Chapter 10

Song: "Mandy" – Barry Manilow

Lyrics used: "Yesterday's a dream
Now I face the morning
Crying on the breeze
The pain is calling"

The Levinsons had come to visit the Girl (now dubbed 'Mandy,' to avoid any confusion) every day for a week since they'd discovered her. Brandon had come to care for Mandy greatly. Sarah, on the other hand, had taken a bit longer to warm up to Mandy. However, Brandon could see Sarah's walls begin to crack when they'd been told that Mandy was to be put in an orphanage. "I'm afraid it's protocol," Dr. McInroe, the main doctor who'd been treating her, said, "We haven't been able to get any indicator on where Mandy came from at all."

Brandon looked over at his wife as they drove home from the hospital, noting her expression had not much changed since they'd left.

"What's on your mind?" he asked cautiously.

Sarah sighed. "What do you think should be done about the girl?" she asked.

Brandon's eyebrows rose. "Meaning…?"

Letting out a frustrated groan, Sarah repeated herself. "I mean, what should we do?"

Brandon thought for a moment. He'd been wondering that very thing not two minutes before. "I don't know…"

"I mean," Sarah prattled on, not hearing him, "It's not as though we haven't done enough. We saved her life, for God's sake!"

"That's true…"

"But she'll probably be sent into some kind of government care, and then to a non-Christian home!"

Brandon had a feeling he knew what direction this was going, but didn't interrupt. "I mean, what kind of Christians would we be if we allowed that to happen?" Sarah paused.

"So, you've come to the conclusion that…?"

"It's simple," she stated, "We take her home with us. Tomorrow."

Brandon let out a sigh, being only mildly surprised. "You're absolutely sure about that? She isn't a puppy we can just take back if she doesn't…"

Sarah interrupted. "I know she isn't! Of course I know that! Brandon, she was delivered to us by Him! We can't ignore a gift that we'd prayed for over a span of fifteen years!"

Brandon smiled. "I think you're absolutely right, darling."

Sarah's head whipped around to face him. "You do? I mean, I know we don't know her that well yet, and I know it's sudden…"

Brandon patted her leg with a chuckle. "I couldn't agree with you more, and I do think we've earned the right to parenthood."

Sarah beamed at him. "First thing tomorrow?"

"Absolutely." Brandon answered with a chuckle, feeling very proud that his wife had chosen to help the girl.

The following day, Mandy awoke abruptly. She'd had a dreamless sleep for most of the night. She had woken up at around two o' clock in the morning, and had fallen back asleep almost immediately. This time, however, she was standing on a colorful bridge over roaring waves.

"Hello, my dear," a musical voice said from behind her. She turned to see a beautiful woman walking towards her.

"Who are you?" Mandy asked as the woman got closer.

"You will remember," she answered, "In time."

Mandy opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the chance.

"I have brought you here to issue you a warning," the woman said in a serious voice. Mandy blinked. "I don't fully understand."

"You will." The woman sighed. "There will come a time in the future where you will be asked to make a choice. You will, after much deliberation, choose to side with a man who seeks to rule a world."

Mandy furrowed her brow. "Wait," she said loudly as the mysterious woman began to walk away, "I am still extremely confused! I do not understand what you're trying to tell me." The woman turned back and smiled. "You will, my dear. You will."

With that, the Girl awoke, feeling very confused.

"Good morning!" the now familiar voice of Doctor McInroe rang through the room as he entered.

"Good morning," she answered, still a bit disoriented from her strange dream. "How are you feeling today, Mandy?"

She grinned as she stretched her arms over her head. "Very well, thank you. How was your sleep, doctor?"

Doctor McInroe chuckled. "I slept well, thank you for asking." He looked at his watch. "Oh! We'd better get you into some normal clothes instead of that hospital gown," he exclaimed. While this was a concept that Mandy wasn't about to argue with, she couldn't stop the confusion that crept into her voice.

"Normal clothes?"

"Yes. You have a special visitor coming today."

"Special? Are the Levinsons not special enough?" Mandy asked, only half joking.

"Oh, of course they are! The difference between them and this visitor is that she will be able to place you in a more…permanent home."

Mandy let out a sigh. Of course she knew that she couldn't stay here with the kind hospital staff forever, though the thought was a pleasant one.

"You'll be going with this woman to a home for parentless children," Doctor McInroe continued, "and eventually, she'll find a family who will want to take you in."

Mandy smiled. "Well that is quite a selfless act."

"Sure is. Now, I brought you some clothes that I bought from Wal Mart, but I'm not sure if they'll fit very well." He gestured to a folded shirt and a pair of jeans on the nearby chair.

