"Girl In The Window"
By Murphy
Disclaimer: This is number twenty-five of the Journal Series. Until I can work on the
Journal where Gabby meets her spiked grandson, I will do three other ones. I am also stuck
in a serious fluff mode. This one will be about the abuse of a child. Not sexually. This
is just to warn you. Poems by Inspired Lor :) www.geocities.com/inspired616 Bards'
Village! You are the best! Deb Love Ya! Thank you to my beta team. Becky Lovall, Sue Rice,
and Cindy (ForevaXena). GOODNIGHT MOON written by Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by
Clement Hurd Originally published in 1947
The true spirit of a child, is that of trust
keeping them safe is a priority must
brought into this world with a heart so pure
bringing you a special smile for sure
showing her all your love and grace
don't forget that daily embrace.
she can be anyone she wants,
just keep to yourself those horrible taunts.
having to be taught all things she'll need.
never to be one, is how to bleed.
Don't hurt the innocence of this sprout
she deserves the world, without a doubt.
Journal Entry:
Hello. When I first made the decision of traveling with Xena I knew I would see and hear things that would shake my soul to the very core. We had to stop for supplies and get Argo shoed at some small no-name town. Argo was struggling for too long without good ones. We couldn't put it off any longer. I just had an odd feeling since we first arrived in town, something was just not right. It was not the most friendly of places.
Xena could tell I was very apprehensive about this place and she whispered that we would make this as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the blacksmith was out of town until really late and we had no choice other than to stay for the night. The Gods were testing my patience today. While Xena dealt with the blacksmith problem, I went to the Inn to find a room for the night.
As I walked towards the Inn I just happened to look up and see a small girl looking out a window. For some reason, I had to stop and study the child. She looked to be no older than five. Never in my lifetime have I seen a child with such old eyes. That little youthful sparkle every child has was not there. As I was walking in, I wondered what in Tartarus could’ve darkened a child's soul.
I tried hard to get on with my day but that vision of the child in the window haunted me. I found myself staring out our room’s window in deep thought. Xena finally had enough of my silence and asked me what was wrong, I told her about the child and just could not explain it. Something was not right and it was bothering me. We talked for a while longer, then my stomach made its presence known so we went downstairs to get some dinner.
Like the rest of the town, our waitress was none too friendly and took our order in a huff. I wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. I will have no problem waking tomorrow morning.
We were trying to choke down our meal and just relax some when I noticed that child coming down for dinner. This time it looked like her family was with her. There were two older boys and two older girls with a woman and man.
None of the kids had a smile or a child-like way about them. They were very quiet and listened attentively to the woman. The youngest one sat there and looked out the window of the Inn oblivious of anything around her. It broke my heart. I found out later it was a couple with their five kids staying at the Inn. As the huffy waitress brought my wife and I another round of drinks she noticed the family sitting in the corner. We heard her say "Not them again." Another waitress walked by and started to talk. Xena and I heard it all.
Seems the couple came to the Inn a few days ago and it wasn't a good visit. The husband was looking for work and some land to build on. They were staying at the Inn for now, much to this waitress’ regret. I guess the mother could be a real handful, which we found out by her yelling at the top of her lungs at the oldest boy. Then she turned around and bellowed at the waitress. Our huffy waitress turned very pale and jumped to this woman's call. I looked over at Xena; she seemed to be studying the whole scene.
After half a candle mark passed of her screaming at the children while her husband sat there like a lump. Xena and I went out for air and to get some supplies, but I just could not get the little girl out of my mind. All that yelling reminded me of when I was small. My father would come in from a hard day's work angry at the world. Sometimes I just felt he was angry with me, I could do nothing right as far as he was concerned. The yelling soon moved into hitting.
I would run to my room, sit on Lila's bed and look out our window and just wonder what I did to deserve his wrath. The only comfort I received once in awhile is when my grandmother would come and hold me. I have always loved to look at the moon and stars and dream. She used to rock me and tell me this little rhyme that made me forget my worries, if only just for a little while:
In the great green room
There was a picture of --
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were the three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens and a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse and a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"
Goodnight room.
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens and goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks and goodnight socks
Goodnight little house and goodnight mouse
Goodnight comb and goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere.
There were times it was hard to believe this woman gave birth to my mother. I was so deep in thought I did not hear Xena ask me something until she wiped the tear off my cheek. My wife knew, I told her of my past years ago. I just melted into Xena's embrace and was grateful for the safety I felt there. We finished our shopping and checked on Argo. Xena was not pleased with the blacksmith's laziness. She muttered, "He at least could have gotten her front hooves done by now. Guess he went to bed and put if all off until tomorrow. So I dragged my grumpy warrior back to the Inn before he got his butt kicked.
We bathed, and packed our gear. The sooner we got out of this place, the better. Things were pretty normal until our peace was disturbed by a Gods awful scream coming from that woman. I could not believe how loud she sounded from four doors away from us. Either this place had crappy walls or this woman had the lungs of a Harpy. I was not the only one affected by the yelling. The muscles in Xena's neck were so tight you could have shot an arrow with them.
The next sound made me see red as I heard hitting and children screaming. I ran like a shot, kicked open the door and had that woman by the throat. I never realized this until Xena stopped me. Somewhere in the darkness I could hear my wife asking me to let go. Slowly I did, but not without a warning. I could not believe the words that came out of my mouth.
Told her if I hear another slap or see a mark on any of these children, I would see how far I could stick my staff up her ... I could not finish because Xena put her hand over my mouth. I told her who we were. She heard Xena's name and turned pale. I assured her I had friends who would have no problem taking these children from her. Furthermore, I said we would swing back here once in awhile to make sure everything was all right. Then we turned around to make sure the kids were all right.
The youngest one came to me and hugged my legs and I put my hand on her head, I nearly lost it. When I felt things were fine for now I went to the door and waited for Xena. She whispered something into the mother's ear and the look on the woman's face was priceless. Then she walked over towards the father who was just quiet through this all and whispered something to him, then turned and walked to me with a huge grin.
This was a couple of nights ago. I just have the courage now to write about it. I am thankful we are out of that town. I had to deal with my memories of my own childhood. After my grandmother finished that rhyme. We would talk and I would listen to her heartbeat. She would say that children are gifts that the Gods loan adults. You raise a child to make things better for the next generation and so on. Sometime adults just forget that. Sometimes they also need a frying pan taken to their head. I swear she thought I was sleeping because that line makes me laugh now. I did not understand it then, but I do now. My last thoughts will be of that little girl in the window, and I will pray.
This child is our future in the making,
holding a precious gift, there is no mistaking,
seeking not any attention, rather just your love,
praise her and watch an emerging dove,
needing a strong role model to guide her on,
because with just a critic, she’ll be withdrawn,
the hope and sincerity clear in her eyes,
a future of happiness is the ultimate prize.
Thank you Grandma.
Until Tomorrow,
Gabrielle