Dawn & Wilma
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Karen Cacciattolo
All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without prior permission from the author.
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It’s the Year 1890. Vera and her husband Philip were eagerly playing with their daughter Wilma. She was a chubby baby with ginger hair and blue eyes. She also had a beauty spot between her nose and upper lip. Vera and Philip were very protective of Wilma and wouldn’t let her out of their sight. But once upon a day, they happened to leave their 18month old daughter alone playing in the fields while they were attending to the animals of their farm. The area where they lived was crowded with golden eagles and whilst Vera and Philip were at the farm, one very large eagle flew over Wilma and lifted her up from the ground. When she felt herself up in the air, Wilma chuckled and the eagle took her to the nest it had on top of a cliff.
Vera went over to where they had left the child and when she realised that Wilma was not there she panicked. Vera started shouting and looked for her daughter all over the place. Philip could see the eagle carrying something and soon realised that it was his daughter. He immediately went inside to fetch his rifle but Vera stopped him.
“Don’t do it, Philip, or else Wilma will die!”
“It’s your fault because you left her alone on the grass!”
“Please don’t say that! I’m sure that we’ll manage to get her back ...”
Later that evening both Philip and Vera couldn’t sleep. They had no idea how they were going to find their only child. Vera was especially upset when she saw the tiny little clothes of Wilma in her closet. In the meantime Wilma was sitting in the eagle’s nest. She started eating what the eagle brought to the nest.
Three years went by and both Philip and Vera left the farm and went to live in another village. They didn’t manage to find their daughter. Wilma grew a lot and she didn’t know how to speak but she could very well understand the eagle as she was like a mother to her. Wilma used to run around naked on the mountain because of course, she didn’t have any clothes. She also used to climb on the eagle’s back and fly all over the forests and mountains. One morning, while they were flying above some trees, Wilma saw Nina, an old lady, sitting on a wooden chair by a small cottage. She was curious to go near the old lady and asked the eagle to let her down on the ground. When Nina saw the eagle approaching with a small girl sitting on her back, she almost fainted! She had never seen something like that in her entire life. Wilma walked towards her.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
Wilma didn’t understand Nina’s language and kept staring at her. The eagle flew away to the nest, leaving Wilma alone with the old lady. Wilma was still staring at the woman and Nina realised that the girl didn’t know how to speak. She tried to teach her a few simple words. Wilma kept repeating after her. Then she let her inside the cottage. Nina fixed a piece of clothing for the child to wear. She also gave her something to eat and drink. This was all new to Wilma but she took a liking to the old lady. Days passed and Wilma stayed at the cottage but she also flew for some time on the eagle’s back. Nina spent the next two years looking after Wilma and teaching her what she knew. Wilma managed to speak.
When the girl was five years old, she still met with the eagle every now and then, and rode on its back even though she was becoming rather heavy. She named the eagle ‘Dawn’; Nina was so scared of it. At seven Wilma started going by herself to the village centre where there were many shops. Once, she entered into one of them. The owner was selling sweets. Innocently Wilma put her hand into a pot which was situated on the counter, took out some sweets and started to eat them. The owner of the shop noticed her.
“Why are you eating those sweets? Don’t you know that if you steal you’ll be punished?”
“What is punished?”
The shop owner stared at Wilma.
“To be punished means that people will come and take you away!”
“And where do they take me?”
“Listen, young lady, where is your mother?”
“She’s flying outside, come and see. Her name is Dawn.”
The shop owner went outside with Wilma and she pointed her finger up towards the sky. There was Dawn flying.
“Dawn?!” the shop owner didn’t know what else to say.
“Let me call her ...”
Wilma whispered out loud and Dawn came down to her. The shop owner was so terrified that he asked Wilma to leave. She rode on the eagle’s back and went back home. Nina had been worried about her.
“Where were you? I looked for you all over!”
“Me and Dawn went to the village centre, and I took some sweets from a shop. The man was very angry with me. You know, he was afraid of Dawn and I don’t know why.”
