The next morning Diana found Amy sitting in the middle of the living room, holding her bear and not making any sound or motion.

“Good morning, Amy.”

“Good morning.” She said quietly.

“Are you hungry?”

She nodded.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll have breakfast for you.” Diana went and turned on the TV to cartoons. “Here you go watch this till breakfast.”

Amy sat in front of the television mesmerized for she had never been allowed to watch cartoons before.

Jessie and Avery woke up to the smell of bacon and French toast.

Diana called them all to breakfast. Amy looked around; she didn’t know where to sit or what portion of the breakfast was hers, if any.

She figured that Diana had been joking about letting her eat so she turned to leave and resume her spot on the floor in the living room.

“Amy,” Avery called out. She turned, “ You can sit next to me.” She smiled.

Her eyes filled with wonder. She sat down next to the nice girl.

“Mommy makes good breakfasts.”

Diana put a piece of French toast on her plate.

“Do you like syrup? I love it with butter and syrup on mine.”

“I’ve never eaten this before. I don’t know if I like syrup.”

“Here, take a bite of mine.” Avery gave her a bite.

And Amy smiled a little. “I like that.”

Diana smiled at the children.

“I’ll help you get it like Avery’s I put it on hers anyway.” Jessie began putting stuff on her French toast.

After breakfast Diana brushed Jessie and Avery’s hair and put it up. Amy watched with interest. She pushed her long bangs that had fallen out of her ponytail out of her face.

Diana watched the little girl hover around the doorway. She put the rubber band at the end of Jessie’s braid. “Amy, would you like me to fix your hair too?”

Amy came out of hiding slowly. “I don’t have a brush of my own.” She said quietly.

“That’s okay.” Diana smiled at the poor child. “You can use everyone else’s.” She looked at the little girl’s dirty hair. “C’mon let’s wash your hair.”

Her eye s got big. “Only pretty girls get their hair washed. It’s a waste of water and soap on me.” She said mechanically, as if that response had been programmed into her.

Diana got onto the floor next to her. “Amy, you are a pretty girl. It’s not a waste of soap and water on you.” She hugged her.

Diana washed her hair and put extra stuff on it to make it smell extra nice. Then she braided her long blonde hair. “There you are, dear.”

Amy smiled a bright smile as she felt the braid. “Thank you very, very much.”

“No problem. C’mon let’s get your bed together.” They spent all day getting the girls room ready to accommodate three girls. By five they had.

“Mommy, when will Zackie be home?” asked Mackie.

“At diner time, when the clock says seven.”

He smiled. “Kay.”

Diana took Amy’s clothes out of her suitcase to wash them, with the boy’s stuff when they got home. She pulled each article out and found that it was either blood stained ripped or way too small for her.

She gave up. Guess I’ll just have to buy her new clothes.

Then she began preparing dinner. Amy stood silently next to her never in her way but she just watched every move that she made.

“Amy, count out nine plates for me please.”

She took each plate out of the sink. “Count them out loud for me please.”

“One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine…”

“Good job. Thank you, Amy.” Well, she knows her numbers. That’s a plus. Everything was almost done when the front door opened.

“We’re home.” Called a low man’s voice.

Amy became frightened, and she clutched her bear tighter to her.

“Daddy!” Yelled all of the kids. They ran to him and their brothers.

Amy watched from a distance.

Walker hugged Diana and saw Amy. “So you must be Amy.”

She nodded.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Walker. All of these rugrat’s dad. And from what I understand you are gonna stay here too.” He smiled.

Amy felt a little more comfortable around him. But the three large boys still scared her. Taylor looked at Isaac and Isaac shrugged and went to Amy.

“Hello Amy, I’m Isaac.”

“Hi.” She said shyly. She wasn’t sure why but this long fuzzy haired boy seemed nice.

“I’m Taylor.” Said the other taller boy.

Then a hyper boy came from the kitchen. “I’m Zac.”

She giggled, and Diana hugged Walker.

“Okay everyone, let’s eat. Walker, go get Zoë out of the playpen.”

Everyone sat down there was a vacant seat next to Avery and Zac. Amy sat down nervously. Zac was expecting to play elbow war like he usually did when right handed people sat next to him. But Amy picked her fork up with her left hand and ate.

“Wow! Mom! Look I found someone I can eat beside without elbowing them and them having a cow.”

“We now have two lefties in the family.” Diana smiled.

Amy ate dinner with curiosity. It was delicious. It was warm and there was plenty on her plate. She ate it all quickly not realizing how quickly she was eating. She finished and frowned at her plate.

“You want more, honey?”

She was shocked by the question. “I’m allowed to have more?” she asked astonished.

“Of course, more of anything you would like.”

“May I have some more mashed potatoes please?”

Isaac passed Zac the potatoes and he dished them out for her. Amy ate them all for the first time in her life she was full.

It was Ike, Tay and Zac’s night to do the dishes since they had been gone.

Amy went upstairs with the girls, and found a Barbie doll with some extra cloths for her and a Barbie brush next to her on her bed. She looked at Avery horrified. “I didn’t take her I promise.” She said cowering.

“We know you didn’t take it.” Avery said confused.

“We are giving her to you, so that you can play with us.” Jessie added.

“Oh.” Amy didn’t understand why these people were treating her so nicely. “Thank you.” Both girls smiled at the small nicety.

Jessie and Avery spent the next two hours teaching Amy how to play dolls.

Diana poked her head in. “Girls, it’s time for bed.”

“Okay, Mommy.” All the girls got dressed and brushed their teeth for bed.

Isaac came up and kissed both of his sisters.

“Ikey, could you guys sing our songs?” Avery asked.

“Sure.”

All three brothers came in and sang songs for their little sisters. Amy felt as if she was intruding on a very special moment, so she wrapped herself tighter into the blankets and fell asleep to the beautiful melody.

“Night girls.” They tucked Avery and Jessie in and Zac went over to say good night to Amy but found her asleep.

He pulled the covers up tighter around her and left with his brothers.

“Guys, we are going to have to write a song for Amy. I felt bad for not having one for her when the girls asked.” Taylor said getting ready for bed.

“Yeah.” Zac said.

“I felt sorry for her at dinner. How could someone not let her eat more? She looks starved.” Isaac said climbing into bed. “And Mom, said that she wants to take the girls shopping. Amy’s clothes are blood stained, ripped or way too small.”

“Bloodstained? Where?”

“The knees, elbows, collars, and ah, um crotch…”

“Oh God, she was sexually abused?” Taylor asked disgusted.

“Yeah, apparently pretty often.”

“Oh man.”

“I’ll put her in my prayers.” Zac said maturely.

“Good idea, Zac.”