I took Meep into the drugstore and bought him a bottle of Coca Cola as a reward for how brave he had been through everything. He happily drank it on our walk back to camp, all the while he never let go of my hand. As we were walking I told him about my childhood in Lithuania, all the good times with my family. Meep smiled and giggled at my stories every now and then adding bubbly, "Meep." To the conversation.
The closer we approached the camp the more I could feel the restless spirit inhabiting it. When we passed through the gates I heard someone shout, "She's back!"
Looking around I tried to find the source of the voice but my attention was drawn elsewhere. Almost everyone from the camp came out and started for me.
"Lina where have you been?" Miss Ethel scolded, "You have gave us all a fright, and nearly scared Paul to death he's...Oh my God!" She exclaimed when she finally saw Meep holding my hand.
As they drew nearer to me and Meep everyone gasped upon us with wide eyes, not truly believing in the sight before them.
"I guess we figured out where you were." Paul stammered at me.
"How...how?" Jimmy questioned stunned.
Smiling I told him, "I marched right down to that station and had a few choice words with that Police Chief. I told him I was not going to leave without Meep." Giggling, "I suppose he got sick of my yelling because he released Meep to me."
"I am pretty sure Meep will not have anymore problems with them." Seriously telling them all, they looked skeptical at first but then they relaxed, relieved.
Miss Elsa came up to me and hugged me which startled me for a moment but it passed as I hugged her back, "My dear liebe girl, I do not know how to thank you. You have saved one of our own." She pulled back to look into my eyes, "One of your own."
My throat felt thick as I tried to swallow the tears, "Thank you Miss Elsa." I whispered to her. Letting go I quickly wiped away a few stray tears that managed to escape and turned back to Meep.
"Come on mielasis, you have had a long day. How about we try and get some rest?" Asking him. Meep gave me a shy nod and I realized how exhausted he must have been. He took my hand and we walked to his trailer, "I will be back soon." My eyes caught Paul's and I gave him a tiny smile before disappearing into his trailer.
It was tiny but I knew a man like Meep did not need much. The trailer was filled with various knick knacks and collections. His shelves were stacked with rocks, dried flowers, feathers, various shiny pieces of metal. Smiling to myself seeing these things made me happy, Meep wanted for little in life.
"Come on mielasis, let us get that dirty costume off you." I helped Meep out of what remained of his costume. Surveying it I prayed I would be able to get the blood stains out and mend all the tears to it. I placed it by the door so I would not forget it when I left.
"Climb into bed and I will tuck you in." I grinned to him and he giggled as he climbed into bed. Tucking in his blanket swelled me with a happiness in a heart that I could not describe.
"Do you want me to sing you a song to help you sleep?" I asked him sitting by him on his bed.
"Meep." He joyfully yawned as he eyes started to droop.
I began singing one of the lullabies my mother would always sing me to sleep with only I sang it in English,
Little one, little one
hush baby
my precious one, my little one
Birds are settling down, lay down the beasts
Time to sleep as well
For little children
Time to sleep as well
For little children
Asleep is now the little sun
Asleep is now the bright one
Time to sleep as well
For little children
Time to sleep as well
For little children
Asleep is now a little bee
Asleep is now the grey one
Time to sleep as well
For little children
Time to sleep as well
For little children
By the time I had finished Meep was fast asleep. Leaning over I kissed his forehead and tucked him in again, "Sleep well little one."
Quietly I lifted myself off the bed and tiptoed over to the door making sure to grab the costume. Slowly I opened the door and took one last glance at Meep before exiting the trailer.
After I gently shut the trailer door everyone was on top of me instantly, flooding me with questions.
"Guys, guys let her catch her breath. She's been through enough today without you all bombarding her." Paul stepped between me and everyone else pushing them away so that I could catch my breath. The crowd slowly thinned and became less of a herd.
"I know you all have questions but the only thing that is important is that Meep is safe." Telling them, "Now Meep might be a little fragile these next couple of days and we are going to need to be there for him." Explaining to them.
"What did they do to him?" Jimmy asked but there was a fuming tone to his question.
"They beat him, or allowed other inmates too. Badly. I mean just look at his costume." Gesturing to the piece of what was supposed to be clothing, "When they brought him to me his face was bloody and covered in cuts and wounds. I managed to fix him up a bit though."
"Is that why there's blood on your dress?" Eve asked me. Looking down I did indeed find blood on me. It must have happened whenever I touched Meep. Still the sight of the blood made my hands start to shake.
A wave of exhaustion hit me and I stumbled backwards tripping falling onto the dirt ground. All at once concerns of different varieties started filling my ears, and while the gesture was kind it only made my head hurt.
My eyes closed as a jab of pain shot up to my skull, "Madalina let's get you back to your trailer." Hearing Paul's voice. Suddenly I was being lifted off the ground, wondering who was holding me. Slowly I opened my eyes and found Jimmy staring out in the vicinity of my trailer, taking me there.
