Amy walked to Heather's office feeling confident. Something told Amy in her heart of hearts that Heather was about to tell her something good had happened.
The nanosecond Amy entered Heather's office, Heather pointed to a yellow chair she had pulled out and Amy sat down on it while Heather sat down on a yellow chair opposite her.
"Well, Amy, " said Heather happily, "First, I am pleased to inform you that this morning I delivered the money, clothes, and toys that we collected during our recent fundraiser to your old orphanage in Arizona."
"Good," said Amy cheerfully, "I hope the new clothes and toys were able to lift the spirits of those kids at the orphanage."
"They really did, " said Heather warmly, "I arrived at the orphanage this morning to find most of the kids there in the doldrums. Some felt traumatized by what had happened and admitted to playing through "what if" questions in their minds thinking about how they could have died if they hadn't realized what was going on and hadn't known to evacuate. Then there were those kids who were just totally dejected about having lost almost everything. Naturally, you're always going to have some eternal optimists whose spirits can never be broken. I came across one five year old boy who had lost everything except the clothes he had been wearing at the time of the fire who was smiling, had a bright look on his face, and was singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm, The Camptown Races, and Deck the Halls at the top of his lungs."
"I admire the hell out of people like that, " said Amy adoringly, "People who can endure the worst of times and still have the brightest outlook on life are a diamond in a rough. I cannot honestly say that I would be singing happy and cheerful songs at the top my lungs if I had just lost almost everything. I'm not saying I'd act like a total bitch or anything like that, but I'd be one of those totally dejected kids."
"That's what the majority of the kids at the orphanage were, at least when I arrived, " explained Heather, "But, as I and the matrons passed out the new clothes and toys, I saw frowns turn to smiles. I saw dreary looking faces turn into glowing faces. And I saw kids who'd been pacing around slowly and somberly get a bounce in their steps."
"That's awesome, " said Amy, tearing up a little and feeling some goosebumps, "That's precisely why I wanted us to do this fundraiser. I can't stress enough how I really do still care about the kids at the orphanage even though I've moved on from that place and have a happier life because of it."
"What exactly was your relationship with the kids like when you were at the orphanage?" Heather asked Amy.
"I was never very close with any of them but I got along well with all of them, " answered Amy swiftly.
"So, lots of friends without any close friends?" understood Heather.
"That's accurate, " confirmed Amy, "I would play with different people on different days and rarely played with the same people on back to back days."
"I remember that when I told the Yellow Quartet that I wanted each of you to join a different school club separate from each other, you were the one who was most open to it and you even seemed to embrace the idea, " Heather reminded Amy.
"That's my background, " said Amy matter of factly, "Susan and Hannah grew up as BFFs and Harry didn't have any friends at all before the Yellow Quartet first met. I, on the other hand, grew up in a life with lots of friends so the concept of doing different things with different people is getting me back to my roots to a certain degree."
Next nanosecond, Heather dug her left hand into her left hand pocket and retrieved a furled up piece of paper.
Heather unfurled the piece of paper and handed it to Amy.
It was a letter to Amy and it read.
Dear Amy Alworth:
Hi. We here at Nurture's Orphanage would like to thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness in suggesting the fundraiser that is apparently responsible for us getting new clothes and toys to replace the clothes and toys we lost in that horrific fire. Some of us still remember you from your time here. We are all deeply touched to know that a girl who was able to move out of this orphanage and find herself a forever home still cared enough about those of us still here to actually think about what we went through and how we would be feeling. It's quite inspirational to know that you had enough kindness and thoughtfulness to want to lift our spirits by having us get new clothes and toys and suggesting the fundraiser that would provide those clothes and toys. We would like for you to drop in for a visit sometime. Your school Headmistress says she does not want you to miss a day of school for such a visit, but, as she is also one of the adults you live with, she has told us that she will allow you a day during Christmas Vacation to allow you to drop in for a visit, if you are agreeable to do so. Thank you again for thinking of us and caring about us enough to have the idea for this fundraiser. Please thank all the students and staff at your school who made donations to the fundraiser. Thank you again, Amy!
-Love-
The boys and girls of Nurture's Orphanage.
Amy felt herself get goosebumps as she read this letter several times.
"Amy, " said Heather more seriously, "Your mom and dad abandoned you when you were born because you are an albino. They would have abandoned you later on anyway because of your magic. But, do you think you could ever forgive your parents ?"
"To some degree, " said Amy uncertainly, "But I could never live with them. At any rate, I could never give up the family I have now with Harry, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus, Amelia, and you. That said, if, for example, my mom or dad needed a transplant or transfusion and I was a match, I would be willing to be a donor for them."
"Hopefully, we won't need to deal with anything that serious," said Heather briskly, "However, it may interest you to know that the matrons at Nurture's Orphanage when you were there have both retired. Your parents lost their jobs in the most recent economic recession. They have since both accepted jobs to be the new matrons at Nurture's Orphanage. ""
"So," said Amy slowly, "I'd have to meet them if I were to take a visit to Nurture's Orphanage?"
"Yes," confirmed Heather.
"Do you believe my mom and dad feel any remorse for abandoning me?" inquired Amy.
"I do," said Heather crisply, "But it would better for you to talk with them yourself. That should be another part of your visit in December. Do you at least know what thier names are?"
"Andrew and Amanda, " answered Amy a nanosecond later.
"Correct, " said Heather simply, "I asked what their names were and when I heard their last name was Alworth, I suspected you to be their biological daughter. They want me to tell you that they are very proud of you for what you have done for the kids who still reside at Nurture's Orphanage."
"I see two possibilities, " said Amy slowly, "Either seeing what all those poor kids endured going through that fire made them more sympathetic people or my role in getting new clothes and toys for the kids at the orphanage made them realize they were wrong to judge me by my appearance and abilities without seeing what kind of person I would grow up to be and what kind of character I would possess."
"Or both," said Heather matter of factly, "More than one thing can be true. Even just being around the orphaned children in general may well have altered their perspective. "
"I'm glad this meeting is a few months off, " admitted Amy, "I can and will forgive mom and dad and I'm willing to meet them.. But, I need some time to process and come to terms with everything in my own mind before I'm ready for that moment."
"I don't blame you for that, " said Heather gently, "Are you planning to tell Harry, Susan, and Hannah about the conversation we've just had?"
"Yes, I am," said Amy fiercely, "I tell them everything. Would you please tell Sirius, Remus, and Amelia?"
"Of course, " said Heather warmly.
Amy now stood there in silent thought taking it all in. She'd just had a bit of a bombshell dropped on her. But, whatever else may be, Amy was certain of one thing.
Amy was glad to know that the spirits of the kids at Nurture's Orphanage had been lifted.
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