A Love so Great 2

A Love So Great

part 2 of 3

September 2010
 by Tiffany

               Soon afterward Chin entered the small room that had been her home for more than a year.  She handed Father Nathan his food, sat down on his creaky bed, and ate her own in silence.  Does he really love me?  Chin couldn’t find an answer, so finally she did what any five year old might do.  She asked him.  Walking over to Father Nathan, she patted his shoulder cautiously.

               “Papa Nathan do you really love me?”

               “Why yes! Of course I love you. What made you think I wouldn’t?”  Father Nathan responded giving her his full attention.

               “Oh. Nothing I guess, just wondering."

               “Well, I love you very much, and I’d hate to lose you.”

               All doubts flew from little Chin’s mind, at least for the moment, and she threw her arms around Father Nathan’s neck.  She could then eat her lunch in peace.  But the peace did not last for long.

            Father Nathan finally rose from his desk at dinnertime, and wearily asked Chin if she wanted to help him get the dinner.  Chin wanting to diminish any thoughts that might still be lingering in Father Nathan’s mind about her question that afternoon, told him that she could get the dinner herself and would be back soon. She flitted out of the room and down the stairs.  She then bolted across the courtyard and out the gate into the deserted street.  Chin happily skipped down the street.  She passed the first alley, then the second, but just as she was passing the third a pair of hands suddenly reached out, grabbed her, slapped a hand over her mouth, and drew her into the dark alley.

               Chin was rudely pulled along and she kept stumbling as she was hurried down the alley. Eventually Chin’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw that her captor was a tall man with a pointed crimson beard.  Chin looked about for land marks but only saw mangy cats rummaging in the trashcans.  Before long they halted in front of a backdoor and the captor shoved it open with his shoulder.  Chin was pushed inside and she blinked from the bright light.

               “Bob! What are you doing with Chin, pullin’ her along so?  Now leave, and I’m ashamed of you! I'll take care of her now."  Chin heard a familiar voice scold.  She was given one last push, then the door creaked, and her captor was gone.  Her eyes had adjusted to the light and she saw that she was in the kitchen of Mr. Lawrel.  Chin ran to him and asked trustingly,

               “What happened? Why am I here?”

               “Why little Chin, your old Father Nathan was bored of you, so he sent you to get the dinner, but he had hired Bob to capture you.  Good thing he came here otherwise you might have been out all night in the cold with Bob!”

               Poor little Chin’s heart was broken.  The man she loved was now rejecting her and no longer loved her!  Yet a small flicker of doubt sifted through her sorrows and she wondered did he really not love her?  After all Father Nathan had just told her he loved her very much.

               Chin was hurried to the table and Mrs. Lawrel set before her a great steaming bowl of soup.  She was urged to eat and forget about Ol’ Father Nathan.

            "You can stay with us just as long as you like, dear," Mrs. Lawrel assured her.

               Meanwhile, Father Nathan was getting very worried back in his small room.  It was well after dark and Chin should have come home a long time ago.  Why? Why, did I let her go by herself? he thought anxiously.  Finally he couldn't stand it any longer, so he rushed down the stairs (careful not to step on the church's cat) and hurried toward the Mr. Lawrel's shop.  He entered, great anxiety written on his face, and addressed the shopkeeper. 

            “Mr. Lawrel, have you seen my little Chin?  She hasn’t come back to my room.  She was supposed to have come here!”

               “No, I haven’t seen her since lunchtime.  But you really shouldn’t have sent her out all alone at night to get your food.  What kind of guardian are you?  If I find her I'm not sure it would be wise to hand her over to you again. You probably would only lose her!"  Mr. Lawrel's words stung and Father Nathan left the shop in despair.

               Mr. Lawrel closed up his store and returned to the kitchen.

               “… And you get the whole attic all to yourself," Mrs. Lawrel was explaining to Chin, "It is such a nice room.  Now once you’ve finished your dinner you can go up to your room and sleep.  Oh! Hello, Harry!”  Plump and rosy Mrs. Lawrel greeted her husband.

              “Well, Chin! I just saw your Father Nathan!”  Mr. Lawrel began.  A little gasp of hope escaped Chin, her eyes fixed upon Mr. Lawrel eager to hear what he was going to say.

            “He came askin’ if I had seen you?" he continued. "Well, I asked why and he said that he hoped I hadn’t cause he was wantin’ to get a rid of you and it would be awful if I had.  So seeing that you would be much better off with me, I simply… Hey! Wait!"

               Chin burst into tears and ran up the stairs to her lonely, empty attic room and cried herself to sleep.