St.," he read, looking down at the ripped telephone book page he had gotten from a phone book. "Sunnybrook Orphanage."