"Thank you," Mandy gave another smile as the doctor left the room, closing the door behind him. She crept out of the hospital gown and into the clothes, her mind whirling. She wasn't sure what an orphanage would be like, but it had to be a wonderful place. In her mind's eye, she painted a picture. Children of all ages, sizes and creeds ran about gaily as if they hadn't a care in the world.

"Mandy?" the doctor's sounded through the door, "Your visitor's here."

Mandy's eyes widened, now suddenly faced with the choice of sitting down or standing up to greet the orphanage lady. If she sat on the bed, she would seem as though she didn't care. If she stood, she would seem too eager. She was over thinking it, she knew, but the overwhelming want to impress this stranger was too much for her to bear. This person would be the one to take her to the wonderful orphanage, whatever it was. She had to make a good impression. After much deliberation, she chose to stand.

"C-come in."

The door swung open to reveal a very thin, very sour looking woman.

"This is Mrs. Wilson," Dr. McInroe explained, "She's the woman from the orphanage."

"It is an honor to meet you," Mandy said politely.

"You're Mandy, then?" Mrs. Wilson cut across Mandy's greeting, her dark eyes shooting daggers at the girl.

"Yes. I…"

"What's with the accent?" Mrs. Wilson asked.

"I…I'm sorry?" Mandy asked, furrowing her brow.

"You've got an accent. What is it? British?"

"I do not know," Mandy answered, "I have no memory beyond being in this hospi…"

"How old are you?" Mrs. Wilson interrupted once more. Mandy could tell that this was a habit that Mrs. Wilson would not be breaking anytime soon.

"We're guessing she's about sixteen or seventeen," Dr. McInroe replied from the doorway.

Mrs. Wilson sniffed. "That seems a bit old, don't you think? Nobody ever wants to adopt a teenager." She gave Mandy a cold once-over. "Particularly one that's so…unappealing."

Mandy felt a flicker of frustration run through her. "I may need a bit more of an explanation, Mrs. Wilson."

The woman's eyes widened a fraction in surprise, but her icy mask quickly showed itself once again. "People who adopt want to have a child to brag about," she said coolly, "a child that will make the parents look good. This of course could be in the form of some kind of talent, of which I'm sure you have plenty. However, in most cases," she narrowed her eyes in mirth, "the child's looks play a large part. In your case, you're a bit shortcoming. Trust me, sweetheart, no one in this world wants to adopt a child that will amount to nothing."

Mandy stood there, anger bubbling inside her. This almost made her jump. She hadn't felt this way before… at least, not that she could remember.

"I think we're done here," Mrs. Wilson said, a wide smile crossing her features when Mandy said nothing. "Needless to say, you won't be joining me, Mandy. Maybe you can find another…more desperate place that'll take you." Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked to the door.

"Wait," Mandy called, rushing to Mrs. Wilson's side, "If I cannot accompany you to the orphanage, at least allow me to walk you to the lobby. You made such a long journey only to be disappointed, after all."

Mrs. Wilson hesitated, before allowing the young girl to walk with her. Overall, the walk was quiet. Mandy's mind was whirling. "Nothing," she'd said…she would amount to nothing.

"Mrs. Wilson," she said quietly, "How could you possibly know that I will become nothing? Surely you cannot foresee such a thing."

Mrs. Wilson scoffed. "Trust me, honey. I know 'em when I see 'em. You're gonna be nothing but a waste of space."

Mandy felt the anger bubble up once again, though there was another sensation that sparked in the back of her mind. What was that? "Is that how you think of all the children at your orphanage?" she asked.

"Well, they aren't there for nothing," Mrs. Wilson chuckled. "Here's where we part ways, kid," she sighed, going through her purse.

"Even if the feeling is not mutual, Mrs. Wilson," Mandy said calmly, "It was a pleasure meeting you." She held out a hand for Mrs. Wilson to shake. The woman rolled her eyes, but grasped Mandy's hand anyway.

At that moment, the strange sensation in the back of Mandy's mind shot through her body and down her arm until it reached Mrs. Wilson's hand. The woman let out a small shriek and attempted to pull her hand away, but Mandy held firm. She pulled the woman closer so that they were only inches apart.

"Hear me," Mandy muttered darkly, her eyes boring into Mrs. Wilson's own, "No one is a 'waste of space,' as you so eloquently put it. Should I hear tell of you sharing that lump of coal you deem worthy to be an opinion, I'll see to it that your career ends. You will have nothing and no one."

Mrs. Wilson jolted her hand away, looking down at it. There was a small scorch mark. "Freak!" she yelped as she shot into her car and drove off.

Mandy was left in the parking lot, feeling very frightened. She had no idea what she had just done, or how she'd done it. The feeling had come and gone so quickly, it made her head spin. Perhaps this was a glimpse into her past. Perhaps she had been a hot-headed…she didn't know. All she knew was that it scared her. Nothing like that would happen again, if she could help it. Shakily, she walked back into the hospital, and back to her room.