On Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 08:00:57 AM PST, Angela McQuiston <dilliedallie27@yahoo.com> wrote:
Abandoned
By Tunnel Writer
Catherine drank the last bit of her cold coffee before grabbing her coat and leaving for work. She hurriedly locked the door, and put on her coat as she half-jogged to the elevator. As she passed her neighbor's door, her ears picked up the sound of faint crying. She froze.
Sounds like a child, she thought as she strained to listen. What was the name of her new neighbor's child? Think, Cathy, think! Karen? Carol? Cassie!!!!
She remembered the bright smile the eight-year-old gave her when she handed over a plate of cookies as she welcomed the child and her mother to the building. Catherine learned through that first conversation that Cassie's father had left them when he learned of Cassie's future arrival. Also, Cassie's mother worked long hours to support herself and her daughter. Catherine always kept a close ear open when she had the inkling that Cassie was home alone.
Catherine could no longer ignore the muffled crying. So I'll be late. What's Joe going to do? Fire me?
"Cassie? Are you all right?" Catherine asked as she knocked on the door.
She could hear the locks being undone, and suddenly the door flew open and a chubby little girl threw herself at Catherine.
Catherine put her bag on the ground and pulled the child closer. "What's wrong, Cassie? Where's your mother?"
Cassie cried harder as she clung to Catherine.
Catherine managed to sit on the floor and pulled the girl onto her lap. She held and rocked the sobbing child. After a few minutes, Cassie calmed down, and Catherine sighed as she hugged the child. "Cassie, I need to go home and call my boss. Do you want to go with me?"
Cassie nodded.
"Let's leave a note for your mother."
"She won't get it," Cassie said as her tears started all over. Before Catherine could ask why, Cassie said between sobs, "My... mom... don't. Live. Here anymore. She. Left… with her new boyfriend."
Cassie's grief broke Catherine's heart. "She left you?" Catherine asked in shock.
Cassie nodded and wiped her face with her sleeve as she took Catherine's hand.
Catherine unlocked her door while listening to the child's story.
"This is the seventh time she left. That's why we always move. So I won't get put in foster care."
Catherine opened the door with annoyance. How could a mother just leave her child?
"I need to make a phone call."
"NO, PLEASE not CPS!" Cassie cried.
Catherine could see the fear in her eyes, and she hugged the girl. "No, not CPS," she said gently. "Have you had breakfast?"
Cassie shook her dark curls.
Catherine looked at her watch. 7:30. Just enough time to call Joe, fix Cassie breakfast, and get her to school. I should get to work around 9:30 if I hurry. "Do you like scrambled eggs and toast?" she asked as she grabbed her phone.
Cassie nodded and sat on the couch.
"Hey, Joe. An emergency came up and I'll be late for work," Catherine said as she pulled a couple of eggs out of the refrigerator.
Within 30 minutes the girl was fed, and Catherine began walking her to school. Catherine's heart melted when she felt a tiny hand in hers. Cassie babbled on about her school, her teacher, and the kids that call her names.
Catherine froze. "Other students bully you?"
Cassie nodded. "Because of my weight."
Catherine pulled the girl into a hug. Bullied and abandoned! This poor child.
When they got to school, Cassie stopped. "You will pick me up after school?" she asked with a sob in her voice.
Catherine could see the concern and worry on the girl's face. She pulled the girl into a reassuring hug when she saw her big brown eyes brim with tears and her bottom lip quivering. "Of course I'll be here."
"That's what my mom told me too," she said, looking at the toe of her shoe.
Catherine was taken aback, and she knelt down in front of the child. "I promise with all my heart I'll be here after school," she said, looking into her eyes.
Cassie wrapped her arms around Catherine's neck. "OK. I'll see you after school."
All morning, Catherine's heart was heavy for her new little friend. All roads to track down her mother came to dead ends. What parent just leaves their child? I can't keep her.
Catherine perked up. I wonder if I could take her Below. She'd be well taken care of. Or maybe a Helper could keep her until I track down her mother. Catherine grabbed a scrap of paper and started writing.
Joe came out of his office as Catherine threw her coat on. "Where you going, Radcliffe?"
"Lunch." She smiled as she hurried out of the office. She knew that Benny would be passing by in ten minutes. She might not know him well, but Benny was like a well-maintained clock. He always passed her office building at exactly 12:28 PM every day. Catherine looked at her watch just as it flipped to 12:28.
"Hey, Beautiful!" Benny yelled as he stopped his bicycle.
Catherine smiled. "Exactly on time. Could you give this to Father?" she asked as she handed him the note.
"Of course," he replied as he stuck the note into his top pocket.
"Thank you, Benny."
"Anytime, Princess," he said as he put his headphones back on and used his foot to push off the sidewalk to give his bike a start.
Now back to searching for Cassie's mother. Where are you, Susan Starkling?
Catherine spent every spare moment that afternoon calling hospitals and making a missing person's report.
She glanced at the clock. 2:30. I have to get Cassie. She has had so many disappointments in her life, she needs to know she can count on me.
Catherine grabbed her coat, and ran to the school as fast as she could. She just had to get there before school let out.
Five minutes to spare. She sighed with relief.
RING…
The sound of the bell pulled Catherine's focus to the door. Laughing children filed out the school. Catherine was scanning every child, hoping to not miss Cassie.