"Meep's costume, I have to fix it." Mumbling half awake.
"You can do it tomorrow doll face. Right now you just need some sleep." Looking down at me with a smirk, "Thank you for doing what you did. It took guts." Jimmy gave me a warm smile.
I tried giving him a warm smile back but everything became hazy as the exhaustion finally took over my body.
When I awoke there was light shinning into my trailer. Rubbing my eyes I reached for my seneliais pocket watch thinking I had taken a nap. I had to rub my eyes twice because the watch said seven-thirty. Quickly I shot up in my bed. Had I really slept through the late afternoon into the morning? I had not had a long nights sleep like that in many, many months.
The blanket that had been placed on me slipped down and I realized I was still in my outfit from yesterday. Getting up out of bed I took off my dress, peeling it from my body with care. I took a shower and cleaned myself up. By the time I got redressed I was feeling faint, I was starving since I had not eaten anything since yesterday morning.
Nothing can compare to the feeling of slowly knowing you are starving to death. That was a feeling I never ever wanted to feel again, because that is what they did in the camps. Starved you to death and when you died some other person took your place.
I promised myself I would never go hungry again. I would never feel that pain again, and my family would never know what that felt like. Gripping my vanity table I tried to steady myself as I let another wave of faintness pass through me. My head felt light and foggy and my bones felt weak and brittle.
There was a knock at my door, "Come in." As I breathed through the blotting darkness.
"Madalina I came to see if you wanted to grab bre-." Paul cut off when I was sure when he saw me I felt him next to instantly, "Madalina are you alright? What's wrong?" Concern flooded his voice.
"I just need food. I have not eaten since yesterday morning." Taking a deep breath as the darkness started to fade, "Paul can you take me to the kitchen so I can make breakfast for everyone. They must be hungry." Feeling guilty that I missed making dinner and breakfast.
Paul looked at me flabbergasted, "Madalina, Eve took care of breakfast. Did you really expect us to make you cook this morning?" Asking me as he stared into my eyes.
I did not know what to say, so I just stared back into his eyes, as I let this warm feeling fill my body.
'What is happening?' Thinking to myself. I had never felt like this before, ever with any man.
I bit my lip out of nerves and I saw Paul's eyes cross with something I did not recognize, he was staring at me differently and for some reason my cheeks flushed deep crimson as I gulped back my nerves.
My concentration was broken when another wave came and I let go of the table. This time the shakes started taking over my hands as I desperately tried to force them to stop.
I hated the shakes. Once they got going they were difficult to stop.
Paul steadied me. I slipped my arm through his and leaned on him for support, "Come on love let's get you some food." Slowly we made our way out of the trailer and took a gradual time to get to the eating grounds.
"Does this happen a lot?" Paul asked me.
Shaking my head, "It only gets bad when I go long periods of not eating anything. First comes foggy, and the groggy hazy of feeling faint. Then the darkness spots that develop when you blink as you try to keep from passing out. Finally the worst part, the shakes. Once they start they are embarrassing and hard to stop." Explaining to Paul as I leaned more against him.
This was the second time I had ever been physically close to a man. If I was not so hungry I might blush again.
"Why does it happen at all?" Inquiring as we took in the sunny day.
"Because of how I grew up." Paul glanced at me knowing he would need more, "When the War came everyone was put on rations and that was hard enough because it always felt like you were never getting enough to feel full. Then when things got worse it got to the point where you were not getting enough and the slow process of starvation set in." Shivering thinking about what I must have weighed at the time of the liberation.
"When the War ended and I finally got back on my feet I made a promise to myself that I would never have to know that feeling again. Nor would anybody that I cared about." Telling him.
By this time in the conversation we had reached the outdoor kitchen. I was greeted with kind smiles and warm welcomes. A little part of me finally started to accept that this was becoming my home now. Paul helped me sit down and Miss Ethel and Eve mothered over me.
"She'll be right as rain as soon as we get some food in her." Paul grinned at me and before I knew it a plate appeared in front of me full to the brim with food.
Thanking Eve and Miss Ethel I quietly began eating my food. Taking my time knowing I could not eat so much at once or I would be sick. That is what happened when the Army men who liberated the camp, gave their K rations to the prisoners. Too much food you are not used too will make you very sick as they learned.
As much as I wanted to shovel every last bite of food into my mouth I knew I would have to be patient. Still it took awhile before the tremors in my hand began to subside.
Halfway through my food I began to feel better. My attention was caught by Meep who came up to me.
"Oh my little Meepling." Grinning at him as I gave him a hug, "You seem to be doing much better." As I surveyed his cuts and bruises.
