Life’s Expectations

It Had To Happen

Miss Holly quickly got off the sofa,wiping her face, not wanting Grace to see her cry.How could anyone treat their own child in this way?She knew she must call Daisy later.She went into the Shop gathering things like a crazed woman.She got a night gown,two collar shirts,one pink,one yellow,a pair of denim shorts and a pink sundress.She came back in thoroughly happy with herself.She placed the clothes and shoes in a pretty pink and yellow flowered backpack.

“Let’s put this one back where it belongs.Ok?”she asked putting her hand on the backpack from the trash.

The look on Grace’s face must’ve answered loud and clear.

“At least let me wash it.As a matter of fact,why don’t you get a bath after you go pick something casual out to wear.Sound good?And I will make us some dinner.We can even watch something on the tube” Holly told her,but Grace looked confused.

“Oh,the Television.”she explains.

“You have one?!”Grace yelled jumping off the sofa.

“Of cour.I mean yes,I do.We can watch whatever you want.”she replied.

“Really?!”Grace yelled so surprised.

“Yes,yes of course!”Holly said excitedly.

“I’m glad I don’t have to get home anytime soon.My mother is on a date.”Grace half lied, heading into the Shop.

“What does casual look like,so I can find it.”Grace asked in the doorway.

“Casual means comfortable clothes.” Holly told her and went to help Grace find something.

They looked through the girl clothes in Grace’s size.Grace fawned over a lot of them and Holly put them aside. She liked Grace,but needed to talk to Daisy.Was all this a ploy to get Grace free stuff?Was Grace’s mother putting her up to doing this?

Grace found a fluffy set of PJ’s and Holly nodded.

“Ok,good.So we are all set.You get your bath while I cook.And later we can even pop some popcorn.”Holly said smiling.

“I’ve never had popcorn.When we watched Lady and The Tramp at school,we got to eat a Welch’s Grape popsicle.”Grace told her.

“Is that the only movie you have seen?”Holly asked and Grace nodded.

“Well,then I will have to pop Wizard Of Oz in for you.It’s an Easter time favorite.”Holly said as she found the movie in her large collection.She put it on top of the VCR for later.She finished cooking dinner as Grace bathed.She set the table and put the meal out.She filled two glasses with Sweet Tea, as Grace came out. She looked fresh and comfortable. Holly picked Grace’s plate up to fix it.

“Do you eat chicken and dumplings?”Holly asked her.

“I don’t know.I will try it.I have only had peanut butter sandwiches,even in school.My mom told them not to let me eat their food.Daisy snuck me a piece of pizza and a sugar cookie for my last birthday.She gave me my treasure box then too.”Grace said smiling.

Holly scooped up a tiny bit for Grace to try.She placed it in front of her and waited.Grace gobbled it down and held out her plate for more. Holly put a big scoop on the plate with some English peas and cornbread. Grace inhaled the food so fast Holly wondered if she even tasted it. Grace sat looking at her plate avoiding Holly’s gaze.She fiddled with the fork a bit and drank her tea.

“Would you like more?” Holly asked her.

Grace beamed with joy,”Really?Yes please!” she replied excitedly. Holly put some of everything on her plate and handed it back to Grace. And once again Grace googled it down,but this time she was full. She sat back in her chair and sighed.

“I hope you have room for dessert.I put the churn on for some ice cream, while you were in the tub.” Holly told her and Grace wiggled in her seat so excited.

“I have never had ice cream!My momma threw away the ice cream Daisy bought for my birthday “Grace told her still wiggling and smiling.

Holly gave her a big bowl full,avoiding Grace’s watchful eyes,not able to stop her tears from falling.

“ You eat as much as you want, while I pop the popcorn.” Holly told Grace. Grace dug in goobling it down quickly.

“ Wow!Wow! You can’t eat ice cream so fast.” Holly began to tell her and Grace grabbed her head in pain.Holly shook her head and finished.

“You will get a brain freeze if you eat it fast,but it will go away.Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth.”

Holly finished the popcorn and excused herself to use the phone.She pulled the long cord out the back door to the porch.

Daisy picked up after the third ring.”Hello?” Daisy answered.

“Hey,Dais.It’s me Holly.Can you talk now?” Holly asked.

“ Yeah sure,what you up to?”Daisy asked.“Well,I have a little friend of yours here.Grace.”” “Holly I can’t get into this now.Just know whatever horrible things she may share are gospel truth.And even worse.I did what I could.But if she got away, help her to stay away. I love you cousin.”Daisy said and hung up.Holly was shocked. She came into the living room with a large bowl of popcorn and two root beers.She sat cross legged beside Grace on the sofa.