“My dear, not everybody likes big birds.”
“But I love her and she’s beautiful.”
Nina didn’t reply. Wilma was still a little girl and it was hard to explain to her the reason why some people were terrified of eagles. The day after Wilma went again to the village and entered a hairdressing salon. The barber looked at her ... he was puzzled.
“What do you want little girl? Where is your mum?”
“What are you doing with that scissors?”
“I do haircuts. You want to cut your hair?” The barber said with a smile. He was hoping that she would agree, since from Wilma’s beautiful hair he could do one or two wigs.
“No, I don’t want to cut my hair.”
“If you do I will give you some sweets” the barber wanted to convince her. He held her arm and pushed hair towards the chair. Wilma was struggling to let go and when she managed she ran out of the shop and whispered to Dawn. The barber ran after her with the scissors in his hands, but when he saw the eagle approaching him he was terrified and tumbled over. Dawn approached Wilma who climbed on her back and flew towards home. When she arrived at the small cottage Nina was nowhere to be seen. Wilma entered the old lady’s bedroom and there she was, lying on the floor. She was dead. Wilma started crying and went outside to whisper to Dawn. The eagle went down near the girl and they flew off to the village once again. Wilma entered the sweets shop she has been into the day before and told the owner the whole story. When the man saw her crying he felt the need to help her.
Wilma was alone now, at least she had Dawn. The little girl didn’t know what to do and both she and the eagle flew over the forest and over the cliffs until Wilma saw an old man and a young lady sitting on a rock further away from a cliff. Wilma climbed off the eagle’s back and moved towards the two people.
“Hello?”
The young lady looked at Wilma. She was surprised to see her climbing off the back of the eagle.
“What are you doing here? Where is your mum?”
“That’s my mum. I lived with Nina but she died and I don’t know what to do!”
The young lady looked even more confused.
“I’m Marina. What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Wilma and that is Dawn ...” Wilma pointed her finger towards where the eagle was flying.
Marina asked the girl about her mother again and Wilma explained the whole situation. The old man was Marina’s grandfather and he too was listening to what the girl had to say. Marina looked over at him.
“Grandpa, shall we bring Wilma with us to the cottage?”
“No problem for me, even though you will have to take her of her too apart from your old grumpy granddad!”
“I don’t mind at all. Wilma, would you like to come and live with us? We live in a cottage nearby.”
“Ok, but you know, Dawn is with me most of the time. We fly towards different places together.”
Marina smiled at her.
“Yes, sure. Dawn can come and see you any time you like.”
Off they went to the cottage, which was close by the sea. Marina and Wilma went on really well together and the old man liked her too. She was like a grand daughter to him.
More years passed and Wilma is now ten. One day, Marina was plaiting Wilma’s very long golden hair; they were preparing to go to the sea to get some seashells. The girl was concerned about Dawn because the eagle didn’t know how to swim. Marina was always amused with the way Wilma spoke about the eagle. It was as if she was referring to another person. When they were ready they went to the sea on their grandfather’s small boat, which Marina used most of the time.
A young man named Daryl fancied Marina; he had met her at the village centre. Once, he went to the cottage where she lived in order to speak to her. Marina was swimming at that moment and Wilma opened the door.
“Hello, can I speak to Marina please?”
“Marina went swimming. You can go that way” Marina replied pointing her finger towards the direction where he should go.
“Thank you.”
Daryl walked towards the sea. He could see the small boat at the seashore and climbed onto it. Marina was diving and when she came up to the surface and saw Daryl, she blushed.
“Hello Marina” Daryl told her with a smile.
“What do you want? What are you doing here? You gave me a fright!”
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Listen Marina, I would like to take you with me to a ball next week.”
“A ball? Why?”
“Because ... ehmm ... I really like you and would like to take you with me. Do you accept?”
“Well ... I have never been invited to a ball before ...”
