Tuesday's Child tenders direction ...

That girl really has no sense of time whatsoever.

Manning the reception desk of Datura Doll Hospital wasn't Adeline Monroe's idea of fun. She was more of a hands-on person than a receptionist, and as soon as Susie returned from her break, Adeline would be where she belonged — out back mending the growing pile of dolls and teddy bears. The doll hospital she ran with her best mate, Jasmine, seemed to be one of the few businesses on the High Street not struggling in the current economic climate. She guessed it was because no one wanted to buy new if old could be repaired.

Besides, nothing spoke comfort like the teddy you'd grown up with and shared many a nightmare and secret with.

Constant rain hit soundlessly against the windows. So much for the unbroken sunshine and temperatures of seventy-seven degrees Fahrenheit predicted for today. Adeline chuckled. Of course the Met Office hadn't forecast the hurricane that had completely devastated the south of England a couple of years ago, either. Hopefully, this storm wouldn't be a repeat. Even if it did mean she no longer had to water the plants when she got home tonight.

Drumming her fingers on the desk, she eyed the clock and sighed. Susie's hour break seemed to get longer each day. "Where is she?"

She glanced down. Ben, her black and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel, sat resting his head on his front paws, one ear cocked open as always. His coat shone, and he opened his mouth in a long lazy yawn before raising his dark, soulful eyes up to her.

"You think Susie's taking a nap somewhere, huh, Ben?" she asked, reaching down and stroking him. "More likely she's run into that boyfriend of hers and lost track of time."

The door flung open letting a blast of wind and rain in with it. Ben jumped up and pushed at Adeline. She acknowledged him by rubbing his ears and then twisted her head to glance over at the door. "Hello."

A small child stood in the doorway, her coat flapping undone and dripping a puddle of rainwater onto the floor. A pale blue bobble hat with woolen braids hanging off the ear flaps was pulled down snugly over her head. Known as 'dappy' hats, they were all the rage.

Adeline even had one hanging on the peg in her hallway.

A doll clutched in her hand, chest heaving, the child stood motionless, her gaze darting around.

I know it's raining, but a wooly hat in the middle of summer? It's not as if it's cold.

"Hello? Can I help you?" Adeline moved around the desk towards her.

"She's broken." The child held out the one-armed doll, tears streaking her face. "It said doll hospital ..." She turned her head away, and Adeline missed the last half of the sentence.

"I'm sorry. I need you to face me so I can read your lips. I'm deaf."

The child turned back, staring at her, eyes wide with wonder. "For real? You can't hear anything I say?"

Adeline shook her head. "Nope, but if you look at me when you speak, I can read your lips."

"But you can talk. I thought deaf people only talked with their hands. They didn't have voices 'cause they didn't need them."

Adeline smiled at her, signing as she spoke. It was refresh