“If you want a blanket there is one in that basket.Will your mom mind if you stay the night?”Holly played along.

“Oh my mom won’t be home until in the morning.”Grace told her,very sure it was the truth.

“You stay home alone a lot?”she asked me.

“Oh all the time. Thank you for the bath,I have never taken a real bath before.My mother calls them hole baths.You use a rag to clean all your holes.”Grace told a horrified Holly.

“Grace,that isn’t very nice.Are you sure you are ok?”she asked,Grace nodded. Holly knew she couldn’t make Grace say anything she didn’t want to.

They sat to watch the movie and eat popcorn. Every once in a while Holly would glance at Grace and smile.Grace loved the movie.Her favorite part was when it went from black and white to color.But the witch did scare her.

“Do I have to go home?”Grace asked.

“Is the movie scaring you?”Holly asked her.

“A little.”she replied.

They watched the movie,until Grace fell asleep.And Holly sat thinking about what Daisy said. And the warning not to let Courtney find Grace.

The next morning Grace woke to the smell of bacon cooking.She followed her nose.Holly had already cooked pancakes,link sausage and hash browns.

“Hey do you mind getting some eggs for me?”Holly asked Grace.

“No mam.”she replied and went to the fridge.

Holly began to laugh.”No,they are in the chicken coop out back.You don’t have to go in.”Holly told her,handing her a basket.

“Oh,ok”Grace said then walked out.

Grace went to the coop,she looked around.She saw the wooden box on the side and grabbed out the eggs. She placed them carefully in the basket.As she walked back in she looked around,Miss Holly had a beautiful garden.

“Good morning and thank you.You can go into the Shop before I open and find you a shirt and some shorts.Oh and some socks.Do you have panties?” she asked while making Grace a plate.

Grace shook her head,as Holly put the plate in front of her.Holly nodded and sat down,but she wanted to scream.But after her conversation with Daisy she understood.

“Let’s bless the meal.”Holly said holding out her hand.Grace took it and Holly began to pray.Grace had only seen the teachers at school pray.Holly let go and they ate, afterwards Grace did all the dishes and wiped down everything.

“ My momma didn’t let me eat with her,but she taught me to clean up after she ate.”Grace told Holly.

“Miss Holly you gave me clothes already.I can wear some of those.”Grace said.

“Ummm no.You go pick you an outfit.And you can call me Holly.” she told Grace.

Grace went and found a Rainbow Bright t-shirt and a pair of yellow capris pants.She walked into the Shop after she was dressed and Holly put her hair in Pigtails.She smiled real big after,Grace spun around.Grace grabbed a broom and swept up inside.

“You may sweep the front porch if you’d like.No school,it’s Saturday.”Holly smiled.

So Grace swept the front porch.She sat on the porch swing and watched as people came in and out of the Shop.Some people came to shop,some to trade and some to donate.Later,after lunch Grace helped Holly go through the donations.

“You let me know if you see anything you like.We’ll make you a pile.And wash any clothes we find.”she told Grace.

They did find a lot of clothes that were her size and Holly put every piece aside.Grace found a lounge chair cushion and put it to the side.It would make a better mattress than the float.She also found a small camp lantern.Holly found a paint set and an artist pad.She found three books,she put aside.

“I found lots of clothes you can have a fashion show for me tonight.And I found some art stuff.Also three books you should have.This is The Secret Garden and this is Little House On The Prairie.And this book is a Survival book.We can use it to make us both bugout bags.”Holly said handing her the stack of books.

“I am glad I can read.Miss Daisy made sure of that.”Grace told her.

“Oh,I spoke to her last night.She is very happy you are ok.And even happier you are with me.”Holly said.

“Did she say anything else?”Grace asked scared she may have told her about her mother.

“No,not much else was said.”Holly told her and knew Grace would open up more later.

Grace didn’t want to push the subject,so she said nothing else about it.

They hung and put away all the donations.Then she helped Holly start dinner.Holly did not ask about her mother anymore. And never again asked if Grace had to go home at a certain time.She just let Grace come and go as she pleased. But Holly did wonder where Grace was staying and how safe it was.

That week,Grace barely went back to her little shed home.But when she did she had so much to take.The early Easter package was a pretty pink dress.She was happy coming and going for about two weeks.But one day Holly followed her home.

“Grace,this is where you live?Does the owner of the house know you are out here?Of course not.Who would let a child stay in their back yard in a shed?Gracey,this is not good.”she said very sadly.

“But it isn’t as bad as it could be” Grace smiled and shrugged her shoulders.