Gone...

It had only ever been Anna and her mother. When she was younger she used to ask about her father but her mother would attempt to distract her. Anna understood that it was a forbidden topic, but that only furthered her curiosity. The librarian had just come into her class on career day and talked about how in the library a lot of information could be found. Maybe the books could hold something on her father. Or maybe the computer. She knew that most kids that went to her school had a computer at home, and when she asked her mom why, her mom said it was just another thing she would explain when Anna was older. But wasn't seven old enough? Anna thought it was.

...

3 days. It had been 3 days and her mother hadn't returned home. The cereal was scattered across the kitchen as Anna added to the mess each time she poured her own breakfast. She missed her mom dearly, and hadn't seen her since the tornado. Something had gone wrong. Very wrong, and now all she thought to do was wait for her to come home. After eating her cereal and getting ready for the bus, she got an idea. The library was filled with information. Maybe she could find her mother there. In addition maybe she could use it as an excuse to search for her father too. 

Walking down the street Anna spotted Monsieur LeClerc. 

"Bonjour Monsieur!" Anna chirped, just like LeClerc had taught her. 

"Bonjour Anna!" LeClerc said back, eyeing the small child. "Mademoiselle Anna, you do know your shirt is on inside out...don't you?" He chuckled.   

"Oh no." Anna replied, discouraged. She hung her head and continued on her way. She knew it was very abrupt and probably seemed rude, but she did not want to let anyone know about her parental situation. If they knew, she worried she wouldn't be allowed to go to the library. Then how would she find out information?

She pushed the revolving doors and stared at the mountainous stacks of books. She knew how to read, barely. Anna got distracted by all the people, and all the fancy equipment, but now was not the time to talk to people.

Walking through the stacks wondering where to start, a voice coming from the old amplifier trailed after her. "So my planned speech is gone. So, I'm gonna improvise." Anna cringed from second hand embarrassment. awkward laughs spread through the library. "So... uh swimming...I did that. Sorry I'm nervous. I failed public speaking in High School."

Anna sat down on the grand in between to bookshelves. She needed to think. Criss crossing her legs, she tilted her tiny head into her tiny hand. Hm. Where to start.

Maybe it's a dream...

Sadly, her day with Caris was shortened as he decided they walk back to Pointe Place to see what was going on. As they walked, she saw damage everywhere. Lying in the streets were branches and telephone poles. Street signs were turned around giving misleading directions, and chaos was everywhere. Anna began to understand the serious nature of the predicament she and Caris found themselves in. They walked into the lobby of Pointe Place and Mr. George rushed towards them.

"Thank God you children are safe and unharmed." He said looking them over. "Now, run up to your apartments and lock yourselves in. The power is out, so the stairs are going to be your best bet." Anna and Caris turned to leave heading towards the stairs as Mr. George rushed at them. He reminded Anna of a rhino from Animal Planet on the Discovery channel. "Here are some candles, blankets, a radio and some extra batteries. Pointe Place procedure. Make sure your mothers get these ok?" He shooed them up the stairs. 

Anna and Caris silently walked up the stairs until they reached the seventh floor. The silence was strange for Anna, but she was too worried for her mother. Her head to full of worry, she didn't even say goodbye to Caris and locked herself into her apartment. She went to her room and laid down closing her eyes. Maybe if she woke up this would all be a dream.

It wasn't. From now on. She was on her own. 

Caris...

Anna was no stranger to the Zip 'N Sip. Her mother trusted the workers there too watch over her and make sure she was safe. She was happy to skate, she aways felt like a fairy flying through the air. Maybe if she skated fast enough she could transform into a fairy and use a magic wand to make her family wealthy. Maybe if they had money, Anna's mom would stay home with her more often.

Maybe.

Walking into the Zip N' Sip, holding her mother's hand she walked up to the counter and craned her neck up at the person working the counter. She didn't know who she was speaking with, because from her angle,  the employees head and the lights were one and the same. Grabbing her shabby skates with ratty laces she turned around. There was Ms. Christy and her son Caris sitting on a nearby bench.

