as she reached out to him, and took a cross that her father was wearing around his neck then put it onto herself.
“Mom, looky me!” she said happily.
“Very impressive,” Robert dropped coldly. He addressed to his woman; “Get the girl out!”
“Come here, little one!” The woman tried to fulfill the order. She unfastened the child, but when she took the girl into her arms, the baby started to wail, scratch and even bite.
What a monster! The woman thought, struggling to hold the girl. She felt as if she was handling a wild porky-pine.
Vexed, Robert looked around; on the empty street, the child’s voice sounded louder than any siren could.
“Do something!” he shouted, stomping his foot.
“I know!” Roger said and with a smile, quickly took the child’s safety seat out and the woman strapped the baby in. “That way, we’ll be safe from her,” he added, half-joking.
Mary still cried, but now, it was slightly easier to carry her even if she shook from side to side, trying to make them let go.
The woman and Robert ran away, leaving Roger to finish his task.
“Mama! Dada!” the child called, looking back at the car.
Soon after, an explosion was heard. The blazing flames from behind lit the dark street for a little while.
“All done.” Roger joined them again.
“Look, that sound woke someone up in that church over there! I see lights!” the woman, carrying Mary, said panting, “Let’s leave her here.”
“Can’t we get her to the police station or something?” Robert asked, grimacing.
“No, this church is the only option we have…” Roger sighed, frowning. “It’s pretty far from anything else! We’ve got no choice.”
“Oh well… Hurry up or the people in the church will see us!” Robert commanded.
The woman placed the seat on the steps and all three adults disappeared in the darkness of the passage between the buildings.
***
Robert had breakfast, when Roger threw a newspaper in front of him, and pointed an article.
“The only survivor… Maria Jablonskaia…” Robert read aloud, his look ran over the text. “Blah-blah-blah… You see, not a word about us!”
“Oh dear me,” Roger replied, rolling his eyes. “But nobody can predict how our actions can affect the future.”
“Uh-uh,” Robert answered, not listening. Another news column took his attention.
Again
It was the usual charity fundraiser and Robert Noirson was bored.
Forty-two-year old now, a respectable businessman, not for the first time had Robert been involved in a benevolent arrangement in his capacity as sponsor, so he knew the entire event thoroughly. Some speeches, some performances and he would write a check. Reporters would then take some pictures. It was easy, typical and terribly boring. Robert tried not to yawn.
He totally forgot about the car accident that he caused almost eighteen years ago. He was watching the gymnastic performance with indifference, not knowing that the leading gymnast was the very same girl, which they left all alone on the steps of the church in the middle of the night.
Now her personality attracted his attention. He liked her stern self-confidence that so corresponded with his own attitude. She was not the girl of his dreams, but her spectacular head of platinum blonde hair atop an elfin, and quite curvy frame amazed him.
Robert felt a warm, tingly feeling emanate from his stomach. Moving with hidden energy, the girl was like a genie in a bottle, and it peaked Robert’s curiosity.
“Who’s the girl in the green track-suit?” he casually asked a priest, sitting next to him.
“It’s Maria Jablonskaia, Mary J.” Father Frank smiled. “Our pride and joy. She could be a professional gymnast, but the poor girl has no ambition!”
“Everybody has ambitions,” Robert retorted derisively. “Just in different walks of life.”
Looking at her breasts profiled perfectly by her tight fitting leotard, Robert could see that it was her more mature figure that would probably dictate why she would not be a professional. Even if she had been the most dedicated athlete on Earth, she was not quite petite enough.
Damn, he was thinking hard. Why does her name sound familiar to me?
Suddenly he recalled.
Oh My Father! he screamed inside himself, ashamed. It’s her! Well, I suppose I ought to take care of her. I didn’t think her parents were her only relatives. Poor young thing… Who could expect – she was so alone.
“Could you introduce me to her?” he addressed to Father Frank again.
“Sure, Mister Noirson!” Sister Augusta joined them. “Mary is a good, obedient girl.”
“Obedient, eh?” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “How obedient?”
“Well,” Father Frank laughed nervously. “A little.” He looked knowingly at the Sister, who bit her lip with the thought of just how disobedient Mary could be.
“Don’t worry, Mister Noirson,” she said, sounding assured, but with diametrally different feelings.
***
Mary finished her part and looked across at her tutors, talking and casting glances at her. She caught the dapper forty something executive type sponsor propping his chin up with his fist, gazing at her like a snake, hypnotizing a bird for his prey.
Another rich bastard looking for a young toy, Mary thought with irritation, Last month that tarty hag, now – him… Well, he’s male, so at least it’s understandable. But anyway, why is it that when people have money they think they can just hit on anyone they like – don’t they have any moral bases?
She caught a glimpse of Father Frank waving her over. She pretended not to notice, and went off to the changing room.
“Mary!” she heard, but the girl didn’t look back.
***
Mary emerged from the shower only bothering to tie the towel around her waist. Her extremely long blonde hair was dripping wet over her eyes and she was vigorously rubbing her bangs dry as she walked elegantly across the tiled floor towards her cubicle. She jumped surprised, when she looked up, to see Sister Augusta, waiting for her.
“Mary,” the nun started with a reproach.
“Na-ah,” Mary interrupted, rebellion flowing through veins once paralyzed with fear.
“Mary,” the nun continued, “Don’t be ridiculous.