"Meep." He laughed, thankfully he seemed in better spirits than yesterday. He pulled out something from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a smooth pebble stone.
"Oh thank you Meep." Smiling at him as I gave him a kiss on the forehead, "It is wonderful."
All throughout breakfast Meep kept giving me things. Feathers, some picked flowers, more stones. Every time I accepted with gratitude even if I did feel a little embarrassed.
"Why does Meep keep giving you gift after gift?" Paul questioned as Meep dropped off his latest wildflower flower.
"Oh I guess he just feels grateful that I got him out of jail." Giggling in innocence, but I think the real reason was Meep was trying to pay me back. In some way I think he knew how much it had cost me to set him free and bring him home. I think he felt bad about me having to spend my money on him when he was innocent.
Oh my money. My heart groaned thinking about what I had left. It had taken me such a long time to save up that money and now it would take me longer to gain it back.
But staring at Meep as he ran around in the grass chasing a chick I knew I would not change anything for the world.
After a long argument between myself, Miss Elsa, and Dell, Meep was excluded from the next few matinees so that he could rest.
Throughout the day Meep followed me everywhere like a puppy, helping me with my chores. At first it was a little awkward but then it became comfortable, it was nice having someone to talk too...even if that person could only respond with one word.
Paul checked up on the two of us constantly and every time he did my stomach felt the flapping of butterflies inside of it. Why did Paul affect me this way? Yes he was handsome, kind, incredibly nice, funny...
Stopping briefly from folding Miss Elsa's laundry I turned to Meep, "Oh Meep do you think I could be developing a crush on Paul? I have never had a crush before, I have never done anything with a man before. I do not know how to do anything!" Rambling to my companion.
"Meep." He laughed as he put more clothes in the basket.
Sighing, "That was really helpful advice mielasis."
The task of our folding was interrupted when I heard the approach of a car. Looking up I saw a blue car drive up to the entrance of the gate and stop. The air in my throat ceased to exist as I saw Mr. Anderson climb out of the car. Immediately he saw me and gulped back the various lumps forming in my throat. For some reason I could not move as he moved from his car and made his way over to were Meep and I were standing. My body could not, would not move. I was frozen.
"Miss Lekeman." Mr. Anderson nodded his head at me and Meep. I felt Meep clutch my legs in panic, "I came here to-"
I cut him off, "You cannot take Meep." Yelling at him, "He has not done anything." Holding Meep closer to me.
Mr. Anderson stared at me with wide eyes, "No, no, no I am not here to take Meep back to the station, as far as we are concerned you are right he is innocent. I just wanted to check up on the both of you." Darting his eyes back and forth between myself and Meep.
I let go of the breath that had built in my chest in a relieved sigh, "We are doing alright thank you Mr. Anderson...though I think that is not the reason why you drove all the way out here." Telling him because his eyes told a different story.
"Could we talk?" He nervously asked me.
After a beat I nodded and bent down to Meep, "My little Meepling thank you so much for your help today." Kissing his head, "Now how about you go lie down and get some rest before dinner." Meep smiled and gave me a hug before running off to his trailer.
Turning back around I was faced with the still nervous Mr. Anderson and it made me nervous, "I suppose we both have a lot of questions for each other..." Trailing off as I kicked the dirt with my shoe.
"Do you want to get dinner and talk about...everything we can?" Mr. Anderson suggested.
Giving him a small smile, "I would like that. Let me just go tell Miss Elsa." Walking away from him I went into Miss Elsa's tent.
"Miss Elsa?" I questioned hoping she would be here.
"Yes my darling." She answered back as I found her at her vanity table.
"A...um..." Pausing I was wondering how I was going to phrase this.
"What is it my dear?" Turning around to talk to me.
Clearing my throat, "The police officer that released Meep to me is here. He wants to take me out to eat as a sorry for what happened." Fibbing a partial white lie, "Deputy Chief Anderson seems like a nice man and he would be good to have on our side in case anything else happens." Explaining hoping she would give me a reason to go and it was not a lie. If anything else did happen it would be nice to have Mr. Anderson in our corner.
There were stretches of silence while I waited for Miss Elsa's answer. They way she studied me made me want to tug at my dress sleeves.
"You're right it is a good idea to have him. You may go with him but if are not back within two hours I am sending Jimmy into town to find you." Sternly responding to me like a mother would and I fought the urge to smile at her.
"Thank you Miss Elsa, I promise I will be back within two hours." Giving her a tiny smile that slipped through the cracks, "Do you think you could have Eve check up on Meep and make sure he gets dinner?" Asking her.
"It will be done my liebe." Nodding before returning back to her mirror.
Leaving the tent I found Mr. Anderson in the same place I left him, "Let us go and have dinner."
His smile was anxious no doubt mimicking his insides. I was anxious too, yet I felt a firm determination as I climbed into the car ready to get some answers.