This is where I know I'm entering some sensitive territory. So, if this doesn't work, it doesn't work. I think it'd be a little interesting, that's all.

Reviews are appreciated, please!

Chapter 2: Meeting Mrs. Figg

Tamisin always liked the fall. She didn't know why; she just liked it, plain and simple. Sometimes she liked to watch the leaves float slowly to the ground; she loved the way their bright colors caught the rays of the sun.

As you may have guessed, Tamisin wasn't an ordinary girl. She just didn't know it yet.

Her nose would frequently be stuck in one book or another, most often her cherished book of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. She loved the idea of being rescued by a knight in shining armor, or going off to far distant lands on horseback.

Maybe one day that would happen to her.

Life wasn't all bad, Tamisin had to admit. Aside from Olivia and her posse, the other children were nice. Her teachers weren't too strict, and Miss Sayers made sure everyone was safe and comfortable. The food wasn't too bad, either; Tamisin heard from the older children that most orphanages served fried liver for every meal.

Still, the orphanage had never felt like home. It was just a place where she existed; there wasn't a mother or a father or any of that. And that's what she wanted the most: to have a family of her own.

She knew that that was what everyone wanted, but she couldn't help feeling she wanted it most of all.

Although she was five, Tamisin knew she was better off than a lot of the children. Those who were in their teen years were especially difficult to find families for; in most cases, they came of age and were sent out into the world on their own. Tamisin didn't want that to happen to her; she didn't think she could be brave enough to face life all by herself.

She would stare up at the stars at night, wishing on all of them. She wanted a mother and a father, and to go exploring, and, when she was older, find a handsome prince to live happily-ever-after with.

Night after night, things didn't change. But Tamisin never gave up hope. No matter how many times Olivia called her Hammy Tammy, or she skinned her knee on the pavement, or the older children assured her that fairy tales and magic weren't real.

She would keep wishing until her wishes came true.

Late one afternoon, Tamisin was called into Miss Sayers's office. Tamisin couldn't remember doing anything bad, so she figured it could only mean one thing.

"There's a woman coming in on Friday," Miss Sayers said. "I think you'll like her very much, Tamisin."

She just nodded, knowing how these things went. She'd been through about twenty interviews before; she was even allowed to talk in some of the more recent ones because she was getting older. But each time, the couple in question found someone more suited to their liking, or realized they didn't want a child at that time, or decided not to adopt at all. Tamisin had felt offended at first, but had gotten used to it. It wasn't a personal attack against her; she just hadn't found the right people yet.

"Her name is Mrs. Arabella Figg," Miss Sayers told her. "She lives on Wisteria Walk, in Little Whinging, which is about ten minutes away from here. There are children in the neighborhood who are around your age."

Tamisin nodded again. Miss Sayers frowned.

"Aren't you excited?"

Tamisin shrugged.

"Oh, Tamisin…" Miss Sayers sighed. "I realize how hard it is for you kids. Day after day, I have to watch couples decline because of this reason, or that conflict, or something. And it makes me…angry. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, you can always consider this to be your home, Tamisin." She smiled, and Tamisin felt a little bit better.

"She's very much your speed, Tamisin," Miss Sayers assured, handing her a lollipop. "You'll see."

Friday was suddenly there. Tamisin sat in a too-big chair in the interview room, tugging at her golden-brown pigtails.

What if Mrs. Figg didn't like her? What if was old and mean? What if she—

The door opened. Tamisin sat up straighter.

Miss Sayers was accompanied by an old woman. Tamisin groaned; older adults were rather boring and bland. But there was something about this particular woman…even though she walked with a limp and needed support from a cane, there was an undistinguishable energy in her eyes.

"Mrs. Figg, this is Tamisin Beeson," Miss Sayers said. "Tamisin, this is Mrs. Figg."

Tamisin waved before casting her eyes downward.

"What happens now?" Mrs. Figg asked. Her voice didn't sound as creaky as Tamisin had imagined it.

"Well, you two ask each other questions about yourselves," Miss Sayers explained.

"Why didn't you say that in the first place?" Mrs. Figg replied, a bit put out. Tamisin found herself smiling a bit.

"So…Tamisin…" The older woman chewed on her name. "Unique name you have there. How old are you?"

"Five," she said in a voice that was much too small to belong to her.

"And what do you like to do?"

"Read," Tamisin said a little louder. "I like books."

Mrs. Figg nodded. "Books are wonderful things. They take you to new places."

"Yes." Tamisin looked up. "That's what I love about them."

Mrs. Figg smiled. "What's your favorite?"

"Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales," she said automatically.

Mrs. Figg got a far-off look on her face. "Ah, yes…I remember those…very entertaining."

Tamisin nodded eagerly. "My favorite is Rapunzel."

"And why is that?"

"Well, because even though she's locked up in that tower, she still manages to find love. And when all her hair is cut off, and she's lost her prince, they find each other again." Tamisin blushed. "I think it's very…im-spir-ate-ing."

"That it is," Mrs. Figg said, laughing slightly at Tamisin's mispronunciation.

…

The interview went on like that for about another hour. Tamisin learned that Mrs. Figg loved cats, and owned a lot of them. She loved the fall, as well, and had a sharp tongue when it came to her pet peeves.

When Mrs. Figg left, Miss Sayers turned to Tamisin. "So, what do you think?"

Tamisin smiled widely. "She's wonderful."