Good Girl

          Good Girl

 

 

 

The old stone orphanage stood in the heart of a bustling city, surrounded by the comforting embrace of soft hills and endless trees, where Rosie found her first home at the tender age of three. It was an ordinary building filled with extraordinary dreams. For Rosie, dreams were more than escapades of the mind; they were the hope of finding her forever family.

Each month, the orphanage hummed with excitement as adoption day approached. Rosie would wear her well-loved green and white velvet baby doll dress. At night, she'd carefully fold it and place it in a drawer, smoothing the wrinkles with her tiny hands. Her Mary Jane shoes, polished to a shine, and the white bobby socks with lace trim showed her preparedness for this special event. Her heart was full of hope; Rosie would take special care brushing her shoulder-length blonde hair, gently tying in the green bow that reminded her of sunny fields.

Rosie was taught that good girls were the ones who found families to take them home. Despite her fears and uncertainties, she stood out as the embodiment of good behavior, always remembering to say, "Yes, ma'am," and "Yes, sir," her determination was as solid as a rock.

As the sun rose on adoption day, Rosie's excitement was palpable. She dressed hurriedly, triple-checking her reflection in the dusty mirror. Her eager steps took her downstairs, where she found her spot on the bench beside the other hopeful children. Still, she ensured her posture was perfect, her legs crossed politely, a reserved smile lighting her face.

The families arrived, one after the other, a moving parade of warm faces and hopeful possibilities. Rosie watched with kind eyes as her peers were chosen individually and their dreams were realized. She clapped silently for each tiny victory, each heart finding its match. Still, her sights were set on her dream.

The day wore on, and Rosie's hope didn't waver. She remained confident of her dream, even as the crowd of potential families thinned. With patience and grace, she waited as the gazes passed her. The other children joined their new families individually, leaving only Rosie and another girl named Thora, who sat quietly nearby.

When the last family took Chip, a four-year-old boy, Rosie's smile faltered around the edges. Her fate was sealed for another month. She glanced at Thora, exchanging unspoken hurt and confusion. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the realization set in�"another adoption day had come and gone.

The years moved forward, relentless in their progression. Rosie watched as the faces around her continually shifted; the friends she made were adopted, yet she remained. The longing in her heart grew thicker, heavy like a rolling thundercloud.

As she blew out the candles on her 16th birthday cake, Rosie took a firm decision. It was time for her to carve her path far from the walls of the old stone building that had been her home for too long. She ran away, her practical resolve dispelling any fear.

Life outside was challenging, the world broad and sometimes unkind. But Rosie, with her undeniable spirit, never gave into despair. She crafted a new identity with a borrowed age and found work as a waitress in a small-town diner. The wages were meager, but she saved tirelessly, each penny pushing her closer to her dreams.

With her savings forming a solid foundation, Rosie set her sights on Tennessee. It beckoned with promises of new beginnings far removed from her past, whispering dreams of freedom and opportunity. She felt its welcoming embrace upon arrival, as if every street and corner echoed her name.

In Tennessee, Rosie worked the diner daily, remaining a figure of warmth and reliability. By night, she sought solace in the music she created�"a harmonious mixture of dreams and memories turned into a song. On a whim after a late shift, Rosie shared her voice with the small gathering at the diner, singing a song she had written entitled "Good Girl." Her voice held a quiet strength, resonating with everyone who listened.

To her surprise, her performance was captured and shared with the world. The song erupted like wildfire, carrying with it Rosie's dreams beyond the confines of the diner. As her music spread, so did her fame, transforming Rosie from an unknown girl with big dreams into a celebrated country singer.

With her success came a return to the beginning. Filled with gratitude and purpose, Rosie revisited the orphanage she had left years before. It stood unchanged, still a place of flickering dreams. She arrived with one mission: to change a life as her circumstances had changed.

Patiently, she waited until the last family left on adoption day, recalling her experiences on the well-worn bench. Her heart overflowed as she approached the final child�"a little girl with a heart full of hope glowing in her eyes, reminiscent of Rosie’s younger self.

As she knelt, meeting the child's gaze, Rosie knew this was her moment to offer what had once been her deepest longing. She took the little girl's hand, promising a life full of love, laughter, and possibilities. Rosie carried forward the person she'd wished for herself�"a forever family and a dream nurtured into reality.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[D. Mansfield]

What a great story, nice job