Meeting Steve
Chelsea was sitting at the desk going over the paperwork for the month while paying bills when her husband came in with a tired look on his face. "What's wrong Jack?" she asked after her husband didn't say anything. Jack sighed and started to explain what happened. "Well this little girl named Annabell came into the shop this morning about half an hour ago. She was so scared and her parents or guardians were nowhere to be seen so I asked her where they were. She told me that they were on a tour of some company and that they didn't want her around. She's only five years old so she doesn't know any better to not talk to strangers so she blurted out how her parents are dead and she lives with her Aunt and Uncle. They call her freak and lock her in a cupboard for doing 'freakish' thinks. I mean what does that mean...'freakish' things. Who would say that to a five year old?"
Jack looked over to his wife after his long speech and realized that she was crying. Chelsea understood what Annabell was going through because she too had been abused when she was young then sent to live with her grandparents who had loved her so much and helped her see the good in life. Chelsea looked up to Jack and whispered, "We have to help her! If she doesn't get out of there soon then the only emotions she will know is bitterness and anger!"
Jack smiled at Chelsea and said, " I know I was thinking the same thing. I just don't know what the first step to do is or how we can get custody of her! I don't want her to end up with guardians like her relatives. I want to help but I don't want to make her situation worse!" Jack said sounding exhausted.
Chelsea smiled and wrapped her arms around Jacks waist and mumbled into his chest, "We'll figure something out."
Annabell and Steve watched as Jack walked out the room then turned to each other. "So what your favorite song?" Steve asked Annabell as she cowered in a corner. " ummm I like Mad World but I'm not sure who sings it and I like Concrete Angles too but I don't know who sings that one either." said Annabell looking down at her shoes in disappointment.
Steve picked up the guitar to his right and started playing the tune of Concrete Angles. When Annabell started singing he gasped at t natural talent the small child possessed.
"She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace, oh
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born
Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel
Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late
Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel
A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot
Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel"
When she stopped singing she looked up at Steve and saw he had tears in his eyes threatening to spill over. Annabell upon seeing the tear jumped to conclusions and started apologizing over and over until he smiled and said, "Hey hey hey, clam down, your ok. That was amazing! How did you learn to sing like that?"
Annabell looked down at her feet yet again and looked thoughtful before replying, "Well I heard the song on the radio when my Uncle and Aunt weren't home and I just started singing them. That was the only time I could listen to the radio cause my family doesn't much like music. I don't know why they even have a radio if they don't like music. I suppose they want to feel normal or something like that. Anyway those two songs stuck with me. They have a nice tune and I can relate to them well." Then Annabell walked over to the other instruments and looked at them in wonder to afraid to touch them. "Would you like me to play the other instruments?" came a voice from behind her. Annabell jumped not expecting him to talk to her and nearly knocked down the bright blue thin guitar. Turning she saw Steve kneeling behind her with a encouraging smile on his face. At her hesitant nod Steve picked up a clarinet and started playing scales since he didn't know the notes for a song.
That's when Jack walked back in with a big smile on his face. "Annabell, would you like to stay with my wife Chelsea and me tonight while I call someone to help get you away from your Aunt and Uncle? They wouldn't be able to hurt you anymore, would you like that?" Jack asked with mildly concealed hope on his face. He watched as Annabell's brow wrinkled in thought before she hesitantly replied, " yeah I would like that but I don't want to be a burden to anyone."
Jack took a deep breath silently cursing her relatives as he said in a soft voice, "Annabell no matter what anyone says to you, you will never be a burden to us." before taking Annabell's small form in his strong arms and walked out to the car to go to Annabell's new home.