"Still My Little Girl"

William has been silent all afternoon. He can not find words to express all of the conflicting feelings that overcome him succeeding each other with greater frequency. He keeps reviewing the conversations he has had recently. It seems so unreal that so much time and energy has gone into terrorizing one little girl. He feels his fists clench with anger for a moment as he contemplates it all.

Then he looks back down at the sheet of paper in his hand. It had been neatly folded into quarters and slipped into a cheap envelope. The contents of the envelope were what hurt him most. Why did the Council of Knowledge expect him to deliver their message to a little girl? Why did they want him to bring her good news only to later tell her the worse news? His eyes blur as he stares at the typed words filling the page, reading the contents over again. He quickly wipes away the tears and takes a deep breath to prepare himself for the inevitable.

As he steps out of the truck, he pulls a lighter out of his pocket. He twists the paper and sets it on fire, holding it by the edge until the flames begin to lick at his fingers. Then he drops it to the ground and watches the flames flicker and dance along the last remnants of the page, obliterating the last of the words that he has committed to memory. As the fire dies out, he stomps on the curled dark page, sending ashes scuttling into the breeze.

It is with a determined stride that he walks through the growing dusk toward the large building that houses the Superdudes Academy. His broad shoulders do not slump though he feels a great weight upon them. William does not hurry, for he feels there is no need. There is no need to rush into Bellabooo's room and tell her the good news. There is no need to get her hopes up. There is no need to see her face brighten when he knows in the end that she will only be let down.

He takes the stairs like a man with no mission. He pauses on each landing as if he has never beheld the wall before him or navigated the curve of the stairs before. Perhaps, he hopes that all of this will become obsolete. Perhaps, he hopes that different orders will come through and the task will change. He knows, however, that the wisdom of the council would have kept them from sending such a message prematurely.

At last, he steps off on the appropriate floor. He finds the door to Bellabooo's door closed, so he knocks softly. No response comes back from the opposite side. He knocks louder and hears nothing. He tries the doorknob, surprised to find it turns easily under his hand. Opening the door, he suddenly finds himself transfixed.

Leda is draped across the tiny twin bed, back against the wall, one arm protectively thrown about Bellabooo's shoulder. Her greenish hazel eyes are concentrated on him, taking him in as if she is reading his every movement. She watches him for a moment and then rises gently from the bed, so as not to disturb Bellabooo. Bella murmurs something in her sleep, but does not wake up.

"William, you should know better than just to come into a young girl's room," Leda says in a sleepy and disapproving whisper before patting away a yawn.

"It appears my knock wasn't loud enough to wake you up," William replies, his eyes shifting from Leda's penetrating gaze to Bella's weary face, "I was told to deliver a message to Bella by the Council."

"Oh," Leda says.

Her eyes are now wide with concern. Before he can speak, she already seems to know, "Oh, she'll love seeing her parents, but..."

Her face falls. William nods, remembering again how hard it is to keep secrets from people in this place. Leda leans over to give him a hug, "Well, she'll always have us, won't she?"

"Yes, she'll always be our little girl."

A movement from the bed, causes both heads to turn from their almost silent council. Bellabooo's eyelids flutter over her dark eyes as she raises herself on one elbow. Surveying the room, her face brightens up as she sees William and Leda.

"William, Leda, you came to visit?" Her lip trembles a little as she asks this question.

"Why, of course, darling, why wouldn't we?" Leda replies.

"Because I am a bad girl," Bellabooo replies.

"Don't be silly," William says, moving to the bed and wrapping his arms around Bellabooo's thin shoulders.

"I'm bad. I have to be. That's why Decay won't leave me alone," Bellabooo replies.

"No, they're bad. You're still my little girl...a good little girl," William replies.

"Indeed, a very good little girl," Leda replies, patting Bellabooo affectionately on the head.

"In fact, I even have good news for you," William continues.

"Oh?"

"Yes, in a couple of days, your parents are going on vacation, and we're going to make sure you get to spend some time with them."

"Oh, really."

"Yes, really, now get some rest. You'll need your strength."

As if all of her recent hurts have been washed away, Bellabooo sinks back into the bed, beaming up at Leda and William. Both of them smile back, but hidden in their eyes is worry. While Bellabooo seems young enough to recover quickly and, perhaps, even to forget some of the horrible things she has already seen, both have their doubts that this temporary happiness will last. They stand there for a moment looking down at her thin pale face, observing the dark circles under her eyes and how the scars on her cheeks and chin seem more pronounced than usual. Then Leda silently walks William to the door.

"Take care of her," he says and Leda nods her head before closing the door.