SEPTEMBER
Chapter 3: Meet SpongeBetty
SpongeBob and Patrick closed one of the boxes filled with toys.
"Well, Pat," said SpongeBob, "I think that's about it. Wow, I can't wait to see the look on those kids' faces when they get a whole bunch of toys!"
"Yeah!" said Patrick.
"Onward, Patrick! Ho!" cried SpongeBob.
SpongeBob and Patrick each picked up a box and walked to the orphanage.
The outside of the orphanage looked much like an elementary school; with tan bricks and red-framed windows. SpongeBob set his box down and pressed the little blue button by the glass double doors. An older woman came to the entrance. She smiled at the boys. She still had all of her teeth, she also had wavy black hair with little strands of gray. She opened the door.
"Can I help you boys?" she inquired.
"We wanted to donate some toys." Said SpongeBob.
"Oh, how kind of you, please come in. My name is Mrs. Lucky." Said the middle-aged beauty queen.
SpongeBob and Patrick followed Mrs. Lucky through a hall way that looked just as elementary as the outside; filled with drawings, encouragement posters, and finger paintings.
"How long have you been here?" asked Patrick.
"25 years." Answered Mrs. Lucky.
"Really? You like doing this for a living?" asked SpongeBob.
"Well, I love kids," said Mrs. Lucky. "But I got to tell you, I'm more of a counselor here than a care giver."
"Why?" asked Patrick.
"Well, you see, most of the orphans here are mentally ill, or something so terrible happened that their in a terrible state of mind." Replied Mrs. Lucky. "For example, we just got this little girl a couple of months ago. She got into this horrible boat accident with her father. He's dead. And we still can't track down her mother."
"Why not?" asked SpongeBob.
"Her mother is a scientist, and she went on some trip. She's never come back."
"How's the little girl now?" asked Patrick.
"Depressed. She won't talk unless she feels it's extremely necessary. Sometimes I'll see her talking to herself when she's alone, though." Said Mrs. Lucky.
They continued walking in silence until they reached a pair of purple double doors.
"The little ones play in here," Mrs. Lucky informed them, "I'm sure they'll love those toys."
She pushed opened the door, revealing a few kids playing tag. Another one just lied on a bed, back turned to the outside world.
"Pat, I'll take this corner and you take that right corner over there." Whispered SpongeBob.
"Okay." Patrick whispered back.
SpongeBob went towards the little girl lying on the bed. She didn't even notice his presence as he put his box down, and grabbed a Barbie. SpongeBob tapped gently on her shoulder. The little girl turned over. Her eyes look sad, thought SpongeBob.
"I've got something for you." Whispered SpongeBob.
The girl didn't respond.
"What's your name?"
The redhead said nothing, just stared.
"Oh, I think you're who Mrs. Lucky was telling us about, aren't you?" asked SpongeBob.
Isabel continued to stare at him.
"Well, here," said SpongeBob, handing her the plastic supermodel, "You can keep this."
Isabel took the Barbie, admiring her tiny 6-inch heels.
"Why don't you talk to anybody?" inquired SpongeBob.
Isabel looked up at SpongeBob, a history of pain flooding her soft blue eyes.
"I feel so bad for you. I don't know what I'd do without my mom and dad. And here you are, all by yourself in the world and so young." Said SpongeBob.
SpongeBob put a hand on Isabel's shoulder, and then walked a way. He could have sworn that he had a hole in his heart after his first encounter…
… with his future adopted daughter.