“So? What is your reply?”
“I need to think about it ...”
“If I come back tomorrow, will you give me a reply?”
“Ok, come here tomorrow at this same time and I will let you know my decision.”
“Good, I’ll see you tomorrow then!”
Daryl was eager for the following day to come as he desperately wanted to go out with Marina. The next day Marina was waiting for him on the beach. Wilma and Dawn were further away trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Daryl appeared.
“Marina, tell me, what’s your answer?”
“Yes! I decided to go to the ball with you.”
“Wow, that’s great! So, at the beginning of next week I will let you have more details and we’ll decide on the time.”
“Yes, sure” replied Marina with a smile.
Daryl took her face between his hands and as soon as their lips were about to touch Wilma approached them and started clapping her hands.
“I’m so happy for you two!”
Both Marina and Daryl went red in the face. They weren’t expecting the girl to be there watching them.
“Wilma, what are you doing here?”
“I was looking at you. Daryl, why didn’t you kiss her?”
Daryl was so embarrassed and Marina asked Wilma to leave them alone. The girl complied and off she went. In her room, she started to make two flower bands for Marina and Daryl. When Marina returned home she saw what Wilma was up to and thanked the little girl for the thought.
“Please give one to Daryl.”
Marina laughed.
“Oh god, I don’t think Daryl would want to wear this! It’ a girl thing.”
The next morning was a really hot day and Marina went swimming again. This time there was Daryl with her. Wilma was chasing butterflies and Dawn was flying over the trees. All of a sudden the earth was shaking; Wilma ran to the sea shore and called for Marina. It was an earthquake! The seabed was splitting open and horribly both Marina and Daryl were pulled under the water. Wilma saw this and was crying. With the earth shaking underneath her path, she managed to reach the cottage and found the old man lying on the floor; he was having a heart attack. The roof of the cottage started coming down and the girl managed to escape. She whispered to Dawn and the eagle went down to her. Wilma was terrified when she saw all that mess. She climbed on the eagle’s back and flew away. They managed to find another village and by this time the earthquake had stopped. Wilma was thirsty and hungry and she was also feeling very cold. She could see a cottage from where she was and walked towards it. When she was about to knock on the big door she felt dizzy and fainted. Now it started to rain and Wilma stood there all wet, flat on the ground; she didn’t move. Dawn flew away and hid in the trees.
The cottage was in fact a small orphanage for children. It consisted of three nuns: Sister Giorga of twenty nine, Sister Dora of fifty and Madre Dolores, who headed the place, was fifty nine years old. The children consisted of seven girls; Evelyn, Holly, Hazel, Naomi, Rachel, Sara and Nellie, and six boys; Roscoe, Aaron, Carl, Christopher, Clyde and Bert. It was late in the evening and Sister Giorga opened one of the windows of the ground floor when the rain stopped. She looked down and saw Wilma lying down on the ground. She immediately called Dolores for help.
“Madre, there’s a girl outside!”
“What? Come with me and let’s see who she is ...”
Sister Giorga and Madre Dolores went outside and tried to wake up Wilma. They got her inside and put her on a bed. The other children heard the nuns talking and could sense that something was going on. They all woke up and went to see what was happening. Roscoe, who was sixteen years old and was the eldest walked in front and guided the others.
“Just follow me.”
Sarah and Naomi were too curious.
“I wonder what happened ...”
“Let’s go and see!”
Sister Giorga was covering Wilma’s body with a blanket while Roscoe and the others entered the room. Holly, the youngest of them all went nearer to the bed. She was admiring Wilma’s very long golden hair.
“Her hair is soooo beautiful. Sister Giorga, who is she?”
“I have no idea. We’ll ask her when she wakes up.”
Rachel moved closer too.
“Will she be staying with us?”
“Rachel, I don’t know. Now, all of you go to your room and sleep.”
Holly kept staring at Wilma. Sister Dolores asked her to go back to her room.
