Welcome to Tiny Town

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

I walked into the Donovan's house. The door was already ajar. I walked in slowly and quietly in case Suzy was frightened. So I stood in the kitchen and waited.

Moments later, Lennie walked down the stairs, holding Suzy's hand. He had a pink duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Her eyes were watery and her nose was red. She had been crying.

"Hi, Suzy." I said, softly.

"Lily," she ran to me. I picked her up and she laid her head on my shoulder, "mommy and daddy are gone. Lennie said they went to heaven but forgot to tell me."

"They're very sorry about that. But don't worry. You're coming home with me."

"Okay," she sniffled, "what about Spike and Roxy?"

"They'll just have to join us." I looked at Lennie.

He turned and groaned. He returned with a dog and cat. I set Suzy down and she picked up Roxy.

"Come on. Lets take the back way to city hall." I suggested. I had hoped the bodies were stored away so Suzy wouldn't have to see her parents' lifeless bodies.

Once we arrived at city hall, I lead her through the back door and through the kitchen. Unseen by anyone, we ventured up the stairs to a spare bedroom.

I opened the door, "here's where you'll be staying, Suzy."

Lennie set her duffle bag on the bed as she stepped in the room slowly. She looked at the pink walls and teddy bears on the shelf.

"I'm gonna go," I paused awkwardly, "find my dad or something." I stammered and left the room. I took a deep breath and kept walking. I haven't stepped foot in that room in fifteen years.

I walked a few steps and stared at the floor while biting my finger.

"Babe?" I turned to see Lennie.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"You okay?" he grabbed my arms and looked straight at me.

"Oh. I'm fine."

"You're biting your finger. That means something is wrong."

I removed my finger and looked at my feet, "I'm okay."

"Are you scared about Suzy staying?"

I shook my head.

He lifted my chin but I avoided eye contact, "look at me, babe."

I hesitated but obeyed.

"That's not a spare bedroom. So who's is it?"

"Was."

"Who's was it, Lily?"

"Her name was Clara."

"Who was she?"

"She was my sister. There were two Tiny females. Only one of us was going to be mayor, or so said the family prophecy."

"What happened to her?"

"Fifteen years ago, on December 13th, her window blew open and she froze to death in her sleep."

He stared at me with sadness in his expression, "I'm so sorry. But accidents happen."

"Come with me." I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to Claras old room. Suzy sat on the floor playing with dolls and I pulled Lennie to the double windows.

"Um...those don't just blow open." he examined the windows, "this involves two hands to unlatch. So that means..." he stopped when he noticed Suzy. We walked back into the hall.