Just Believe

In a dirty, run-down town, nobody would expect anyone to be happy. Caitlyn Holms was expected to be the least happy, for her family was poor and basically lived on the streets. But she was happy. Caitlyn never complained, because she knew her family of 3 was there for her through thick and thin. She was perky, and always nice to her friends and family…until one day. One day when her life changed.
         “Caitlyn. Caitlyn,” businessman Greg Patterson cried for her. “Your family…well, it’d be best if I show you.”
         Little Caitlyn, just turning 8, didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. It was her birthday, and her parents had gone out to spend their last $2.00 so she could have the best birthday ever. She had been sitting on the oily curb on the side of the road for the past 3 hours, and was just as frightened as Greg.
         “Come now! Hurry!”
         “What’s going on? What happened?” Caitlyn worriedly questioned.
         Greg Patterson grabbed her hand just as she had stood up and led her to her parents. All she saw was a car, all rusty, with just the strangest license plate number. It was currently being driven, by her parents! She knew well enough to remember they did not own a vehicle. Had they stolen it? Had they borrowed it from their friends? Caitlyn was perplexed by the mysterious happening.
         “Mom! Dad! Where are you going?”
         They didn’t hear her over the strong roaring sound of the engine. What was happening to them? It was like they were different people! Caitlyn figured they had stolen it and were driving out of town, abandoning their innocent little daughter.
         “It’s okay, Caitlyn. I will take you back to my house, and we’ll call the police. Everything will be alright,” Greg comforted her. So he did, and the police didn’t believe him. Caitlyn felt a single tear drip from her watery eyes, and turned to hide it from the businessman. Nothing like this has happened to her before, and her 8th birthday was turning out to be the worst ever. She has no home, no money, and now no parents.
         “Thank you, Greg. But I don’t think I’m going to be alright. Good-bye.” Caitlyn tried to say over the muffles of her sniffs and cries.
         “Whoa now hold on. I won’t let you go out there by yourself. How about you stay with me for a while, and your parents may show up. Just believe.”

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        Caitlyn couldn't 'just believe'. She was just 8 and had been abandoned! But she tried to pretend...for Mr. Patterson.
        "Is there something wrong with me? Why would they do that, on my birthday," she asked Greg, and with a few nods of his head, she got the point. He didn't really care about her, just about making a great image for himself. So at that, she jumped up and started to trot out the door.
        "Wait! Caitlyn, where are you going?" But by then, she was already gone, and there was no way he could stop such a wonderful little girl that had just had the worst thing of her life happen to her.
        Caitlyn was on her way to a new life. A fresh start. So she leaped off of the curb, sprinted across the street, and entered a small boutique. The large neon letters above the scaffolding had been burnt out and tilted askew.

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