The orphanage superintendent found her crying in the corridor. Once she had the story out of Sandy, the superintendent immediately organized a search for Petra.
Sandy's panic mode did the job. Or rather, passed the job on to someone more competent. All Sandy had left to do was to return to the hall. And possibly face the wrath of Momma Lois. Maybe she should help search the place a little longer.
A pair of preteen Asian girls met her. "Hi, are you Sandy?" the taller of the two asked.
"Yes, I am," Sandy admitted.
"Your guardian's looking for you back in the main hall," the same girl said.
Guess Sandy had to face Momma Lois without Petra. Gathering her courage, she went into the hall.
"There you are, where have you been?" Momma Lois asked. To Sandy's immense relief, her guardian was carrying Petra. "We've been looking all over for you."
Guess the search party had been looking for her instead.
Long story short, Petra had been found playing under the stage. Oh, and severe scolding awaited Sandy when she returned home.
***
Christmas morning eventually came around.
Sandy sat watching the back garden outside the kitchen window. The sky was dark and the rain was quite heavy. She could see the storage shed at the back, the clothesline and the swing. She could she the puddles in the grass. But beyond the back wooden fence, all she could see were shadows.
She was up early that day. It was the thought of gifts that filled her with excitement, enough to get her out of bed earlier than usual.
But then, would she get presents that day? She was worried that Momma Lois was still mad at her. Her ears burned when she recalled the scolding she had received for not watching Petra properly at the party.
Not only had she been negligent in watching Petra, the toddler had been found playing in a dangerous place. Petra could have been hurt badly if the stage had somehow collapsed, a serious possibility considering that there had been children jumping on the stage.
Sandy sighed.
There had been other donations. The orphanage did receive a Yule Log, one that Sandy and Celeste enjoyed very much. There were other cakes and desserts too. And there were some new clothing. Not the trendy stuff, but enough for the girls to get by.
But would Momma Lois give her a special present that day?
Just then, Momma Lois entered the kitchen. "Sandy, have you finished your homework?"
(No prizes for guessing what Sandy's answer to that question was.)
Momma Lois sighed. She handed Sandy a flat present tied with a glossy pink ribbon. "Here, I had this made for you. Merry Christmas, Sandy. You should try track seven."
"Thank you," Sandy said, "Merry Christmas, Momma Lois." So she got a present after all!
Sandy looked at the present. Momma Lois mentioned 'track seven'. The present was just the size of a CD's jewel case. Excited, Sandy started for her room where the CD player was. On her way, a glimpse through the doorway to the living room revealed that Celeste and Petra were watching the Christmas morning cartoons.
Once she was in her room, Sandy excitedly, but carefully, opened the present. As she had guessed, it was a CD. On the cover, it was titled 'The Best of Momma Lois' and there was a picture of her guardian cheekily grinning and giving the thumb up.
Puzzled, Sandy popped the CD into the player on her desk and switched to track seven.
The voice of Momma Lois suddenly boomed, "SANDRA GOULD, GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!"
Sandy involuntarily jumped onto the desk chair and reached for her schoolbag. Only when she had taken her assignments out that she realized that Momma Lois's voice came from the CD player.
As the CD player continued urging her to do her homework, she looked at the printed words at the back of the jewel case. There was a track for each of the household chores, one for waking up in the morning, one for studying (a separate track from the one for homework).
Perhaps Sandy had mentioned one too many times that she could not do her homework without Momma Lois asking her to.
Sigh. Maybe she should get some homework done.
***
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