Little Girl Lost

Little Girl Lost

Chapter 4

Paul was deep in thought when he heard his doorbell ring. He got up from the couch and went to answer the door. He opened the door, and was surprised to see Torrey standing right in front of him. He was taken aback for a moment. She looked beautiful. Her long dark hair streaming down her back, and those legs in those jeans. She was wearing his favorite pair of jeans. It took him a moment to compose his thoughts. "Torrey," he finally said.

Torrey smiled meekly at him. "Hey. Can we come in?"

Paul was confused by her question. "We?"

Torrey motioned to the little girl at her side. Paul looked down to see the dirty little girl who was clutching Torrey's hand. "Yeah." He moved aside so they could come in.

Torrey led the child into Paul's house. Torrey looked around the front hall as she entered. She felt a pang in her chest. It felt so good to be back in this house. Upon entering, the little girl plopped herself on the floor, slowly releasing her hand from Torrey's.

Paul looked at the small child. "What's going on?"

"I found her outside in your front yard," Torrey explained. "She was hiding in a bush." Torrey conveniently left the part out of how she was coming to see him. She figured she'd not say anything about that unless he asked.

"What's her name?"

"I don't know," Torrey said. "I don't think she speaks English."

"What makes you think that?" Paul asked slightly puzzled.

"She kept saying something outside as she was pointing to her stomach, and I have no idea what she was saying. I don't know what to do." Torrey felt so helpless as she explained everything to Paul.

Paul looked at the girl. She was sitting on his floor, rubbing her stomach. "Hey, kiddo." The little girl looked up at him with a confused expression on her face. Paul looked at Torrey.

"She gave me that same look," Torrey offered.

Paul scratched his chin, wondering what they should do. Just then, his cat came wandering into the hall. The animal went over to the little girl, and began nuzzling at her. The girl began petting the cat, and repeating a phrase over and over again, a bit excited.

Torrey looked at Paul and then at the girl. "Okay, that's a different phrase then what she was saying outside."

Paul listened to the small child for a second. His puzzled expression changed to understanding. "Oh God," He said.

"What?" Torrey was confused.

"She's speaking Polish," Paul explained.

"What?" Torrey couldn't believe what Paul was telling her. "Are you sure?"

"I sure am," Paul said. "This little girl is speaking Polish."

Paul knelt down beside the little girl. He began speaking Polish with her. Torrey just stood there, completely mesmerized by the scene taking place before her. She had no idea what they were saying, but Paul was so sweet with the little girl. Torrey could only make out bits and pieces of their conversation, mainly names, like Paul, Torrey, and Natalie. Torrey was assuming that the little girl's name was Natalie.

After a few more minutes, Paul got up from the floor. The little girl continued to pet the cat. "Her name is Natalie," Paul explained. "She's four years old, and she ran away from the group home that she's living at."