The Pattern
Hannah hopped down and smiled at "Uncle Mark," he had been very amusing on the ride. She was glad go have left the convent school behind. She felt like a butterfly taking flight for the first time. The world blossomed with color and life and light.
The helicopter spinning away several yards in the distance intrigued her. She'd never been in a Chopper before. Her brother Danny had once, but she had only watched from the ground. That was before the sorry falling out. When one's parents have money problems one's world can tumble to the ground.
Hannah felt suddenly as if her world was looking up. She hummed softly one of the church songs Sister Analeesa had taught her. It was about being happy and knowing it. She was happy, and she knew it- but she skipped the hand motions.
"You have a lovely voice Hannah-belle," her so called Aunt Annie purred. Aunt Annie reminded Hannah of what she had heard Father Detrich call a "sex kitten." She didn't know what that meant, except a lovely lady with catlike movements and behaviors. Annie was exactly that.
Hannah plucked a dandelion from the ground and held it up to Uncle Mark. He had been absolutely wonderful and she wanted him to have something. What better gift can be offered than one placed on earth by God's own hand? She smiled as she skipped toward him.
Hannah was only half way around the SUV when she saw that Uncle Mark was talking to another man- a big man with a fancy suit on. Aunt Annie walked towards the man and gave him a hug- she was familiar with him. Hannah didn't feel easy about approaching the stranger. There were two other children standing beside him, and neither looked particularly happy. Both wore different colored earpieces with microphones attached, but neither was speaking. Her little internal radar was flashing red and screaming "warning, warning!"
"Hannah," Aunt Annie knelt in front of her. "We're going to leave you here now, but it was a pleasure meeting you."
Hannah blinked at and gazed at Aunt Annie blankly. Of course she had always known the woman was not her aunt and the man was not her uncle. He had stopped at McDonalds for her, it had almost felt like she had a real aunt and uncle claiming her- almost. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes for the first time. She hadn't cried about leaving the nuns. She hadn't left anything behind, but now as she realized that the two adults she had enjoyed so much were leaving her she wanted to cry.
"Toughen up buckaroo." Uncle Mark said playfully touching his fist to her chin. "We'll meet again when you are a lady. I doubt you'll even remember us."
Mark's smile didn't falter, but there was apprehension in his eyes. No, he didn't know for certain that they would meet again. In fact, he was pretty sure they wouldn't. He set some incredible time frame so that she would forget- it was how parents usually explained death to children- it won't happen for a long time so don't think about it.
Annie put a headset on Hannah's head and pressed her hand against Hannah's back. It was the kind of gesture one would give a small child on a bike for the first time. It was a sort of push off to the new and unknown. Mark and Annie didn't introduce her to anyone, but Annie blew Hannah a kiss before settling into the SUV.
The helicopter spinning away several yards in the distance intrigued her. She'd never been in a Chopper before. Her brother Danny had once, but she had only watched from the ground. That was before the sorry falling out. When one's parents have money problems one's world can tumble to the ground.
Hannah felt suddenly as if her world was looking up. She hummed softly one of the church songs Sister Analeesa had taught her. It was about being happy and knowing it. She was happy, and she knew it- but she skipped the hand motions.
"You have a lovely voice Hannah-belle," her so called Aunt Annie purred. Aunt Annie reminded Hannah of what she had heard Father Detrich call a "sex kitten." She didn't know what that meant, except a lovely lady with catlike movements and behaviors. Annie was exactly that.
Hannah plucked a dandelion from the ground and held it up to Uncle Mark. He had been absolutely wonderful and she wanted him to have something. What better gift can be offered than one placed on earth by God's own hand? She smiled as she skipped toward him.
Hannah was only half way around the SUV when she saw that Uncle Mark was talking to another man- a big man with a fancy suit on. Aunt Annie walked towards the man and gave him a hug- she was familiar with him. Hannah didn't feel easy about approaching the stranger. There were two other children standing beside him, and neither looked particularly happy. Both wore different colored earpieces with microphones attached, but neither was speaking. Her little internal radar was flashing red and screaming "warning, warning!"
"Hannah," Aunt Annie knelt in front of her. "We're going to leave you here now, but it was a pleasure meeting you."
Hannah blinked at and gazed at Aunt Annie blankly. Of course she had always known the woman was not her aunt and the man was not her uncle. He had stopped at McDonalds for her, it had almost felt like she had a real aunt and uncle claiming her- almost. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes for the first time. She hadn't cried about leaving the nuns. She hadn't left anything behind, but now as she realized that the two adults she had enjoyed so much were leaving her she wanted to cry.
"Toughen up buckaroo." Uncle Mark said playfully touching his fist to her chin. "We'll meet again when you are a lady. I doubt you'll even remember us."
Mark's smile didn't falter, but there was apprehension in his eyes. No, he didn't know for certain that they would meet again. In fact, he was pretty sure they wouldn't. He set some incredible time frame so that she would forget- it was how parents usually explained death to children- it won't happen for a long time so don't think about it.
Annie put a headset on Hannah's head and pressed her hand against Hannah's back. It was the kind of gesture one would give a small child on a bike for the first time. It was a sort of push off to the new and unknown. Mark and Annie didn't introduce her to anyone, but Annie blew Hannah a kiss before settling into the SUV.