The Forgotten Child
Katrina opened her eyes just as the sun was peeking out from beyond the horizon. She glanced around at her surroundings. The town was starting to wake up and she could hear cars traveling about the roads. She rolled over on her side and felt the familiar hard stones pushing into her back. Sitting up, she groaned remembering that she was lying on the cold, hard ground in front of a very old, abandoned church building.
The city in front of her was a very big city, the biggest in England. London can be a very crowded place in this day and age; the mid-1800s, especially for a little eleven-year-old like Katrina, but she tried not to let all the rude upper-class people tease her for being poor and wearing dirty clothing.
People began to walk about the streets so Katrina gathered her stuff and traveled down to the train station. Along the way, people were giving her nasty looks and snickering down at her, but she did her best to ignore them. She was used to getting bullied by people, especially people who were higher than she was. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin trying to show confidence, but deep down she was hurting and sad, and all alone in this world.
Once she arrived at the train station she immediately smelled the freshly baked bread coming from the shops further down the tracks. Her mouth watered. She hadn’t been able to eat for a couple of days and her stomach was growling non-stop. She continued to walk further down until the bakery shop was in sight. Finding her favorite out-of-the-way hiding spot―a hole in the wall big enough for a small child to fit but small enough that it wasn’t that visible―she pushed all of her worn-down blankets and bags into it and quickly backed away so no one would become suspicious of her.
She began to make her way towards the bakery shop hiding behind women and men who were dressed in a very elaborate fashion. Slowly, slowly, slowly she got closer. While hiding behind a lady in a very big dress and a huge bonnet, she caught in the corner of her eye a man in a very big, black top hat and she knew right away that it was the train station police. She tried not to stare at him, but it was hard to when you knew what you were about to do was wrong.
She turned her focus back on the bakery's bread. Once she was finally within reach of the bread, she reached out, snatched it, and started to run away as fast as her legs could take her. She dogged people coming in and out of the station while hearing the cries and screams coming from the baker. She turned her head to look back and caught a glimpse of the people. As soon as she turned back around, however, she bumped into something . . . or someone.
“Gotcha!” yelled the policeman. Katrina screamed when she saw who it was. He grabbed on to her arms with a death grip and brought his face closer to hers making it almost impossible for her to look away. An evil grin spread across his face as he said, “You’re not getting away from me this time you thief!”
Katrina’s breathes came quickly and her eyes were wide in fear of the man. This is it. They are going to take me away to die, she thought.
A man who was watching what transpired came over and spoke to the policeman in the ear so Katrina could hear what they were saying. The policeman’s face changed the longer the man talked to him. When he was finished, the policeman looked mad and irritated as he let go of Katrina’s arm and let the man take her out of his grasp.
Katrina studied the man who was walking beside her. He had placed a hand on her back daring her to run away, but for some reason, she knew she wouldn’t get far. He had light brown hair and a very intimidating posture for someone who looks like he is in his twenties.
After what had seemed like forever, the man stopped and turned to look at Katrina. He gentle brown eyes calmed her beating heart a bit, but she was still scared of what he would do with her. And that is where he surprised her.
He got down on one knee and looked Katrina in the eye. “What’s your name?” he asked in a calm, even voice.
She didn’t know what to think about this. “Katrina,” she squeaked in an adorible childish way. “What are you going to do with me?
“Nothing but I need you to listen to me ok? I want you to go. Run home and take care of yourself.”
Katrina nodded and started to run towards the doors, but at the last second she stopped and turned around. “You never told me your name.”
He smiled. “They call me Caffrey.”
Katrina grinned and ran out the station doors down to where she had stored her only belongings.
Hope you enjoyed this.......MORE ON THE WAY!!!!!!