“Go to bed. You’ll see her again tomorrow morning.”
Sister Giorga couldn’t sleep that night and she stayed seated in her armchair watching over Wilma. She thought that this new girl was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. In the morning Wilma opened her eyes and was startled when she saw Sister Giorga in the armchair.
“Where am I? Who are you?”
“I’m Sister Giorga. And you?”
“I’m Wilma. Can you please tell me how I ended up here?”
“Why don’t you tell me what you were doing outside our institution?”
Wilma stared at Sister Giorga and then started to explain what had happened to her. Sister Giorga pitied the girl and asked her to stay with them. Wilma accepted as she had nowhere else to go. Sister Giorga gave her a hug and the door of the room opened. There stood all thirteen children. They were eager to get to know the new girl. Holly ran up to Wilma and Sister Giorga made the introductions. Holly was the first to speak.
“Hello Wilma, your name is really nice!”
“Even yours is nice, Holly” Wilma smiled at the little one.
“So, Wilma, how old are you?” asked Sister Giorga.
“I’m eleven.”
Holly interrupted again “you’re like my mummy!”
Sara and Rachel were admiring her beautiful long hair whilst Naomi was so jealous because Wilma was getting a lot of attention. In fact, she didn’t stay in the room. Wilma thanked them all for their kindness. She spent the day getting to know everyone. The youngest ones were eager to spend time with her but Naomi, who was fourteen years old, didn’t want to stay near her. Especially, since the boys liked Wilma too. Of course, Wilma had to introduce Dawn the eagle to everyone. Surprisingly no one was afraid of the bird and Sister Giorga tried to ask permission from Madre Dolores to keep Dawn in their garden as it was getting old.
The following day Roscoe asked Wilma whether he could take the eagle to a room upstairs where he spends time drawing and painting. He wanted to do a portrait of the bird. Wilma accepted and she joined him in the room. He held her hand while going up the stairs.
“Wilma, don’t tell the nuns that we brought Dawn up here because probably Madre Dolores would not permit it.”
“Ok, I won’t.”
Both of them sat down on a stool and placed the eagle on a table. Roscoe got out his drawing book and started to sketch the bird. Wilma couldn’t stop looking at him. She was admiring his dark hair and dark brown eyes. She thought that he was very good looking.
“Wilma, look what I wrote here as a title. Do you like it?”
The girl was shocked as she didn’t know how to read or write.
“Wilma, what’s wrong?”
“I ... I ... I ... don’t know how to read and write ...”
“How can that be?”
Wilma felt so embarrassed that she got up from the stool and started walking towards the door. Roscoe went after her and held her arm.
“Why are you going? Let me teach you.”
“Teach me what?”
“How to read and write. Would you like that?”
“Oh yes, I would love to!”
“Right, let’s start now!”
Every day in the afternoon Roscoe spent some two hours trying to teach Wilma how to read and write. She learned to do so after a couple of months. She was feeling better about herself as now words were no more a mystery to her. Roscoe wrote a story about Dawn the eagle and Wilma was happy enough to read it through. An intense affection grew between them and they became very good friends. When Roscoe finished his eagle’s sketch, he let go of Dawn and Wilma put her back in the garden. It has become very old to fly over the mountains. In the meantime, Naomi was spying on them and knew what they had been doing. Roscoe now decided to take Wilma by the river as he wanted to do her portrait. Naomi was becoming very jealous of the two.
“What were you doing with Roscoe?” Naomi asked Wilma with anger.
“Nothing special, Roscoe was doing a sketch of Dawn and I was practicing my reading and writing.”
“Listen to me young lady, if I see you once more hide in that room with Roscoe I will tell Madre Dolores! So, you better leave Roscoe alone!”
“What are you trying to tell me? Why is this bothering you? We did nothing wrong!”
“I don’t care; I don’t want to see you alone with him!”
“You can’t order me around like that just because you’re older then me!”
