A/N-This story might be a little longer, I felt it necessary, this chapter is based off of 'Oh, Susannah'. Suzanne fostered a little child and became emotionally attached to her. I hope this chapter reflects that same emotion.
Suzanne, Mary Jo, and Charlene had on lovely evening dresses and they were going to sit down in their seats in the auditorium. They had to keep saying, "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry" to people who had to stand up but when they got to their seats, Mary Jo asks Suzanne,
"Who sent you these tickets Suzanne?"
She looks around and says,
"I don't know, maybe Julia got them before she died. Or maybe somebody from the pageant days, but Mrs. America? Why that one?"
Mary Jo shakes her head and Charlene says,
"Did I tell you guys that Olivia has picked her college?"
Mary Jo and Suzanne roll their eyes and Mary Jo says,
"Yes, Charlene. About a million times"
Charlene says,
"I'm sorry guys I'm just so excited that she choose Atlanta"
Suzanne waves her off then says,
"Look, there's Marjorie Lee Winick. I wonder why she keeps her head down in public?"
Charlene turns her head and says,
"Probably because of that local newscast, people still talk about it today and it resurfaced when Julia died"
Suzanne makes a face then says,
"Well, whatever. She looks awful, she looks like a dog and there's that friend of hers. They both look like two escaped convicts."
Mary Jo and Charlene smile in amusement then the lights dim and a man comes out and announces what the show is about and then he comes to say,
"And representing the state of Alabama tonight is Li Sing Main!"
Li Sing comes out waving to the crowds in a beautiful rose colored evening dress and Suzanne catches her breath and reaches out for Charlene's hand who being Charlene, tries not to cry.
The announcer comes to her and asks,
"Mrs. Main, is there anything you would like to say to the crowd tonight?"
"Well, there is one very special person I would like to thank for encouraging me and becoming my friend when I needed it. She was Miss. Georgia World of 1977, Suzanne Sugarbaker. I hope she's here"
Suzanne looks around and asks Mary Jo,
"Do you have any paper on you? I'll take anything, a scrap of your grocery list even"
Mary Jo hands her a pen and paper and she quickly writes 'I'm here' and traces down a usher and gives it to him and gives him specific instructions who to take it to. Suzanne sits down and the all three watch the rest of the evening in the ups and downs of the ladies.
When Li Sing comes back out in the talent portion, she sings a melody of great southern classics and Suzanne claps the loudest at the end.
Finally, the time comes for them to announce the winner and Suzanne whispers to Charlene,
"If they don't choose Li Sing, why, I'll go down and hunt them like a dog if I have to and make them regret not choosing her"
Charlene worries because she knows it is true. She is Suzanne Sugarbaker after all.
The announcer says,
"The winner of the Mrs. Universe pageant of 2010 is Mrs. Li Sing Main!"
Suzanne claps, cries and laughs.
{
Later, after a wonderful evening, Suzanne comes home still humming the songs her foster daughter sang tonight and as she gets out the keys, she looks down and sees a package on her doorstep.
"For me? They must have delivered it while I was gone"
She unlocks the door and throws her coat on the couch then sits down and opens it.
After digging through papers, she finally comes to the contents of the package.
It's a picture of Li Sing holding a 8 month old baby girl and in the background of the baby girls crib is a pillow that says 'Dear Little one, I wish you two things. To give you roots, to give you wings'
Suzanne sniffles then she notices a button on the frame and she punches it and she hears Li Sing singing,
'Oh, Susanna'
She clutches the picture and runs upstairs.
A/N-The pillow was Suzanne's and she gave it to Li Sing while she had her.