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“Remi, you’re a lifesaver. I hated leaving her because she won’t stop crying, but I need to check on the other patients.”
I nodded and made my way down the hall to the room. As I approached, I could hear the little girl sobbing and calling for her mommy. ALL had other symptoms besides bruising. Maybe she had pain in her joints or under her ribs.
When I opened the door and walked in, a blonde little girl with big brown eyes looked up at me, clutching an old stuffed rabbit with big floppy ears that had seen better days. She paused in her crying for a couple of seconds before her face crumpled again. “Mommmeeeee!” She cried hard and it my heart broke.
“Hey, pumpkin. My name is Remi. Can I sit beside you for a little while?”
The little girl hiccupped and gasped. She seemed hesitant, but I moved closer. Tears still rolled down her cheeks as she cautiously observed me. “I want Mommy.”
“I know, sweetie. Who’s that?” I asked pointing to the toy in her arms.
“This Kippy,” she said. Her voice was still full of emotion, but I was hoping to distract her from the absence of her mother and to make her feel more calm and secure.
She had to be terrified. I mean, what kind of mother just abandons a sick little girl? I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“Skippy?” I asked, thinking that was a good name for a rabbit. The little girl nodded. Maybe I could find out her name, too. “That’s perfect! What about you? Do you have a name?”
“Royey,” she answered.
I tried to figure out what she meant. “Royee?” I repeated.
“Royee,” she said again.
“Oh, Rory!” I said enthusiastically. When the child nodded, I smiled. “That’s a spectacularly beautiful name!”
I sat down on the bed next to her. “Are you hungry? We’ll get you something yummy to eat and then I’ll see if I can find some books to read, then you can rest, okay?”
“Where’d my mommy go?” Tears still filled her eyes. I wished I could gather her little body close, but I wanted her to trust me first.
“Well, I think she knew you needed to come here to feel better. There are a lot of nice doctors and nurses here and all they do all day long is help little kids to feel happy and healthy.”
“But I want my mommy!”
“I know you do, sweetheart. I’ll do my best to try to find her.” I made the promise without knowing how I’d go about it but knew that I’d give it my best effort.
“Knock, knock!” A dark-haired man opened the door and popped his head around the frame. “How are you, young lady? My name is Jonathon Atkins.” He looked at me as he entered the room. “From social services.” I’d seen him around, but I didn’t know him personally.
“This is Rory,” I introduced. “She’s our newest patient!” I put out a hand and ran it down the back of the little head. Her hair, which fell just below her shoulders was wispy and soft. I knew that a few weeks after her treatment started, it would all fall out.
“Yes, I know!” the man said. He was dressed casually, as was most of the non-medical staff. “Who are you?”
“Dat Remi,” Rory said, taking my hand. “Her is my friend.”
I cupped her little hand between both of mine. “That’s right!” I said, my throat tightening. “We’re going to be best friends!”
The man had kind brown eyes and they met mine. I could tell he already knew Rory’s tragic story. He was older than my dad, but younger than my grandpa, with the start of grey around his temples. “That’s wonderful.”
An orderly came into the room with a tray. “Who wants a hamburger?” she said in her happiest voice.
“A hamburger? Yum!” I said.
I took the tray from the older woman who’d brought it and set it down on the table that I positioned over the bed. Rory was sitting up, but I raised the back of the bed and situated her pillows before removing the cloche to expose the food inside.
“Look at that! French fries, too!” I made a pile with three ketchup packages, cut the burger in fourths, and took the paper topper off a little glass of apple juice. “Boy! I wish this was my lunch!” I smiled brightly as the child reached for one of the fries.
I turned on Nickelodeon as Rory began to eat, then turned my attention to the man but lowered my voice moving toward him and away from the bed.
“Mr. Atkins…. I know I’m just a volunteer here, but can you tell me anything about her situation? I know her mother left her at Le Bonheur. May I ask what the note said?”
