Charley

She decided to take the child to the local playground to see if she would talk to her there.

Walking up the grassy rise still the child followed on behind.

Marley sat down on a park bench a little distance from the play equipment and the baby girl climbed up and snuggled right beside her. Close up Marley could see just how pretty she was; long lashes, pale blue eyes, framed by caramel colored Shirley Temple curls.

She looked out across the park, the seat was on a small hill and the view of the trees and gardens was quite lovely.

It had grown quiet, strangely quiet for a public place - being the end of the day the usual patrons were now at home eating their dinners and preparing for bed.

Marley could see that she was holding a fluffy white rabbit in one hand and a small book in the other. No words came.

"Do you have a name?" she asked gently. The little girl nodded and then smiled. 

"Can you tell me what it is?"
The little girl shook her head "no".

"May I call you a name of my own then?"

The child moved up yet closer on the seat and put her chubby arms around Marley's neck.

"Charlene! Charley for short (rhymes with Marley she thought) ...how does that sound?"

The child clung tightly and Marley felt a wonderful warmth.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series