Free Amazing Grace by Lesley Crewe

man.
    â€œWhy, you little bitch!” The man lunges at me but one fireman holds him back and the other steps towards me and picks me up in his big arms.
    â€œI have to take my cat. He’s in the bag.”
    â€œYou can take your cat. I’ve got you now.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    NOW
    I cannot go any further. By the time I come out of my story trance, the fire is out and it’s dark outside.
    â€œMy god, it’s so late. I’m sorry, we should go.”
    â€œAre you kidding me? You’re going to leave me hanging! What the heck happened?”
    â€œThat will have to be for another day. Fletcher will be worried.”
    I rise from my chair and Melissa follows me. We fold up our blankets.
    â€œWell, all I know is I hate that man! He’s horrible. I hope you never saw him again.”
    â€œThere were others.”
    Her mouth drops open. “Others?”
    â€œI was young and alone, with no parent or family to protect me. That’s when the devils crawl out of the sewer and wait for their chance to eat you alive.”
    Her eyes moisten. “That’s not fair. I don’t think I want to hear this.”
    â€œYou don’t. But you will. Just not right now.”
    Melissa sidles up and puts her arms around me. “Poor Gee. I don’t want to sound mean, but I think it’s horrible that your mom and sister left you behind.”
    I pat her back. “People are capable of anything.”
    We close up the house and head back to the trailer. Melissa is quiet most of the way home, staring out at the dark through her side window. Maybe this was too much for her. But I can’t stop now.
    â€œI have an idea,” I eventually say. “Why don’t you and I fix up the farmhouse while you’re here? We can paint or move the furniture around. Just spruce it up so it will be ready if you do decide to come here for the summer.”
    â€œWill you tell me what happened after the firemen arrived?”
    â€œYes, but I need about two good sleeps before I start again. I didn’t realize how exhausting this was going to be.”
    When we pull into the yard, I see Fletcher look out the kitchen window. That reminds me of something.
    â€œMelissa, don’t say anything to Fletcher about this. He knows some of the story, but he doesn’t know the gory details. He’s a big softie and it was a long time ago.”
    â€œMaybe I’m a big softie, too.”
    â€œNo. You’re not.”
    We both laugh.
    As soon as we enter the trailer, a menagerie of furry creatures come to greet us. Beulah does a good job yapping at the others to go to the back of the queue.
    Fletcher’s at the stove. “I made a meat loaf. Are you hungry?”
    â€œYes!” says Melissa. “She starved me all day.”
    We talk about nothing in particular at supper. Melissa asks if she can call her father after she does the dishes, which is a nice surprise. Fletcher takes me aside. “You got a letter today in the mail.” He hands me the envelope. “I didn’t recognize the return address.”
    â€œMaybe this is it.”
    â€œFingers crossed.”
    I go to my bedroom and shut the door. As I open the letter, my mouth is suddenly dry, and my heart thumps in my ears. I scan the letter quickly, looking for answers.
    Dear Mrs. Willingdon,
    I’m sorry to inform you that I am not the Maria Fairchild you are looking for. Firstly, my name is Maria, not Ave Maria, and I am from England originally, although we did move to Guelph, Ontario, many years ago. I do not have a sister, only two brothers.
    I’m sure you will be very disappointed, but I encourage you to keep looking, and I pray you find your sister someday.
    Yours Truly,
    Maria Fairchild
    My hand drops the letter into my lap. It’s always the same answer. Sorry, I am not your sister. Why do I get my hopes up after forty-eight years? It’s ridiculous. Obviously my mother is long gone, unless