The Old Farm

Chapter 4

    It was about six when Hope passes though the mystery room. She couldn't have helped herself but she turned the knob. It was lock. There must be a key. Hope looks around the rooms but didn't find a key. Only one place left her aunt's room. What will she find there? She went in. The bed was made. Her furniture was dusty. The room was muggy and dim. Her clothes were in the closet. Hope look through her drawers to see if she can find the key. She came across a jewelry box. She opened it. There she finds some photos of her mother and her aunt when they were young. Then, she finds a key. Hope left the room. She took the key and put it into the slot; turned the knob. It opened.        Hope walks in slowly and turns on the lights. Her eyes were amazed what she sees inside the room. There was a baby crib and baby clothes. Everything a baby will need. She couldn't believe what she saw. Did my aunt have a child? Did anyone know about this child? Did my mother known? Questions that Hope wanted to know. She heard John calling for her. She left the room."Where were you?""John you can't believe what I found."They both went into the room. "John, this room was forbidden when I was young. My aunt asks me not to go into this room. Of course I respected my aunt's privacy.""Did you know she had a child?""No. The baby furniture seems old. If she had a child where is the child now?""I didn't know your aunt had a child she didn't mention anything to me." John look confused.     Hope looks around and finds nothing but baby things nor photos or birth certificate."Someone must know about this child. Maybe Mr. Nile may know since he and my aunt were good friends. When he comes over I'll ask him." Hope was about to close the door when she notice something lying in the floor.She pick it up it was a piece of paper saying the year was 1945. Wasn't the year the baby was born or what? "John looks at this piece of paper. It has a year." Hope hand over the paper to him."It is the first clue, Hope. Maybe the child was born in this year." as John inspects the paper.Hope heard a noise in the living room. It was Mr. Nile coming back from feeding the animals."Mr. Nile, may I have a word with you. I came across a room that was lock. When I opened it, the room was filled with baby furniture. Did my aunt ever mention a child to you?""Miss. Brooks, your aunt and I talk about things to do in the farm. She never mention about a child. Once I ask her if she had children and she told me no.""Ok Mr. Nile you can go now."Hope was so puzzled. John walks in the room."John what can this mean. I wonder if my mother knew about this child. She couldn't of have. She and my aunt were about thirteen years apart.""Well we can go back into town if they have records of births in 1945.""Before we go, I will call my father first to see if he knows anything." Hope start to dial the number."Dad I called you to ask you a question. Did you or mom know that Aunt Lucy had a child?" Hope waits anxiously. "What is this all about?""Well dad I found a room with a baby crib and furniture. I was wondering maybe she mention about a child with you or mom. I mean if there is a child just maybe the child is alive and I may have a cousin out there." "Hope I don't know about a child or your mother mention it to me.""Are you sure?""Yes I'm sure." Hope hangs up the phone. She was disappointed. "Let's us go to town and see what we find." as Hope grab her coat. They went to town and headed for the courthouse. There will be records. Hope went into the county clerk office."Excuse me, miss. Can you help me?" "I need to know if your office has any birth records.""What year?" asked the clerk?"1945." as Hope answered."Here we are. We have some records dated back in 1945. Most of them are young women between the ages of 15 and 20. Those times the young mothers were unmarried and the childcould have been adopted." the clerk told this to Hope."Is there a name called Lucy Walters?""Here's one. Her name is Lucy but I can't read the last name. She had a baby girl born in October 8, 1945.""Doesn't have the name of the father?" asked Hope."No, it doesn't." the clerk closes the book."Thank you." Hope leaves the clerk's office."John, my mother was born in October 8, 1945. You think my aunt had the child the same day as my mother was born?""It could be possible. Didn't you say your aunt and mother were thirteen years apart?"Can it be possible that your grandmother was having your mother at the same time when your aunt was having her child? But one question remains. Did your grandmother know about this child?Hope didn't know that question.