Anna didn't like Caris. She loved him. She walked over, trying not to seem too eager and sat down trying to feign indifference and began to put on her skates.

"Anna, why don't you greet Caris and his mother?" Anna's mother nudged her.

"Hello Ms. Christy. Hi Caris." She stated blushing a bit. Soon enough, the moms left chatting. Anna and Caris skated, and skated...And skated. Even Anna was starting to get bored, and she never got bored. But there wasn't much to do in a rink except (wait for it) skate. For lack of anything better to do, they decided to go grab some shakes. Caris started asking her random questions, even some about Mr. Evans, but all Anna could focus on was wondering, was this what a date is like. Before she could turn and ask him the lights flickered, until the arena went black. Anna wasn't scared though. Blackouts happened all the time on TV. She would just wait until they came back on. Easy peasy. Now, she just got more time with Caris. She blushed in the darkness.

Don't Wanna...

Anna didn't want to get up. In fact she didn't want to do anything, but she could hear the bacon sizzling in the pan. She swung her tiny legs to the side of her big-girl bed and padded out of the room. Voices drifted through the small hallway from the kitchen to Anna's small and curious ears.

"...Why must you be so recalcitrant?" A male voice stated loudly. It was the same kind of voice her mother used when she wanted to yell, and was attempting to hide it. Anna tiptoed closer as she became scared at the foreign voice inside her home. 

"First of all keep your voice down, she's asleep. She's too young. She wouldn't understand. What if she starts calling you 'dad'? Are you ready for that kind of commitment?" Anna's mother whisper yelled. Anna felt relieved that her mother was here, not really paying attention to what they were saying. All she knew was that this man was making her mother mad, and no one hurts her momma. She bounded into the room and spotted the man.

Hitting and kicking every single part of him she could reach she screamed "Stop yelling at my mommy. Go away! Stop hurting her."  She continued to scream and punch at him as her mom pulled the child from the man.

"I think it's best if you leave." She said cradling Anna assuring her that she was ok. Somewhere behind Anna's back the door to their tiny apartment slammed shut. Turning around in her mother's lap she saw the man was gone. She sighed. She didn't like him. Not one bit. 

The day started with....

The day started with some chocolate chip pancakes and some orange juice. In the small kitchen apartment, Anna climbed up the tall chair to reach her breakfast her mother had left on the island. Her syrup coated hands smeared the sticky substance over a bunch of papers her mother referred to as "bills."

With chocolate smeared across her face, Anna ran to her room to retrieve her chalk for her day's plans. After a presentation on public service at school, Anna decided she would do some public services of her own and add some add some color to the walkways of Pointe Place.

Her mother had gone to work and left Anna alone because couldn't afford for childcare while Anna's school was on fall break. Instead she had a list of rules she made Anna memorize while writing her name and cellphone number in thick sharpie up and down Anna's arm. The situation was not ideal, but it was the best they could do with what they had.

Taking her chalk, Anna left the apartment making sure to lock the door behind her. She placed the key on her lanyard and roped it around her neck. Little Anna rode down the elevator, humming her favorite Disney songs, and using the chalk bucket as her dance partner. She waltzed out the elevator doors and into the lobby, waving to Mr. George and Coco as she glided by.

Anna made her way to the parking deck, where she viewed the lot as her blank canvas. She was slightly disappointed to see that their were a fair amount of cars parked in the lot, and there wasn't as much empty room as she had hoped for. Anna made her way through the lot, drawing rainbows and flowers in-between the parked cars. She noticed her neighbor Mr. Evans sitting in his car. She always liked him because he called her Ms. Evita, making her feel older.

She carried her chalk over to him and it appeared to her he was sleeping. He looked a little pale, and his head was tilted back against the seat. Not wanting to disturb him, Anna walked back through the lobby and rode the elevator back into her apartment.