KAYLA MEETS SANDY

Kayla heard the sound of little feet coming fast behind her but paid little attention. She was used to hearing the clap, clap, clap, of short quick steps of small children. They had only one speed, fast. That is as fast as their small little legs could carry them. As a teacher of second graders she heard this sound a lot. But this pair of feet was much younger. She could tell because the steps were much shorter.

"Some mother must be out shopping with her toddler," She thought as she smiled at the pleasant sound and walked on to finish her shopping.

"Mommy," Kayla looked down into the face of a wide eyed little girl who had taken hold of her hand. The child looked up at her with a wide smile. "I lost you Mommy when you went to try on that pretty dress. Did you buy it? Let me see." The sandy haired child pulled Kayla's bag out of her hands, set it on the floor, and peered down into it. "It was so pretty on you. But you didn't buy it?" The child looked up with a sad face. "Why?"

"It wasn't appropriate. It was a very expensive dress and much too formal." Kayla answered without thinking. "Why am I answering this child's questions? This is crazy."

Kayla was stunned as she looked around for a mother who must be frantically looking for her child. Seeing no one she stooped down and looked into the child's eyes. "Sweetheart, have you lost your mommy? Why don't we go find her?" she suggested as she took the child's hand and searched for a customer service sign. Before she found one two men in uniform came on each side of her, "Is this your child?" one asked in a demanding voice but low as if not to attract attention.

"Why no," Kayla answered, "She just showed up and took my hand. I was on my way to report to a clerk so she could announce that a child had been found."

"Come with us," she was instructed as the child was carried off in another direction. She had tears streaming down her pink face as she kicked and screamed, "Mommy, Mommy." She pleaded in a heartbreaking cry as she reached out her arms toward Kayla.

* * *

Kayla sat up in bed with a jerk, "Thank goodness it was just a dream." Then she looked over at the sandy haired little girl curled up next to her. She looked so peaceful in her sleep. Kayla realized part of it wasn't a dream. This little bundle of sweet innocence had come to her last afternoon and had taken her hand as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"What happened? How did I end up in this situation? I was in my own world as I looked at a formal dress remembering my childhood dreams.

"It was always the same dream. I would dress up in my aunt's stage costumes and pretend I was going to a fancy ball. We had so much fun as my aunt danced with me. I was just a child but the dream seemed so real. I must have been about ten when I was reprimanded and told to stop with my daydreaming. That I was too old to continue with such make-believe fantasies.

"What's the harm? No one is here to tell me I can't." I told myself. "I'll just try it on to see how it looks. I have plenty of time. It'll be fun to daydream again.

"I really liked it but I didn't have anywhere to go to wear something that fancy. I hung it back on the rack and continued shopping. That's when I felt a small hand take hold of mine. She looked up at me with large brown eyes, 'Mommy,' she said with the sweetest innocent smile, 'I lost you.' She wrapped her little arms around my legs and held on as if she was afraid I would disappear. Now here she is asleep in my bed."

"What am I to do with you little one?"

She could still hear the stranger who reprimanded her, "Shame on you! How could you deny this beautiful child? Social services should take her away where you could never get your hands on her."

"No! No! Mommy, don't let them take me. I'll be good." She begged as she wrapped her arms around Kayla's legs and held on tight. "Please Mommy let's go home. I don't like what that mean man said."

That disturbed her now that she had more time to think about it. Why would a child think someone would take her away? Why would she need to promise to be good? Why was there fear in the child's eyes when the mall security guard tried to take her hand to lead her to her office?

"I don't understand why no one came back looking for you." Kayla was puzzled.

The only part of the dream that wasn't real was the authorities taking her to jail. But that could be a possibility if she kept the child. Kayla had stayed in the store well after the mall closed. She tried to assure the child that her mother was looking for her and she would be worried.

"Maybe I just look like her mother," she thought, "But that isn't reasonable. Children know their own mother."

She had tried desperately to find the parent or somebody who had brought the child to the mall. But to no avail. She couldn't just walk away and pretend nothing was wrong.

With the child crying and declaring Kayla was her mother what else could she to do? So here she was with a child that wasn't hers sleeping peacefully on her bed.

* * *

Danny and Becky watched the scene in the department store. The child had found Kayla and was clinging to her as she had been programmed to do. "It's working. Let's get out of here." They walked casually out the door so as to not call attention to themselves. But it didn't work. As soon as they crossed the door, alarms went off startling the two, "What?"

The sound was still vibrating throughout the store as the security guard walked over, "It seems you have merchandise that hasn't been paid for. Would you come with me, please?"

Danny looked around to see if anyone was watching the scene as they followed the security officer, "Thank goodness. This probably happens all the time." No one seemed to be paying much attention.

"What have you done?" He whispered to Becky. His askance glare at her made her bristle.

"Me? What have you done?" she whispered throwing the accusation back at him.

As they entered the office Becky remembered the beaded handbag she had dropped into her oversize purse. She had planned to pay for it this time. It was an honest mistake. With all the tension they had...