“Yes I can because you’re not normal ... you lived in an eagle’s nest and so you’re not normal!”
“You’re just jealous ...”
It’s true. Naomi was very jealous of Wilma and she couldn’t stand the friendship that there was between her and Roscoe. Wilma didn’t say anymore words and went to look for Roscoe. They had to go by the river for the portrait as he has promised. She sat down on a tree branch which was hanging out over the river. She was moving a little bit to tease him.
“Wilma, don’t move, I need to get this done perfectly ...”
“I’m joking ...” with these last words Wilma fell into the river and Roscoe stood up.
“Wilma, be careful as there’s a hole somewhere on the seabed!”
“Roscoe, I feel something ... I ‘m being pulled down ... I think it’s the hole ...”
Wilma was struggling to swim and get back on the ground. Roscoe jumped into the river too and managed to grab Wilma’s hands and rescue her.
“Oh god, I’m all wet!”
“Me too! Let’s take off our clothes and leave them to dry in the sun. Don’t tell anyone about this otherwise Madre Dolores will get to know and she’ll punish us!”
Roscoe and Wilma took off their clothes and put them to dry on some rocks. They both were in their underwear, which they didn’t take off. Roscoe stared at Wilma and she blushed. He moved closer to her and as soon as he was going to kiss her, Holly appeared.
“Wilma!”
Wilma was so embarrassed that she ran towards a tree and hid behind it. Roscoe asked Holly why she was there but he didn’t get a reply. Instead Holly walked back towards the orphanage without saying a word. Later on they joined the other children and the nuns in the kitchen to eat. Wilma was sitting just opposite Roscoe and couldn’t bear looking at him as his stare was making her blush. Holly was sitting next to Wilma and asked her whether she knew how to swim.
“Yes, Holly, I do.”
Roscoe kicked Wilma’s legs under the table and she looked at him. A few moments later she collected a few breadcrumbs from the table, put them in her hands and walked out of the kitchen. Roscoe stood up and walked after her. When they were outside Roscoe asked her whether he had done something wrong.
“Why are you not talking to me?”
“Me? Oh ... I’m a shy person ...”
“Are you embarrassed because of this morning?”
“I ... I ... I don’t know ...”
Roscoe put his hands on Wilma’s shoulders.
“You don’t have to by shy with me ...” he was about to kiss her again but as soon as their lips were going to touch, Dawn the eagle flew over them. The bird got to flying again.
“There’s Dawn!”
Wilma opened her hands and showed the breadcrumbs to the eagle. The bird immediately came down to eat the breadcrumbs. Roscoe took a deep breath and said to himself “it will never happen ...”
“What will never happen?”
“You’re still young; when you grow up a bit more I will tell you.”
Roscoe went back inside leaving Wilma puzzled. A few minutes later she went inside straight to her bed, thinking about Roscoe. There was a knock on the door and Roscoe went in.
“Roscoe, what are you doing here?”
“Let’s go for a swim. The others are going too.”
“Now?”
“Yes. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
In ten minutes she changed into lighter clothes and joined Roscoe and the others downstairs. On their way to the river, Naomi asked Wilma to stop walking as she wanted to talk to her.
“Wilma, apparently you ignored what I had told you!”
“What do you mean? What do you want?”
“I saw you with Roscoe! I already told you that he’s not your only friend!”
Naomi slapped her on the right cheek and Wilma walked backwards. Roscoe turned around and saw Naomi pointing her finger in Wilma’s face. He went straight towards her to try and stop the fight.
“Stop it!”
Sister Giorga walked towards them too.
“Naomi, what’s happening?”
“Leave me alone Sister, I want to teach Wilma a lesson” Naomi replied whilst trying to pull Wilma’s hair. Sister Giorga tried to pull her back.
“Stop it; god doesn’t want you to fight!”
Wilma had tears in her eyes “leave my hair, you’re hurting me!”
Sister Giorga was infuriated.
“Stop it Naomi, stop it now!”
