Inanimate (52 page)

CHAPTER 60

“
This
is your new home sweetie.”

Mrs.
Finnigan showed the child into the
main hall. Little Jessica looked around, her brain tried to make
sense of her new life with her new family. Mr. Finnigan came in
with her suitcase.

“
Why don’t you go upstairs and
see your room dear, it’s the first door on the left”
Mr. Finnigan said
before kneeling beside her and whispering

“
It’s the one with all the
toys”

Jessica
sauntered up the stairs as Mrs.
Finnigan watched. She looked so pretty in her little purple
dress.

“
Poor dear’s been through so
much”

The old lady spoke quietly as her husband
put his arm around her.

“
Yeah. But she’s here now; she’ll
have a better life. I’ll give her some time to settle in before I
take this up to her.”

Mr.
Finnigan put the suitcase down by the
staircase.

“
Well”
said Mrs. Finnigan “She shouldn’t be
too long, supper’s almost ready. I’ll not have the child starving
to death on her first night.”

“
As if you would let that
happen.”

Jessica’s room
was beautiful with
lots of toys and colors, it was extremely girly. She ambled around
the room looking at the different toys and the dolls in particular.
There were four baby dolls, all dressed in different colored
onesies but they didn’t appeal to her. With a sigh she went and sat
on the bed. As she looked around, she was completely neutral to the
bounty presented to her.

“
Hello Jessica”

A voice from inside the room did not
startle her. She looked up, unafraid, to see a sharply dressed man
whose name she did not know standing in front of her. “The Eye”
stepped forward.

“
I like your new
room.”

“
Thanks”

“
It does need a little
something though. I can tell you’re not impressed with the dollies
you have in here. Am I right?”

Jessica nodded

“
Ah-hah I knew it! I know
what little girls want. So I brought you a present. Are you
ready?”

Jessica nodded

“
The Eye” stepped aside to reveal
Betsy standing behind him. For the first time in a long time
Jessica smiled. She ran over and picked Betsy up. Hugging her tight
she took her back and sat on the bed. “The Eye” smiled
fondly.

“
Aww isn’t that cute. She missed
you too you know, she talked about you a lot.”

Jessica
was focused on the doll, fixing her
dress and hair to the way she liked it. “The Eye” put a hand to his
mouth and spoke to Jessica like he was telling a rude
joke.

“
She told me you were a naughty
girl” Jessica
didn’t looked up as the man continued “Did you enjoy
it?”

After a pause, when Jessica was
finished fixing Betsy’s dress she answered the man.

“
Did I enjoy
what?”

“
That grumpy ol’ Sheriff. Did you
enjoy it?”

Jessica
shrugged her shoulders, giving “The
Eye” all the answer he needed.

“
Betsy
is yours now sweetheart; no-one will
ever bother you when she’s around. Just remember to let her have a
little of her own fun from time to time all right?”

Jessica
nodded, fully understanding the man’s
request. Mr. Finnigan’s voice caused “The Eye” to step
back.

“
Remember
…fun!”

“
The Eye” quietly
disappeared as Mr. Finnigan entered the room to bring her
down.

“
Hey sweetheart, supper’s
ready. Where did you find her?

“
I didn’t. She found
me.”

Mr.
Finnigan was puzzled but thought
nothing of it. So many kids had passed through their house and left
so many dolls behind, he never kept track. He led her out the
room.

“
Mrs. Finnigan made pasta.
Do you like pasta?”

“
Yeah”

“
That’s a good girl. Pasta
will make you big and strong. Then after dinner we’ll introduce you
to the other kids. We’re all going to play a little game. Would you
like that?”

“
I dunno. Can Betsy
play?”

The End