The day started with birds chirping high among the trees. The sun shined through Jenny's bedroom window as she lied snuggled in bed. It was about nine-forty five in the morning. Her husband had just brewed a fresh pot of coffee downstairs before he left for work. The aroma from it was filling the air. Tiger her striped grey and black kitten was at the end of her bed sunning in the sunlight shinning through the window. Her puppy Bruno was fast asleep next to Jenny in the bed. Bruno was a brownish red pit bull, and far from ferocious, as one might think a pit bull to be. It was going to be ninety degrees outside, but with warm breezes. Jenny had the day off and made plans to go to a private lake with Bruno her puppy for a long walk and swim along the trail. There were big maple and oak trees filled with green leaves all around. There were plenty of picnic tables set in just the right spots so you go rest and admire the beautiful view of the lake with the mountains all around it.
The day was suppose to be a relaxing peaceful day away from the world but, it didn't turn out that way. Jenny woke up like she usually did. She crawled out of bed put her favorite fuzzy slippers on, grabbed her navy blue hoodie, which had " Old Navy" printed across it and walked down stairs to feed her furry friends as well as pour herself a bowl of cocoa pebbles cereal. Cocoa pebbles cereal was Jenny's favorite morning breakfast, along with a tall glass of cranberry juice.
After breakfast, she got ready for the day, and packed all the stuff she would need for the lake. She then put Bruno on his leash and they headed towards the red Jeep Wrangler with the convertible top. She tossed her stuff in the car and placed Bruno in the back seat. Bruno loved the back seat of the Jeep because he could stretch out just enough. As soon as Jenny got in the car she drove off to the lake.
The lake was beautiful that day. The water was eighty degrees, almost as warm as bath water. The sun was shining bright as it had ever shined over the lake. There was a light wind blowing, but very gentle and warm as it blew against you cheeks. Jenny placed a blanket down on the ground and laid her stuff upon. The she grabbed Bruno and decide to go for a swim with him in the lake. Jenny had a ball so she could toss it out into the lake for Bruno to fetch. Bruno loved swimming and playing fetch. He was a very active dog and loved keeping busy.
Right after the swim they had lunch like they always did after playing at the lake. Jenny had her peanut butter and raspberry sandwich, a bag of French Onion Sun Chips and a Coke. Bruno had a turkey sandwich with a puppy cookie and some water. Bruno sure did love his turkey sandwiches, and was sure thirsty after doing all that playing in the water.
After lunch, they relaxed and sunbathed in the warm sun. Then Jenny decide to go for her walk like usual on the trail around the lake with Bruno, but as she began walking onto the trail she noticed a piece of a little girls shirt that looked like it had been torn with a tiny bit of blood on it. She figured it was a bit strange and thought it must be because the little girl had fell and cut her arm or something while playing. On Jenny kept walking. The further down the trail she walked the more items and clothing Jenny found. Jenny knew something wasn't right now, but kept walking anyways.
Jenny and Bruno stopped at the big oak tree that was perfect for sitting under and having a picnic, but noticed a little girl leaned up against it on the ground. The girl looked about three or four years old. Her shirt was ripped and her arm was bleeding. In the other arm she held a stuffed turtle and in her hands an empty juice box. Jenny of coarse ran over too see if the girl was alive. Sure enough the little girl was alive. Jenny asked the little girl what her name was and the little girl replayed Mattie. Jenny asked Mattie if she had a mommy and daddy.
Mattie said, "Yes but they don't want me."
Jenny was thinking to herself that's not true, but not sure what had happened. Jenny than began to ask Mattie where her parents were and Mattie started crying and saying,"They don't want me"!
Jenny stopped and tried to think about what to ask next trying not to upset the little girl anymore. Jenny began to ask what happened, and how did you get here.
Mattie replied, " My Mommy told me we were going to play hide a seek".
Jenny goes " Well that sounds fun Mattie, but where is your mommy now? "
Mattie replies," I don't know, she's gone".
Jenny then asked the girl how she hurt herself. Mattie told Jenny she had fallen while trying to run and hide.
Jenny then said, "Mattie how about we go and find your mommy and clean that cut up?"
Mattie said, "Okay!"
Bruno of coarse, all curious, was licking the girl's wound and was probably thinking himself what happened. Jenny and Mattie began walking back to Jenny's Jeep. As soon as Jenny got to the Jeep she placed Bruno in the back like she always did and put the little girl in the front sit buckled up next to her. Jenny got into the Jeep and pulled out a first aid kit and cleaned up Mattie's cuts and pulled out a bottle of water she had pack for lunch that was left over in the cooler. She handed the water to Mattie to drink. Jenny also gave Mattie some cookies to snack on while they were driving down the road to the Police station.
As soon as they got to the Police Station Jenny picked up Mattie and told Mattie they were going inside to talk to an officer to find her Mommy. Mattie shook her head with tears in her eyes saying okay. Jenny walked into the Police Station and told an officer how Mattie was found in the woods with no parents, and a little beat up from the fall she had taken. Jenny proceeded to tell the Officer what Mattie had told her. And, how Mattie's parents didn't want her.
The Officer knew right away he need to contact The Department Of Family Services and place the girl in custody. The Officer made the call, and then started an investigation to try and figure out what had happened to the girls parents, but nothing could be found out.
Meanwhile Jenny comforted Mattie and told her a nice woman was going to come get her and take her some place nice until they could find her parents. Mattie of coarse shook her head and said okay. Soon the family service person showed up and took Mattie with her and told Mattie it was going to be okay.
Jenny however went home that night and waited for her Husband to come home. As soon as he did, Jenny told him about the little girl and the day she had, had. Her Husband was shocked and felt sorry for the little girl, and for Jenny for having the day she did.
The investigation went on for a couple of months, but still no parents were found. Mattie was sure to be placed in foster care or an adoption place, but Jenny didn't think it was right since she had been checking up on Mattie ever since she left her in the care of family services.
Jenny then asked her husband what he thought about adopting a little girl. Her husband wasn't sure at first, but soon agreed to it. Jenny told him the girl she wanted to adopt was Mattie. Her Husband being a lawyer wasn't sure if it was possible to do, but he looked into it for Jenny. Jenny however was making calls herself figuring out how to adopt Mattie.
Eventually after a few month the adoption happened, and Mattie went to live with Jenny and her Husband. Mattie was excited since it the idea had been bouncing around for months. Mattie was happy to finally have a home with parent's who wanted her. Bruno of coarse enjoyed having a new friend, the kitten however was jealous of Mattie and all the attention she was getting. Jenny's Husband grew to adore Mattie as one of his own and they spent much of their free time together playing on his day's off from work. Jenny loved Mattie to pieces and quit her job as a waitress to spend time raising Mattie. Jenny and Mattie had a ball together.
One day Mattie looked at Jenny and said, " I'm glade your My Mommy now!" Jenny smiled back and said, " Me too Mattie! Me too!" Jenny also looked back to the day she found Mattie in the woods and said, "Things always happen for a reason."
