A few weeks later, Danny's parents left her with her grandparents for a few days. Her parents said they had to go to court. Danny didn't understand that statement. The only court that she knew were the courts in her school gym.
She really didn't understand when her parents said she had to go with them.
The courtroom was big and reminded Danny of a church. She was shocked to see the long benches and small wooden fences. Danny had never seen so much wood. She sat with her grandfather on the wooden bench closest to her mother. Danny didn't pay attention to her parents pleads. She sat with her head down and played a game on her grandfather's phone. After forever, the judge called for a break. Danny hopped out of her seat and rushed to her father.
"Papa, I'm hungry." She pulled on his jacket.
"Yeah, we're gonna get something now."
"Is mama coming?" Her father coughed.
"She's going to eat somewhere else."
Danny and her father were almost to the door when they were stopped by the judge. She was a peculiar sight to Danny because she had never seen a woman with no hair.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bom. May I speak to Daniella for a little bit?" They had somewhat of a staring contest. Her father was as stiff as a board. Danny reached across the the judge and pulled the woman's robe.
"Miss, I'm hungry."
"I have some candy in my office." Danny's features lit up as she jumped in front of her father.
"Papa, please. Can I please go with the lady?" He nodded and Danny took the judge's hand.
"I'll be right here," he said as he sat on a bench.
The judge's office was clean, with many pictures of children. Danny thought the judge would sit in her large, plush chair. Instead, she sat next to Danny
"You can call me Miss Ada, Daniella." Miss Ada passed Danny a few Jolly Ranchers.
"I'm Danny."
"Yes, I've noticed that your mother is the only one who calls you by your full name. Do you know why that is?"
"No, not really." Danny unwrapped one of the candies and put it in her mouth.
"Which do you prefer?"
"Prefer?" Danny was puzzled by the word.
"Which one do you like more?" Danny didn't know, so she didn't answer. She started to pull on her hair-tie. "What do you like to do with your mom?" Danny furrowed her brows and yanked harder at the hair-tie.
"I like it when she does my hair."
"Then why are pulling the hair-tie? You're gonna mess up the pretty bun." Miss Ada smiled.
"Because she always pulls the elastic too tight. My dad tells me to stop because sometimes it breaks." Miss Ada nodded slowly and suppressed a smile.
"What do you like to do with your dad?" Danny smiled and began listing the things she does with her dad.
"I love when we go to the movies, the park, to the candy store," Danny gasped and covered her mouth. "I'm not supposed to tell people that he takes me to the candy store." Miss Ada laughed with Danny.
"Ok, Danny let's go back to your dad. You guys can get some real food." Miss Ada held out her hand for Danny to hold, but Danny got up and skipped to her father. Her father's shoulders relaxed when he saw Danny.
"Thank you for the candy, Miss Ada."
"You're welcome, Danny." Miss Ada then looked to Danny's father. "Recess is over in twenty minutes. There is a convenience store with pizza down the street."
"Thank you." Danny and her father turned to walk.
"Oh, Danny!" Miss Ada rushed to the little girl. "Just in case," Miss Ada handed Danny a simple black hair-tie. Danny's father tilted his head.
"Come on, Danny. I thought you said that you were hungry."