Naomi left Wilma’s hair alone and started crying.
“Sister, I saw Wilma and Roscoe making out ...”
Naomi ran away and headed towards the orphanage. Wilma was crying as she was hurt. Giorga then asked Wilma and Roscoe whether what Naomi said was true. Roscoe was the first to speak.
“That is not true! Sister, you know me. We would never do something like that!”
“We did nothing!” Wilma spoke up now.
“Well, I know that you, Roscoe, went up to Wilma’s room ... I know everything because Naomi told me so.”
“Sister, that’s not true!”
Sister Giorga burst into a deep laughter and hugged them both.
“I know that it’s not true. I was only joking. Now, let’s go ahead for the river and enjoy a swim. Naomi is going through a bad phase ... she’s growing up and she has these mood swings.”
At the river bank Sister Giorga was preparing food for all the children and everyone enjoyed themselves swimming. Wilma was teaching the young ones how to go under the water and Roscoe was really amused by this. An hour later they lied down under a tree to have a nap. Wilma couldn’t sleep and so she went for a walk. Roscoe went after her and she started running. He ran after her and grabbed her by the waist.
“Got you!”
“Leave me ... what do you want?” asked Wilma whilst giggling.
Roscoe put his lips onto hers; at last he managed to kiss her. Wilma pushed him away to tease him. Roscoe pulled her back and as he was about to kiss her again she managed to set herself free. She was laughing heartily and ran back towards the other children.
Another year went by. Wilma is now twelve years old and Christmas was approaching. Whilst decorating the Christmas tree, Holly was talking about her late parents to Wilma.
“My mummy really looked like you. Her hair was exactly like yours.”
“Really? I resemble your mum that much?”
“Yes, a lot!”
“Were you an only child in the family?”
“No. I remember mummy telling me that I once had a sister but she was stolen by an eagle and took her away. Mummy used to tell me to beware of eagles.”
“And where is your mummy now?”
“They went to heaven. I used to stay with my aunty but she went to heaven too and so Sister Giorga brought me here.”
At that moment Roscoe joined in to help them decorate the Christmas tree. He was curious to know what they were talking about.
“Roscoe, Holly just told me that she had a sister who was stolen by an eagle!”
“What?!” Roscoe went pale.
“Roscoe, why are you so pale? You seem as if you’ve seen a ghost!”
He turned to Holly.
“Holly, is it really true what you said?”
“Yes, mummy told me that.”
Holly left them alone and went into the kitchen to fetch a glass of milk. Roscoe touched Wilma’s face.
“Wilma, don’t you realise?”
“What?”
“Holly just said that her sister had been stolen by an eagle ... probably it’s the same thing that happened to you! She also said that you look like her mother. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“No, not really!”
“Oh my, why can’t you realise that Holly may be your sister? In fact, she looks like you too!”
“Holly? My sister? I can’t believe this! Well, no one could know for sure.”
“And what if it’s true?”
“I don’t know ... leave me alone ...”
Wilma went outside in the garden. All of a sudden she realised that what Roscoe said might be true. Holly might be her sister. But how could she be certain?
A few weeks later Naomi fell sick and she was very depressed. She also wanted to have a word with Wilma, as since the incident of that summer, they haven’t spoken again. Sister Giorga asked Wilma to go and speak to her. Wilma was not that eager to talk but she complied and went to Naomi’s room.
“Naomi, what do you want?”
“Hello Wilma, I’m very happy to see you ...”
“How come? What do you want from me?”
“I want you to do me a favour ...”
“And what is that? Why do I have to do you a favour after all the bad things you said to me?”
“Please Wilma, forgive me! I want you to leave Roscoe free for me ...”
Wilma laughed at this.
“You can have him as much as you want!”
“But I thought you both were an item. Don’t you love him?”
“Of course not, we’re just best friends.”
“So, will you leave him alone so that I could be with him?”
“Yes, sure, but then it’s up to him.”
