Chapter One: Blind As a Bat
Ke stood there and grasped the long white stick as Wilt's large red hand handed it to her. He was glad she couldn't see him, for his one working eye was bulging slightly on its stalk. She tapped past him and into the room. "So," she said. "What was it you wanted to show me?" Wilt snapped out of his thoughts and smiled sympithectically as she gazed up at where he was. It was a shame such pretty eyes didn't work. "I told you, Ke, it's a surprise." Wilt whispered. She giggled while he smiled and turned her around, giving her a push in the right direction. Wilt still held a small package behind him and put it underneath of the huge tree looming over him. If he had a nose, it surely would have hit the glowing angel on top of the tree.
Ke continued to tap as more and more excited children from other rooms rushed in. They were in ragged old pajamas like poor children were. Ke smiled at the sound of little feet of all different sizes padding on the rug and thumping softly on the hardwood floor. Wilt smiled as they laughed and ran for the presents. Wilt saw a small but pretty dress laying beneath the tree with a small card on it. It was very beatiful; made of red velvet cloth with tiny bows around the collar and a bigger, lighter one in back. And, attached to it but so it could come off, was a smaller version of it for a doll. Wilt carefully picked it up and tapped slightly on Ke's skinny shoulder. She turned around and looked up, knowing who it was. "Yes?" she asked. Wilt put the dress in her thin, pale hands and, after feeling it for a few seconds, Ke's face lighted up with a true smile. "It's a velvet dress!" she said. She laughed with tears of joy, finding Wilt's leg and hugging it. "You brought us presents!" she cried. "Yeah," said Wilt. "We sure did." Ke hugged him tighter. "I hope you never leave me . . ." she whispered.
Frankie sat on the carpeted center of the room, laughing with the excited and overjoyed children. She let her green hoodie slide down a little. Many children came back to her for hugs. Wilt smiled and seated himself next to her. "They sure are happy," he said. "Yeah, like the others back at Foster's." Frankie said. Wilt's smile faded a little. "I never knew . . . some children lived like this." Frankie stopped smiling and looked at him. "They're just a little more unfortunate than us, I guess." Frankie eyed the small girl Wilt had given the dress to. "She's blind, huh?" she said softly. Wilt hesitated. "Yeah," he said. Frankie gave a small smile as she put her hand on his shoulder. "But so are you, in your broken eye," she pointed to it. Wilt reached up and touched its bent stalk. He thought about this for a moment, and realized that he knew what Ke felt like. Only he was lucky enough to have his other eye back. Ke couldn't see a thing. Wilt watched as Ke took off her doll's old green dress and put the nicer one on. "Now," she whispered to it. "We can have clothes to put on for Stella's birthday and when Christmas comes again." she smiled.
Wilt thought more about his blind eye and hers. But, he was ripped out of them when Frankie stood, fixing her hoodie. "Well," she said. "Wilt, it's time to go." Wilt hadn't known how long they had been there, and just now realized that, but he bit his lip, feeling like he should stay with Ke longer. "But," Wilt started. "What about Ke?" He suddenly felt worried for the small, sickly looking girl who was cradling her doll carefully in her arms by the tree and gazing into a bright red ornament. "What about Ke?" Frankie stopped. "Wilt, she stays here, don't you know that?" Frankie asked him. Wilt thought before giving a worried smile. "We could take her to Foster's, and she could be happy with us!" Wilt tried. Frankie slowly shook her head. "No, Wilt, she can't. She lives here, she isn't like an abandoned imaginary friend. Wilt, I'm sorry, c'mon." she gently pulled Wilt away. Wilt looked back at Ke, who didn't know he was leaving.
Frankie waved to the plump, rosey-cheeked lady before pulling Wilt onto the bus, starting it, and driving away. Wilt clambered to the back seat and watched as the orphanage slowly faded from sight. Wilt waved, since he didn't get to tell her good-bye. He hated to think when Ke woke up he wouldn't be there, and maybe start crying again. He shivered, remembering exactly what she had said
"I hope you never leave me . . ."