Cassie slowly walked out of the school. She was biting her bottom lip, and had a worried look on her face. Catherine could see the worry flee the second Cassie spotted her.
"You didn't forget," Cassie said with relief as she hugged Catherine.
"Of course not. I promised you that I'd be here."
"Yes, but you actually kept your promise. My mom always promises too, but she never keeps them."
Catherine smiled at the girl. "Well, I ALWAYS keep my promises. Let's go home!"
"Is my mom home?"
"I don't think so, but we can check."
As the pair stood in front of Cassie's apartment door, the little girl took a deep breath and opened the door. "Momma? You here?" she called as she stepped inside.
Only silence greeted the girl.
"Momma?" she called again as she ran through the apartment. Catherine stood by the door while the girl searched. Catherine held back a sob as she saw the tears streaming down the child's face.
"Cassie, do you have a suitcase?"
"I…I think so."
"OK, we're going to pack some things and take them to my apartment," Catherine said excitedly, hoping to cheer the girl up. "Why don't you go grab your toothbrush and hairbrush as I pack your clothes?" she said, wiping the tears from the girl's face.
Cassie nodded and headed to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, the girl was standing beside her. Catherine smiled as she took the toothbrush and hairbrush. "Why don't you pick out some toys to bring? Maybe even some special things you don't want to leave behind."
"Can I bring my quilt? My Nana made it for me before she died. It's on the top shelf of the closet. I can't reach."
"Absolutely. I'll get it for you."
Catherine walked over to the closet and quickly located the quit. As she pulled it down, a photo album fell out. She quickly looked through a couple of pages before carrying it over and placing it in the suitcase. She will be happy to have this one day.
"I'm ready now," Cassie said.
Catherine smiled at the girl. She had her arms full of stuffed animals and dolls.
So much like me when I was little, she thought as she picked up the suitcase and ushered the girl out of the apartment.
"I forgot something," Cassie exclaimed as she dropped her armload of toys and ran to the wall. She stood on her tiptoes and gently took a picture off the wall.
Tears brimmed in Catherine's eyes as she saw the smiling faces of a mother and daughter.
Catherine helped Cassie pick up all her toys, and walked the few steps to her apartment. As she opened the door, she noticed the note.
"Cassie, why don't we put your things in the closet for now," she said as she quickly picked up the note and tucked it into her pocket.
Cassie nodded and started arranging her toys in the closet.
"I'll be right back to help you in a couple of minutes, I have some business to tend to."
Cassie only nodded as she rearranged her toys.
Catherine hurriedly ripped open the envelope and held her breath.
Catherine,
The Council has decided to accept Cassie under the understanding that her mother doesn't come back. All efforts to locate her mother must be exhausted first.
F.
Catherine sighed with relief, and grabbed a sheet of paper.
F,
Thank you for accepting Cassie. I will keep her with me until I know for certain her mother won't be returning. If she does return, then I'll report her to CPS.
C.
Catherine folded up the paper and stuffed it into her briefcase just as the phone rang.
"Hello, Catherine Chandler speaking."
"Hi, Cathy."
"Peter, nice to hear from you."
"I was told you're searching for a missing woman. Approximately 24 years old?"
"Yes," Catherine almost yelled, jumping up from the chair.
"A woman and man were brought in about an hour ago. The woman fit your description. They don't have ID on them and I hoped you'd come down and identify them."
Catherine was afraid to ask, but knew she needed to. "Are they OK?" she whispered.
Peter let out a long sigh. "They overdosed. We did everything."
Catherine let out a gasp. "I'll be down as soon as I can. I need to take her daughter below," she whispered, hoping Cassie couldn't overhear.
"Take your time."
Catherine put the phone back on the hook.
"Cassie, I need to do something really quick. I'll be back in ten minutes."
"You promise?" Cassie asked worriedly.
"Of course. Do I ever break my promises?"
Cassie shook her head no.
Catherine quickly hugged the girl and hurriedly ran to the sub-basement. She grabbed a rock and frantically tapped out a message. Cassie's mother possibly dead. Will make ID within the hour. Will bring Cassie down after IF it's her mother.
She waited only about five minutes before hearing the reply.
Will be awaiting the child if orphaned. Keep us posted.
Catherine raced back to her apartment, and opened the door. She could hear Cassie's sigh of relief.
"Please put on your coat. I have to go to the hospital."
Cassie frowned. "Are you hurt or sick?" the girl asked as she bit her bottom lip in worry, and pulled on her coat.
"No. There's just someone I have to see."
"Yes, that's Susan." Catherine sighed sadly as she looked at the face of the woman in front of her. She knew she'd have to tell Cassie that her mother was dead and that she'd again be moving to a new home.
Cassie jumped out of her chair when Catherine walked into the waiting room. "Can we go now? Hospitals give me the creeps."
Catherine took Cassie's hand. "Want to know something?"
Cassie nodded.
"Hospitals give me the creeps too."
A few hours later, Catherine was holding Cassie's hand as she met Father.
"Welcome, Cassie!" Father said warmly to the girl.
Mary walked up and took the little girl's hand. "I will take you to your chamber. All the children are excited to meet you." She smiled warmly.
"What about my things?"
I'll bring them tomorrow," Catherine told her.
"Even the toys in my old apartment?"
"Of course."
Cassie grinned, and skipped beside Mary to her new life.
The End