Wilma went out of the room. She had tears in her eyes; she was realising that probably even she loved him; perhaps more than a friend. But she promised Naomi that she will leave him alone. So off she went outside in the garden to look for Roscoe. There he was, doing some sketches in pencil.
“Roscoe!”
He looked up at her.
“Wilma. What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you. Can I sit near you?”
“Of course, come, sit here. What do you want to tell me?”
“Roscoe, Naomi needs you. She loves you and wants you ...”
He closed his eyes “why are you telling me this?”
“Because Naomi told me that she needs you ...”
“But I ...”
“Go to her, she’s waiting for you in her room!”
Roscoe stood up and as soon as he arrived in front of the door, Naomi came out. As soon as she saw him she hugged him. Wilma was walking towards them and when she saw them hugging each other she felt shocked. She had never experienced that feeling. Probably it was jealousy. Maybe she did have feelings for Roscoe after all. Her eyes filled with tears once again. Holly was walking nearby and noticed the tears in Wilma’s eyes.
“I saw you looking at Roscoe and Naomi. You love him.”
“I don’t know ... well, I think so ...”
The morning after Sister Giorga heard a knock on the main door and went to open it up. There she saw a woman.
“Good morning, what can I do for you?”
“By any chance, is there a girl here named Holly?”
“Yes, why?”
“I’m her aunty. I’ve been looking for her for years!”
“Come in madam, let me call her.”
Sister Giorga called for Holly and the little girl came down the stairs from her bedroom. As soon as she saw her aunty she ran towards her to hug her.
“Aunty!”
“Holly, my dear girl, how happy I am that I have found you!”
“I thought you went to heaven too!”
“No, I’m here.”
Wilma came by the door. She looked miserable but Holly didn’t notice that and immediately asked her aunt whether she too thought that Wilma looked like her mother.
“Oh my god! You’re Vera’s daughter! You look exactly like her!”
“Who is Vera?”
“Your mother! You were stolen by an eagle when you were a baby ... tell me, do you know anything about an eagle?”
“Yes, it’s Dawn. It was like a mother to me.”
“Oh my god, you’re Holly’s sister!”
Wilma was astonished. Now even this woman was saying that she looked like Holly’s mother.
“So this Vera could be my mother and Holly my sister?”
“I’m 99% sure; you look sooo much like your mother. Oh my god, this is unbelievable!!”
So many things happened that week. Wilma had decided to go and live with Holly and her aunt as a family and so left the orphanage for good. However, before leaving she promised everyone that she would go and see them the next summer.
And that’s what she did. Now she was thirteen years old and knocked on the orphanage door. In the meantime she could hear voices from behind her and when she turned her head, she saw Naomi and Roscoe running after each other. She stared at them and listened to what they were saying.
“You won’t catch me!”
“I will because you love me and you need me!”
“Oh Roscoe, I really really love you!”
They hugged and kissed. Wilma felt so sad at that moment. She wanted to be instead of Naomi. If only she had realised earlier on that she too loved Roscoe. Sister Giorga opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Wilma.
“Wilma, my dear! How happy I am to see you!”
All the other children came to see Wilma once again. They were all happy for her visit. A few minutes letter Roscoe and Naomi joined them. Roscoe stared at Wilma and she turned her head away, ignoring him. When she was alone in the garden he followed her and touched her hand.
“Wilma, speak to me!”
“And what do you want me to say?”
“Listen to me, I love you, I still do, but Naomi is so fragile ...”
Wilma burst into tears and Roscoe hugged her and kissed her.
“Roscoe ... I really really missed you ...”
“The guy you’ll marry will be a very lucky man ...”
Wilma left him alone in the garden. She had nothing else to say and she felt betrayed. It hurt too much to see Roscoe and Naomi together, when she was supposed to be his girlfriend and not Naomi. When she went back home to her aunt and sister she noticed Dawn flying over the house.
“Dawn, thank god I have you ... you will never betray me!”