An Orphanage

Lauren read the sign on the door: Mary’s Home For Little Lambs.

An orphanage. She was being brought into an orphanage! Not only did this woman think that Lauren was a child, she thought that she was an orphan!

“Wait!” Lauren cried out. “There’s been a big mistake here! I’m not –“

“Don’t you try lying to me, sweetie!” the woman said sternly, leading her into the building. “Even if you’re not a resident here, you were left at our front gate.”

The woman then looked around the building and shouted, “Ms. Marigold!”

“I’m coming, April. I’m coming!” an older voice said. A few seconds later, an old woman – at least in her late fifties – came down the stairs. “Now what’s the – “ Ms. Marigold began before laying her eyes on Lauren, “Oh, who’s this?”

“At first I thought that she was one of ours.” April explained, “However, after I got a good look at her, I realized that she wasn’t. I found her outside of the gate, so my guess is her ungrateful mother just dumped her there without leaving her with a note; much less clothes!”

“Oh, the poor dear.” Ms. Marigold said, sadness in her voice. “Did you at least get her name?”

“No, I haven’t had a chance to yet.” April admitted. She then knelt down to look Lauren in the eyes, asking, “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

Lauren gulped. What should she do? Should she make something up and then try to make a break for it later? Or should she just tell them the truth and hope that they’ll help her, let alone believe her?