chapter five: wish.

      Nameless; Age 7-

      Nameless looked up from where she was sitting on the living room floor. "Mummy?"

     "Hmm..?" Janet looked up from her book.

      "It's eight o'clock.. You have to drive me to school.." She smiled.

      "Yes, that I do." Janet got off the couch, and picked up her keys. "Say bye to your father first."

      "Bye Daddy!" She called, but went to the back porch to give him a hug anyway. "I'll see you after school." She kissed his cheek, and left.

      Drew watched her leave the porch. "Bye.. But.. No, I'm sorry.. You won't see me after school." he whispered. He put his mug down on the side table, and picked up a small stone. He threw it at the brick wall surrounding their house, and made a chip. "A lasting reminder.." He spat. He went inside and got more coffee.

      He went up to the bedroom that he and Janet shared, and pulled his suitcase from the back of the closet. By the time Janet had returned home, it was 75% full. Janet walked into the room, and saw the suitcase on the bed. "Excuse me, but where are you going?" She raised both her eyebrows at him.

      Drew glared. "Don't give me that look.. Obviously, I'm going away."

      "Where away, Drew?" She walked infront of him, preventing him from putting more stuff in the suitcase.

      "To find my mothers grave; that's where."

      Janet gasped, and held her breath. "You're.. You're leaving me..? Us? Nameless?!" Tears started pouring out of her eyes.

      "Until I found her grave, yes.." He said, completely dry eyed. "I'm not leaving because of you.. I'm leaving because of the name.." He looked at her, as though it was her fault.

      "N-no, Drew! Please don't g-go!" She clung to his chest. She had never loved any one so much. Even Nameless didn't matter right now; he couldn't leave Janet. She wouldn't know what to do with out him.

      "I.. I'm sorry, Janet.." He sounded sad. "But.. I have to.." He rubbed her back while hugging her, letting her cry all over his shirt. "I can't let her live being 'Nameless' all her life.." He lifted her face off of his chest, to make her look at him. "I will return.. I promise.."

      Janet looked up into his face, hoping dearly it wasn't an empty promise like his one to Nameless had been. "Oh.. O.K.." She sniffed.

      "Thank you.." He kissed her. "Now.. Will you let me pack..?"

      Janet nodded. "I'll get your bathroom stuff.." She proceeded into their bathroom.

      Drew sighed. "I.. I can do this.. She's the love of my life.. But my daughters name must be found.." He threw in the last first shirts, and waited for Janet to come back.

      Arms full, she returned a few seconds later. She placed all the stuff in the suitcase, and looked up into his eyes. "Kiss.. Kiss me like you used to..One last time.."

      Drew put his right hand on her cheek, and he eyes closed. "Okay.." He kissed her again, holding it longer, and making it more passionate than he had for a while. 

      When they fianlly let go, Janet hugged his chest again. "What about Nameless? How are you going to tell her?"

      He sighed. "I.. I'm not going to.. I'm going to be gone when she gets home.."

      Janet didn't answer immediately. "That will kill her.." She said to him.

      "It's the only way I could think of.." He replied. He let go of her. "But.. Promise me, that when she asks.. Tell her te truth of her name.."

      Janet nodded slowly. SHe walked with him to the front door, and stood there, watching him leave. After the car was out of site, she closed the door, and leaned against the inside. She crumpled to the floor, and burst out crying, not knowing what to do now that her love, her husband, and most of all, her babies father, was gone..

--

      Nameless was out on the playground, talking with the only girl that had become her friend that year. They were sitting on the front steps of the school, waiting for the bell to ring. Nameless looked at over at her. "Do you want to come over after school today? I'm sure my mom won't mind.." She had been talking about her friend non-stop for a few weeks.

      Rebecca smiled. "O.K. I'll ask when she comes to pick me up. She''ll be O.K. with it, I'm sure, but I have to ask anyway."

      Nameless smiled. "Of course you do.." The bell rand then. "Let's go inside." She stood up. Rebecca followed her lead, and they walked into school together, holding hands. They saw immediately upon entering a camera crew. "We just need to interview two young girls!" The biggest man said to the secretary.

      The secreatary sighed. "Fine; take them." She pointed to Nameless and Rebecca. The camera crew turned around, and they walked over slowly. "Hello there.. My name is Robert. I'm trying to make a story on what girls like to do when they're little.. Would you two like to help me?"

      Both Rebecca and Nameless said, "Yes!" at the same time, which made the camera crew laugh. "Do you like cameras?" He asked.

      "Yeah, I do." Nameless answered, and looked at Rebecca.

      "They kinda scare me.. But I'll still talk." She smiled.

      "Roll it." Robert said. The camera pointed to his face, he started. "We're standing here at Daryl Edwards Elementary with two special little girls. Now, tell me your guys' names." He knelt down beside them, and held a microphone up to Rebecca.

      "My name is Rebecca.." Her face turned red. The microphone then went to Nameless.

      "My.. My name is Nameless." She answered.

      "Nameless? Are you sure?" Robert looked confused as she nodded. "Wow.. That is.. One unique name."

      Nameless nodded again. "Yeah. I don't know any body else with that name."

      "Neither do I.." Robert answered. "So, we're here trying to find out what you girls like to do, when you aren't at school.." The microphone moved back in front of Rebecca.

      "I.. I like to ride my bike sometimes.. And play with my kitty." She was only looking at Robert, not at the camera.

      Robert nodded. "And what about you, Nameless?"

      She shrugged. "I sit at my desk and colour.. Or I sit at my vanity table.." Shifting her feet, she suddenly felt uncomfortable.

      Robert seemed to notice her shift in attitude, since her changed the subject. "Are you two sister? Or just friends?" He pointed out the hand holding.

      "We're Best Friends," they both replied. Robert chuckled.

      "Well, thank you girls. You two run off to class now, okay?" He pat them on the back, and called cut to the camera man.

      The two girls ran to class, making it in time before the bell.

--

      Robert got back to the office, and showed his boss his story.

      "Her name is 'Nameless'?" He laughed. "No, seriously, what's her name?"

      "That's it.." Robert said. "She'll be famous.. 'The Nameless Child'.. Has a.. Slight ring to it.."

      "And we'll be credited for making her famous! Robert, you sly dog! You picked the perfect girl to interview!" He laughed again. "Go back to that school, and find that girl!"

      "Right on it!" He left the room, smiling. He was going to get a raise for this; a big one. "I'm making money making other people rich.." He got into his car, and drove off.