Daughters of the Teardrop Sea

Chapter 15: The Dolphin and the Cat

Chapter Fifteen:

The Dolphin and the Cat

Laura was in her wheelchair, a tough determined look crossing her face. There was some discussion. Morry, tall and dark. Cathy, small and bright. James, lithe and aware. Laura, very intent and focussed. Larry, who should have been there, was not.

"We can't just sit here." Cathy said.

"That girl is probably somewhere in the building.", Morry stated.

"And we have to try to find Larry." Cathy said. Laura nodded.

Cathy seemed to take control. She was a good organizer. "You go try to find Larry.", she said to her husband. "Make those phone calls. Go to his house. I'll do some investigative work and try to get a lead on who this girl is, why she might have taken Diana from the nursery ,and where she could possible go with her."

Morry said fine and Laura nodded vigorously. "James, will you stay here with Laura during this? Is that possible?"

James shook his head seriously. "Yeah. I can do that for quite a while."

Cathy was satisfied. "Then let's do it. Laura, you go to the lounge if you like with your friend. I'll keep you posted as best I can." Then Cathy and Morry left to do their tasks. "You know, Dr. Sawchuck, we can maybe do something ourselves. Snoop around a little bit." Laura bowed her head. She let out a sound, like a she wolf trapped in a cave. James listened. He patted Laura on the shoulder in a gesture of compassion and understanding. "We'll find her.", he said. "With God's help, we'll find her."

A Bird in the Cage

Annie cleared out some debris from the corner of the closet. There wasn't a lot of space but there were a lot of old sheets and uniforms. In her mind, she was seeing circles. Bright. Many coloured circles of simple light. She was giddy with these circles, drunk on them. Diana was sleeping. "You're gorgeous when you sleep!", Annie said. "I see you as a little princess, stolen away from evil doers to live a life as a commoner. Then, when you're a young lady, something will happen and your true nature will be revealed." Annie stopped and chucked the child under the chin. She said very seriously, "You're going to do something important. You're going to do something great. I know it."

She made a cosy hutch in the corner of the closet, comfortable for sitting, like a cotton armchair without legs. She sat down with Diana in her arms. She hummed. She fell asleep.